In the Michigan governor’s race, Benson leads in fundraising, reporting about $5.9 million in available funds as of Aug. 24, 2026, while John James trails with about $1.5 million on hand.

Benson’s fundraising period run from July 20 to Aug. 24 saw roughly $1.8 million raised and about $2.3 million spent, with notable large donations from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Building Bridges PAC and the Democratic Governors Association Victory Fund.

Contributions during that period included over $83,000 from Whitmer’s PAC and $80,000 from the DGA’s Victory Fund, underscoring strong institutional support for Benson.

Benson also faced scrutiny over donations from executives at utilities, as her support for Proposal 2 to curb political contributions by utilities and contractors could create controversy.”

In the Republican primary, James faced a tougher path led by Perry Johnson, who spent about $32.8 million of his own money, shaping early primary dynamics.

The fundraising window covered 71 days before the November election, with the Aug. 4 primary already decided.

Both campaigns accused the other of delays in posting campaign finance disclosures, with Benson’s team defending the accuracy and timing of filings and James’s team citing technical issues.

Technical issues affected the posting schedule on the Michigan Transparency Network for James, while Benson’s campaign noted ongoing verification before public posting.

Beyond the campaigns, Mission Michigan super PAC has spent over $4.7 million in support of James, contributing to an unfiltered fundraising advantage not reflected in the candidate filings.

Between July 20 and Aug. 24, James raised about $1.2 million in private contributions and spent around $1.1 million.

Both campaigns are navigating fundraising trends and transparency concerns as Election Day approaches in Michigan.

James reported $1.2 million in private donations plus $371,000 in public funding for the period, with notable gifts from DeVos family members and a $5,000 donation from a Blue Cross Blue Shield employee PAC.