PaidForPolitics

Michigan’s 8th District

Outside groups have reported $1,882,279 in independent spending in this race: $1,870,479 for the general election and $11,800 in the primaries. The biggest spender so far is CLF, at $1.6M.

  • General election
    $1.9M
  • Primaries
    $12K
  • Late reports
    $1.9M
  • Last 14 days
    $667K

On the November ballot · campaign money and outside spending around each

  • Outside spending for
  • Outside spending against

Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)

Incumbent

Raised
$5.6M
Spent
$1.4M
Cash on hand
$4.3M

Campaign reports through July 15, 2026.

Outside spending, general election

  • For$9K
  • Against$1.7M

Primary and other: $12K for, $0 against.

Thomas J. Smith (R)

Raised
$243K
Spent
$23K
Cash on hand
$220K

Campaign reports through Aug. 24, 2026.

Outside spending, general election

  • For$121K

November ballot as listed by this source on Oct. 1, 2026. Party letters: D Democrat, R Republican, I independent, L Libertarian, G Green.

Not on the November ballot · lost a primary, withdrew or didn’t run, with the money spent around them

Others who filed with the FEC: Amir Hassan (R), raised $727,343; Alfred Lemmo (R), raised $220,313.

Every outside spender · 5 groups, general-election money first

SpenderSpent onGeneralPrimaryTotalLatest
CLFHybrid PAC · $1.6M in late reportsAGAINST Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)$1.6M–$1.6MSept. 30, 2026
No Going Back PACSuper PAC · $131K in late reportsAGAINST Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)FOR Thomas J. Smith (R)$131K–$131KOct. 1, 2026
America PACSuper PAC · $127K in late reportsAGAINST Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)FOR Thomas J. Smith (R)$127K–$127KOct. 2, 2026
WelcomepacHybrid PAC · $7K in late reportsFOR Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)$9K$11K$21KSept. 14, 2026
Givegreen United ActionSuper PACFOR Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)–$447$447July 15, 2026

Latest filings · newest 30

DateSpenderFor or againstElectionAmount
Oct. 2, 2026LateAmerica PACDigital mediaAGAINST Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)General$8,500
Oct. 1, 2026LateAmerica PACDigital mediaAGAINST Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)General$24,854
Oct. 1, 2026LateAmerica PACDigital mediaFOR Thomas J. Smith (R)General$24,854
Oct. 1, 2026LateNo Going Back PACDirect mail: printing and postageAGAINST Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)General$12,992
Oct. 1, 2026LateNo Going Back PACDirect mail: printing and postageFOR Thomas J. Smith (R)General$12,992
Sept. 30, 2026LateCLFMedia productionAGAINST Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)General$72,991
Sept. 30, 2026LateAmerica PACPrinting/postageFOR Thomas J. Smith (R)General$13,577
Sept. 30, 2026LateAmerica PACPrinting/postageAGAINST Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)General$13,577
Sept. 30, 2026LateNo Going Back PACText messagesAGAINST Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)General$626
Sept. 28, 2026LateCLFMedia placementAGAINST Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)General$312,517
Sept. 25, 2026LateCLFDigital placementAGAINST Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)General$100,000
Sept. 25, 2026LateNo Going Back PACDirect mail: printing and postageAGAINST Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)General$12,992
Sept. 25, 2026LateNo Going Back PACDirect mail: printing and postageFOR Thomas J. Smith (R)General$12,992
Sept. 24, 2026LateAmerica PACDigital mediaAGAINST Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)General$10,000
Sept. 24, 2026LateAmerica PACTexting serviceAGAINST Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)General$5,784
Sept. 24, 2026LateAmerica PACTexting serviceAGAINST Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)General$1,180
Sept. 23, 2026LateNo Going Back PACText messagesAGAINST Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)General$1,081
Sept. 22, 2026LateNo Going Back PACDirect mail: printing and postageAGAINST Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)General$12,926
Sept. 22, 2026LateNo Going Back PACDirect mail: printing and postageFOR Thomas J. Smith (R)General$12,926
Sept. 21, 2026LateCLFMedia placementAGAINST Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)General$284,168
Sept. 21, 2026LateCLFMedia productionAGAINST Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)General$13,000
Sept. 18, 2026LateCLFDigital placementAGAINST Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)General$100,000
Sept. 16, 2026LateNo Going Back PACDirect mail: printing and postageAGAINST Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)General$12,926
Sept. 16, 2026LateNo Going Back PACDirect mail: printing and postageFOR Thomas J. Smith (R)General$12,926
Sept. 14, 2026LateCLFDigital placementAGAINST Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)General$100,000
Sept. 14, 2026LateNo Going Back PACDirect mail: printing and postageAGAINST Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)General$12,926
Sept. 14, 2026LateNo Going Back PACDirect mail: printing and postageFOR Thomas J. Smith (R)General$12,926
Sept. 14, 2026LateWelcomepacText messaging, digital advertising & production - estimateFOR Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)General$7,324
Sept. 11, 2026LateCLFMedia placementAGAINST Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)General$254,694
Sept. 10, 2026LateCLFMedia productionAGAINST Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)General$13,000

About these numbers

  • Outside spending is money groups spent on their own ads, mail and canvassing for or against a candidate. Groups can’t coordinate it with campaigns, and it isn’t counted in what campaigns raised or spent.
  • Every group that reported independent spending to the FEC is listed, not only the groups on our issue pages. Groups tracked on an issue page carry a tag linking to it.
  • Primary, special or general comes from the election the group listed on each expenditure. Seats with a special election this cycle show that money separately.
  • Late reports are 24- and 48-hour filings made since a group’s last regular report. Earlier ones are already counted on that report, so we don’t count them twice.
  • Some nonprofits don’t have to name their donors, so this shows who spent the money, not always who gave it.

FEC data as of Oct. 5, 2026. Campaign figures cover the full 2026 cycle. Current member: Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet. How this works.