LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced a “Fight Like Hell PAC” last summer. The “Fight Like Hell” name came from Whitmer’s rallying cry used across her social media platforms and in speeches where she pledged to “fight like Hell” for abortion rights in the state. The PAC, according to its website, is a nationwide movement led by the Governor “to defend working people” and protect their most fundamental rights.

At the time, Gov. Whitmer said she created PAC (Political Action Committee) to raise money for President Joe Biden in his re-election bid and support House and Senate candidates. Whitmer also added she started the PAC to “bring Michigan’s fight for basic freedoms to our supporters’ backyards across the entire country.”

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In the PAC’s press release after they were formed, they also took a jab at former President Donald Trump and his supporters, saying, “While MAGA extremists do what they can to undermine our progress, I am committed to bolstering our efforts to elect partners at the federal level who will stand up and fight like hell for working families, seniors and children across the country.”

How Will the PAC “Fight Like Hell?”

In order to “fight like hell” against MAGA extremists, the PAC has announced their first round of 2024 endorsements for federal candidates running in the general election. According to The Hill, those endorsements include: Reps. Hillary Scholten (D-MI), Lauren Underwood (D-IL), Susan Wild (D-PA), Chris Deluzio (D-PA.), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Emilia Sykes (D-OH), Steven Horsford (D-NV) and Angie Craig (D-MN.)

Gov. Whitmer said in her PAC video announcement that she would raise money for Democratic candidates who are “unapologetic in their fight for working people and their basic freedoms” heading into the 2024 election. She added she wanted her reach to go beyond her own state. Whitmer said, “This is a moment where our fight must stretch beyond Michigan and reach the entire country…We will fight like hell for Democrats to hold the White House in 2024. We will fight like hell for Democrats to hold Michigan’s seat in the U.S. Senate in 2024 and we will fight like hell for every candidate who shares our values and we’ll fight like hell for every single vote.”

How will the PAC Support Candidates?

In order to support these candidates, the PAC has said that they would be relying on Whitmer’s “vast small donor network.” Small might be the correct word to use as the Fight Like Hell PAC Facebook page has only 126 followers – and Gov. Whitmer has no separate X social media or Instagram account with the PAC links going straight to her personal accounts.

As for the PAC itself, no other participating members in the committee are listed except for Heather Ricketts who is named as the treasurer on the statement of organization paperwork. She describes herself as “Political compliance, operations and finance expert” on her LinkedIn page which also says she is a “professional fundraiser, political compliance director and event planner focusing on community specific events to raise money for both candidates and causes.”

When Michigan News Source contacted the PAC to get the names of other participants in the committee, they did not return our request for comment.

What are the Odds for the PAC’s Success?

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Reports say the candidates the Fight Like Hell PAC is endorsing could be facing an uphill battle to win their districts. The Cook Political Report has the districts for Syke and Wild as “toss-ups” and the districts for Hayes and Deluzio are “lean Democratic.” Craig and Scholten’s districts are “likely Democrats.”

Those aren’t guarantees of victory which is why Gov. Whitmer and the Democrat party are in overdrive supporting their candidates, soliciting donations, trying to get their voters to show up early to vote where states allow it and pushing the use of absentee ballots all across the country.

Helping to fight the battle to win more victory for Democrats all across the country, Gov. Whitmer said in a recent statement about her endorsements, “I started Fight Like Hell in order to do everything I can to support candidates up and down the ballot, like President Biden and Vice President Harris, who are fighting like hell for everyday Americans and the will of the majority…Now, I’m excited to announce the endorsement of eight candidates who similarly embody these ideals, and have proven their dedication as members of Congress to addressing kitchen table issues and defending our everyday freedoms. Each and every one of these U.S. representatives has been a champion for their constituents, and I’m committed to helping them secure re-election in 2024.”

What are the Democrat Party’s Goals in 2024?

Democrats have the goal of taking back the House in 2024 and mostly appear to be optimistic about their chances. Michigan will be a battleground state in the fight for control of the country including the presidency. Biden only won the state by three points the last time around and is currently doing dismal in most of the polling, trailing former president Donald Trump in a hypothetical matchup in Michigan by a whopping ten points in a recent CNN poll. Another survey found that even among Democrats, only one in four Michigan Democrats are enthusiastic about Biden being the 2024 party nominee. With those numbers ahead of her, Gov. Whitmer has a lot of work to do as she also co-chairs the 2024 President Joe Biden/Vice President Kamala Harris reelection campaign.

In addition to House races that need to be won, Michigan also has an open Senate seat due to Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow’s upcoming retirement. The seat is being fought over by 12 candidates in all, two of which will need to secure a victory in their primaries. Although U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin is looked at as the Democratic frontrunner, Senator Stabenow has yet to announce her endorsement of the candidate even though 34 other Democrat officials in west Michigan have given her the thumbs up. Four other Democrats are running against Slotkin in the primary. On the Republican side, there are seven candidates running in the primary.

How Much Money Sits in the PAC’s Bank Account?

It is unknown how much the Fight Like Hell PAC currently has in their bank account to “fight like hell” in the elections. As of the end of June, 25 days after the PAC paperwork was filed, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) listed $171.5K in total receipts and $116K in total contributions. The PAC is listed as a hybrid PAC. According to the FEC, that is a political committee with “non-contribution accounts that solicit and accept unlimited contributions from individuals, corporations, labor organizations, and other political committees to a segregated bank account for the purpose of financing independent expenditures, other ads that refer to a federal candidate, and generic voter drives in federal elections, while maintaining a separate bank account.”

Some are saying Gov. Whitmer created the PAC to raise her political profile as a stepping stone if the governor decides to run for president in 2024 or 2028. According to Axios, California Governor Gavin Newsom and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, both also seen as possible Democratic presidential candidates, have also launched national political groups.