Michigan Action is a now-defunct Political Action Committee (PAC) that was formed in August 2020 as part of the Detroit Action group of activist entities. During its short existence, it raised over $1 million to oppose then-President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign and to support Democratic candidates in Michigan and Georgia. The Detroit Action website has a link to a page to donate to Michigan Action and states that the organization is Detroit Action’s Super PAC, but the link states Michigan Action is no longer accepting contributions. ^{1 2 3}

Background

Michigan Action was founded in August 2020 as an arm of the Detroit Action group of organizations. It was active in the 2020 election cycle and in the beginning of 2021, before it ceased operations in May 2021. ^{4 5}

Funding

In 2020, the year it came into existence, Michigan Action received $1,013,132 in contributions. The largest donor was Tides Advocacy, the fiscal sponsor of its sister-organization, Detroit Action. It contributed $150,000. Other large donors included John Hunting, the notable Michigan philanthropist and founder of the now-defunct Dyer-Ives Foundation who has supported left-of-center groups. In 2020 he contributed $170,000. Other contributors included the For Our Future PAC, Popular Democracy PAC, and the MVP Justice Fund. ^{6 7}

The organization had $470,514 in 2020. This spending was entirely directed in advocacy efforts against Republicans, specifically then-President Donald Trump, and in favor of various Democratic candidates. Nearly $200,000 was spent on web ads, with over $18,000 going toward media production. It reported spending $183,388 on campaign mailings, and another $105,787 on various campaign events and activities. ^{8 9}

The largest recipient of this expenditure was NP Consulting, which received $402,490. The second largest recipient was Base Builder LLC, which received $74,914. ¹⁰

In 2021, the PAC ceased operation and transferred its remaining assets, totaling $453,335, to the Michigan Action Nonfederal Account. ¹¹

Candidate Support and Opposition

During the 2020 election cycle, Michigan PAC spent $103,993 advocating against then-President Donald Trump in the presidential election and $30,138 in favor of Democratic candidate Joe Biden. The group spent $24,997 supporting the re-election campaign of U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) and $19,284 supporting Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) in her House race. Less than $1,000 each was spent on Michigan Democrat House candidates Haley Stevens and Jon Hoadly. ¹²

In addition to Michigan races, the PAC was also involved in the Georgia U.S. Senate runoffs, spending $38,858 each in favor of Democratic candidates Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock. ¹³

Leadership

Brett T. McRae was listed as the PAC’s treasurer. He is the proprietor of the Campaign Finance Services firm, which serves a variety of political organizations to navigate campaign finance laws. He previously worked as counsel at the Senate Democratic Caucus from 1990 to 2002, and prior to that as counsel for the House Judiciary Committee. ¹⁴

Jennifer Disla is the co-executive director of the Detroit Action group of organizations. She has been involved in left-of-center activism and organizing since 2008. Her biography on the Detroit Action website states that she believes in “Black Liberation” and fighting white supremacy. ¹⁵

Branden Snyder is the co-executive director of the Detroit Action group of organizations. He has been involved in left-of-center activism and organizing for over ten years and in 2016 was the deputy organizing director for youth voting in the Hillary for Michigan campaign. ¹⁶

1. “FEC Disclosure Form 3X for MICHIGAN ACTION – FEDERAL ACCOUNT.” FEC, December 29, 2020. Accessed August 8, 2022. https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00753640/1484542/.
2. Center for Responsive Politics. “Expenditures by Michigan Action, 2020.” Opensecrets.org, July 26, 2021. Accessed August 8, 2022. https://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/expenditures.php?cmte=C00753640&cycle=2020.
3. “Donate.” Detroit Action. Accessed July 31, 2022. https://detroitaction.org/donate/
4. “Statement of Organization: Michigan Action.” FEC.gov, October 14, 2020. Accessed August 8, 2022. https://docquery.fec.gov/pdf/825/202010149285845825/202010149285845825.pdf.
5. “Michigan Action Termination Report.” FEC.gov, May 17, 2021. Accessed August 8, 2022. https://docquery.fec.gov/pdf/555/202105170300118555/202105170300118555.pdf.
6. FEC Disclosure Form 3X for MICHIGAN ACTION – FEDERAL ACCOUNT.” FEC, December 29, 2020. Accessed August 8, 2022. https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00753640/1484542/.
7. Center for Responsive Politics. “Organizations Disclosing Donations to Michigan Action, 2020.” Opensecrets.org, March 22, 2021. Accessed August 8, 2022. https://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/contrib_all.php?cmte=C00753640&type=A&cycle=2020.
8. “FEC Disclosure Form 3X for MICHIGAN ACTION – FEDERAL ACCOUNT.” FEC, December 29, 2020. Accessed August 8, 2022. https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00753640/1484542/.
9. Center for Responsive Politics. “Expenditures by Michigan Action, 2020.” Opensecrets.org, July 26, 2021. Accessed August 8, 2022. https://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/expenditures.php?cmte=C00753640&cycle=2020.
10. Center for Responsive Politics. “Expenditures by Michigan Action, 2020.” Opensecrets.org, July 26, 2021. Accessed August 8, 2022. https://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/expenditures.php?cmte=C00753640&cycle=2020.
11. Center for Responsive Politics. “Expenditures by Michigan Action, 2022.” Opensecrets.org, July 26, 2021. https://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/expenditures.php?cmte=C00753640&cycle=2022.
12. Center for Responsive Politics. “Michigan Action Recipients, 2020.” Opensecrets.org, August 8, 2022. Accessed August 8, 2022. https://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/recips.php?cmte=C00753640&cycle=2020.
13.  Center for Responsive Politics. “Michigan Action Recipients, 2020.” Opensecrets.org, August 8, 2022. Accessed August 8, 2022. https://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/recips.php?cmte=C00753640&cycle=2020.
14.  “Brett McRae.” LinkedIn.com. Accessed August 8, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-mcrae-7a094b3b/.
15.  “Staff & Board.” Detroit Action. Accessed August 1, 2022. https://detroitaction.org/staff-and-board/.
16.  “Staff & Board.” Detroit Action. Accessed August 1, 2022. https://detroitaction.org/staff-and-board/.