What Happened?

If you’ve seen ads from a group of Michigan Democrats urging you to vote for Republican Mike Rogers, most of the money behind them came from other political committees, not individual Democrats. The super PAC TFM, short for Together for Michigan and formerly called Democrats for Mike Rogers, has reported $5.67 million in spending in the Senate race, $4.16 million against Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and $1.52 million for Rogers, according to a Legis1 review of its filings. ​

Its latest report, covering through Wednesday, Oct. 14, shows $5.72 million raised, including $4.88 million from other political committees and about $684,000 from individuals, Federal Election Commission records show.

Why Does It Matter To Me?

The group registered Aug. 27, after Abdul El-Sayed won the Democratic primary, and its first report through Sept. 30 listed just $84,065 in donations. Most of that came from two Republican-aligned groups: $50,000 from the Great Lakes Conservatives Fund and $25,000 from American Unity PAC.

The heavy spending came after that, including $3.2 million against El-Sayed on Oct. 9 alone. The Great Lakes Conservatives Fund is also the super PAC that the New York Times reported will receive up to $9 million from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s super PAC after the Oct. 14 cutoff, Newsweek reported. Even so, TFM is a smaller player than the biggest outside groups, with Senate Leadership Fund reporting $36.5 million and No Going Back PAC $24.5 million against El-Sayed, according to Legis1.

Both Sides, Now

The group’s treasurer is Michigan state Rep. Karen Whitsett, who left the Democratic Party in March, and its website says it represents Democrats “who support Mike Rogers for the U.S. Senate.” Rogers has called Democrats for Rogers his “fastest-growing coalition.”

Critics say the name hides who is paying. The Bulwark found that the group’s biggest early donors were conservative groups and that it paid $30,000 to former Pontiac council member Melanie Rutherford, who then appeared on Fox News attacking El-Sayed without disclosing the payments.

What Happens Next?

Michigan voters decide the race Tuesday, Nov. 3, in a contest Sabato’s Crystal Ball rates Leans Democratic and the Cook Political Report rates a Toss-up. The group’s next full report, due Thursday, Dec. 3, will show any money it received after Oct. 14.

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