Democrat Jocelyn Benson is continuing to outraise her Republican rival John James in Michigan's race for governor, according to their latest campaign finance reports.
Benson raised over $4.1 million during the fundraising period covering Aug. 25-Oct. 18, according to the report filed Oct. 23. James raised over $3.9 million during the same period, his report shows.
In total, Benson, the sitting Michigan secretary of state from Detroit, has raised nearly $16.7 million during her campaign, compared to the more than $12.4 million (not including over $700,000 in public funds) raised by James, a Shelby Township congressman who represents Macomb and Oakland County suburbs in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Benson had over $680,000 in cash on hand compared
to James' roughly $1.2 million, their latest reports show.
Benson builds national fundraising operation
James criticized Benson for holding fundraisers in California during their last debate, saying she was raising money from "coastal elites to put lies up on television."
Benson has held several fundraisers in California, according to her campaign finance filings, raising over $233,000 at the gatherings. She has held dozens of out-of-state fundraisers while James has held three.
Billionaires give to Benson and James
Previous reports filed by Benson and James showed billionaire donors who gave the maximum $8,325 individual contribution to their preferred candidates.
James has received money from members of the DeVos family and Texas real estate tycoon Harlan Crow, who drew national attention when reporting uncovered that he funded travel and had other financial arrangements with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
Benson has received contributions from billionaires too, including Chris Larsen who co-founded the crypto-related company Ripple Labs, real estate developer Stephen Ross and philanthropist George Soros.
Both Benson and James have attacked one another for their ties to rich donors.
Benson, during the last debate, said James would have "education run by the DeVos family." Former U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who served during President Donald Trump's first administration, is an avid proponent of school vouchers.
James has blasted Benson's relationship with Ross, whose Related Companies is involved with a controversial data center project in Saline Township that Benson's husband previously worked on. Before her election to secretary of state, Benson also served as CEO of a nonprofit founded by Ross focused on improving race relations in sports.
Utility and health care money
Both candidates have taken money from utility leaders as they campaign on lowering energy costs and holding major energy companies in Michigan accountable.
Benson has received campaign cash from Tricia Keith, president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, which James has criticized her for though he has received money from the health insurer's PAC.
Michigan GOP steps in with support
After the Republican Governors Association significantly pulled back its spending in support of James, according to an analysis of AdImpact data by Michigan Information & Research Service Inc., leaving Benson to dominate the airwaves, the Michigan GOP stepped in to help fill the gap for James with a $1.8 million in-kind contribution on Oct. 16 for "MEDIA PLACEMENT MEDIA PRODUCTION."
Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Benson outraises James in final stretch of governor's race
