Michigan House District 2 2026: the ads, and who's paying for them

John Moolenaar won · 61.5% to 37.0% · Called by AP on Nov 3

Ben Ambrose (Democrat) and John Moolenaar (Republican) are the nominees for Michigan's 2nd congressional district in the November 3, 2026 general election. John Moolenaar is the incumbent. By their latest FEC reports, Ben Ambrose's campaign had raised $187,000 (through October 14, 2026) and John Moolenaar's campaign $2.1 million (through October 14, 2026). Outside groups have reported $23,000 for John Moolenaar and $0 against.

Ben Ambrose (DEM), John Moolenaar (REP, incumbent). 1 other filed with the FEC; any ads they ran are below. 0 ads analyzed, 0 with at least one technique in the copy. Newest first. The paid-for-by line is the advertiser's own filing.

Also on every Michigan ballot: 2 statewide ballot measures → The ballot wording and the official arguments, read for rhetorical techniques.

How to vote in Michigan

From Michigan's official election office. Each line links to the official page it came from.

Registration Register by Mon, Oct 19 (online/mail: received or postmarked 15 days before (Oct 19); after that, in person at local clerk with proof of residency through 8 p.m. Election Day). Same-day registration: in person at local clerk's office (not polling place) with proof of residency, in line by 8 p.m. (passed)Source: michigan.gov ↗
Early voting in person Sat, Oct 24 to Sun, Nov 1 (mandatory period begins second Saturday before Election Day; communities may start as early as the 29th day before (Oct 5)) (passed)Source: michigan.gov ↗
By mail Anyone can vote by mail; request a ballot by Fri, Oct 30 (online/mail: received by 5 p.m. Friday before (Oct 30); in person at clerk: 4 p.m. Monday Nov 2); return it by Tue, Nov 3 (received by clerk by 8 p.m. Election Day; military/overseas postmarked by Election Day and received within 6 days) (passed)Source: michigan.gov ↗
Election Day Tue, Nov 3. Polls: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time (passed)Source: michigan.gov ↗
ID at the polls Photo ID requested; voters without one sign an affidavit and vote a regular ballotSource: michigan.gov ↗

Checked October 6, 2026. Rules can change; confirm with the official site before you go.

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Money in this race

From FEC filings for 2025–26. Outside spending is money a group spends on its own about a candidate — TV and online ads, mail, canvassing. It is not a donation to the campaign, and the candidate does not control it. Supporting means it was spent to help that candidate win; Opposing means it was spent to defeat them, usually on attack ads. Groups report it within 24 or 48 hours as the election nears. Raised is the campaign's own fundraising, as of its latest quarterly report. Largest donors come from each outside spender's own FEC receipts, with each donor's share of its itemized receipts; donors under $100,000 are not named. People are shown with the employer and occupation they reported. A donor that is itself a political committee is shown with its own largest donors. Companies and nonprofits don't report their funders to the FEC, so the trail ends there, and the page says so.

Ben Ambrose (DEM)

Raised
$187K through 2026-10-14 individuals $161K · PACs $5,250 · party $1,000 · candidate's own money, incl. loans $18K · cash on hand $33K
Outside spending
none reported
Bundled through PACs
none reported · FEC bulk data of 2026-11-01
1 PAC gave directly — alphabetical; the legal limit is $5,000 per election
  • THE CENTER FOR FREETHOUGHT EQUALITY PAC $250

All filings at the FEC ↗

John Moolenaar (REP, incumbent)

Raised
$2.1M through 2026-10-14 individuals $1.3M · PACs $736K · party $490 · from the candidate's other committees $1,598 · cash on hand $1.2M
Outside spending
$23K supporting Moolenaar · latest reported 2026-10-30
Largest outside spenders
NRA VICTORY FUND, INC. — $22K supporting Moolenaar RIGHT TO LIFE OF MICHIGAN VICTORY FUND — $751 supporting Moolenaar
Bundled through PACs
$19K through 2 PACs · FEC bulk data of 2026-11-01 AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE — $19K from 15 gifts Lobbyist/registrant PAC NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (NABPAC) — $250 from 1 gift Lobbyist/registrant PAC
166 PACs gave directly — alphabetical; the legal limit is $5,000 per election
  • AAR CORP. PAC $1,000
  • ABBOTT LABORATORIES EMPLOYEE PAC $2,500
  • ACCELINT HOLDINGS, LLC PAC $3,500
  • ACPAC ACA INTERNATIONAL PAC $1,000
  • AEROVIRONMENT, INC PAC $2,000
  • ALLIANCE FOR PHARMACY COMPOUNDING PAC (COMP PAC) $5,000
  • ALTICOR PAC $6,500
  • ALTRIA GROUP, INC. PAC (ALTRIAPAC) $2,500
  • AMERICA'S CREDIT UNIONS PAC OF CREDIT UNION NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, INC. $7,500
  • AMERICAN ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS PAC $2,500
  • AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) $8,000
  • AMERICAN COUNCIL OF ENGINEERING COMPANIES (ACEC/PAC) $5,000
  • AMERICAN COUNCIL OF LIFE INSURERS PAC $2,500
  • AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR COMPANY PAC $5,000
  • AMERICAN DENTAL PAC $2,500
  • AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION PAC (GAS PAC) $1,000
  • AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ASSN PAC (AHCA-PAC) $1,600
  • AMERICAN HORTICULTURE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION - PAC (AMERICANHORT PAC) $500
  • AMERICAN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION PAC $2,500
  • AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS PAC $10K
  • AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC (AIPAC) $6,000
  • AMERICAN PROPERTY CASUALTY INSURANCE ASSOCIATION PAC (INSURING AMERICA PAC) $1,000
  • AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS PAC (ASA PAC) $7,500
  • AMERICAN SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION SOYPAC $1,000
  • AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION PAC (AVMA) $2,000
  • APPLIED INTUITION, INC. PAC (APPLIED PAC) $10K
  • ASSOCIATED BUILDERS & CONTRACTORS PAC $2,500
  • ASSOCIATION FOR ACCESSIBLE MEDICINES PAC $1,500
  • AT&T INC. EMPLOYEE FEDERAL PAC $4,000
  • AUGUST PFLUGER FOR CONGRESS $2,000
  • BAE SYSTEMS INC. PAC (BAE SYSTEMS USA PAC) $1,000
  • BAKER & HOSTETLER PAC $1,000
  • BARNES & THORNBURG PAC $1,000
  • BIOMARIN PHARMACEUTICAL INC. PAC AKA BIOMARIN PAC $1,000
  • BIOTECHNOLOGY INNOVATION ORGANIZATION PAC (BIO PAC) $1,000
  • BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MI PAC $6,600
  • BNSF RAILWAY COMPANY RAILPAC $3,000
  • BUILD PAC OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOME BUILDERS (BUILDPAC) $3,500
  • CAP-PAC SSF OF THE NAT'L COMMUNITY ACTION FOUNDATION INC $6,000
  • CGCN PAC $2,500
  • CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS INC. PAC $5,000
  • CMS ENERGY EMPLOYEES FOR BETTER GOVERNMENT FEDERAL $10K
  • CONSERVATIVE OPPORTUNITY LEADERSHIP & ENTERPRISE PAC (COLE PAC) $5,000
  • CORNING INCORPORATED EMPLOYEES PAC (COREPAC) $5,000
  • COVINGTON AND BURLING LLP PAC $1,000
  • CREATING A MAJORITY PARTY ACTION COMMITTEE (C.A.M.P.A.C.) $10K
  • CROSSPARTISAN PAC II $2,500
  • CTIA - THE WIRELESS ASSOCIATION PAC $1,000
  • DAIRY FARMERS OF AMERICA, INC. PAC; AKA DFA-PAC $2,500
  • DAVITA INC. PAC (DAPAC) $2,000
  • DELOITTE PAC $2,500
  • DELTA AIR LINES PAC $5,000
  • DENTONS US LLP PAC $1,000
  • DETROIT REGIONAL CHAMBER FED PAC $500
  • DTE ENERGY COMPANY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $7,500
  • DYKEMA GOSSETT FEDERAL PAC $5,000
  • ELI LILLY AND COMPANY PAC $5,000
  • EMERGENT BIOSOLUTIONS INC EMPLOYEES PAC $3,500
  • EMPLOYEES OF NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION PAC $5,000
  • EMPLOYEES OF RTX CORPORATION PAC $2,000
  • ERNST & YOUNG PAC $5,000
  • ESSHAKI FOR CONGRESS $1,000
  • FOLEY & LARDNER POLITICAL FUND, INC. $1,000
  • FORD MOTOR COMPANY CIVIC ACTION FUND $2,500
  • FRIENDS OF CMU $500
  • FRIENDS OF MCLAREN PAC $500
  • FRIENDS OF SVSU $317
  • FRIENDS OF WAYNE STATE PAC $500
  • GENENTECH INC. PAC (GENENPAC) $3,500
  • GENERAL DYNAMICS CORPORATION PAC (GDC PAC) $2,500
  • GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY AEROSPACE EMPLOYEE PAC (GE AEROSPACE PAC) $6,500
  • GENERAL MILLS INC PAC $1,000
  • GENERAL MOTORS CO PAC (GM PAC) $2,500
  • GENWORTH FINANCIAL, INC. PAC (GENWORTH PAC) $2,500
  • GILEAD SCIENCES INC HEALTHCARE POLICY PAC $2,000
  • GREENBERG TRAURIG, P.A. PAC $1,000
  • HEALTH ALLIANCE PLAN PAC (HAP PAC) $2,000
  • HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN PAC $500
  • HEINEKEN USA INC GOOD GOVERNMENT FUND (HUSA) $1,000
  • HERMEUS CORPORATION PAC $1,000
  • HOLLAND & KNIGHT COMMITTEE FOR EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT $2,000
  • HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL PAC $5,000
  • HOUSE CONSERVATIVES FUND $1,000
  • HOWMET AEROSPACE INC. EMPLOYEES VOLUNTARY PAC $2,000
  • HUNTINGTON BANCSHARES INC. PAC (HBI-PAC) $2,500
  • IN THE ARENA PAC $2,000
  • INDEPENDENT INSURANCE AGENTS & BROKERS OF AMERICA PAC $5,000
  • INSURED RETIREMENT INSTITUTE PAC (IRI PAC) $1,000
  • INTERNATIONAL DAIRY FOODS ASSOCIATION PAC $6,000
  • INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISE ASSOCIATION FRANCHISING PAC INC $1,000
  • INTERNATIONAL FRESH PRODUCE ASSOCIATION FRESH PAC (FRESH PAC) $1,000
  • ITC HOLDINGS CORP PAC $4,500
  • JACKSON HOLDINGS LLC AND JACKSON NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY FEDERAL SSF (JACKSON NATIONAL FE... $5,000
  • JOHN HANCOCK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY (USA) FEDERAL PAC $3,500
  • K & L GATES LLP POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (DC) $3,500
  • KOCHPAC - KOCH, INC. PAC $6,000
  • KRATOS DEFENSE & SECURITY SOLUTIONS, INC. PAC (KRATOS PAC) $5,000
  • LEIDOS INC. PAC $5,000
  • LISA POSTHUMUS LYONS FOR COUNTY CLERK $100
  • LOCKHEED MARTIN EMPLOYEES' PAC $6,000
  • LUNDBECK LLC EMPLOYEE PAC $1,000
  • MACKINAC ISLAND TOURISM BUREAU PAC $2,500
  • MANAGEMENT AND TRAINING CORPORATION PAC $2,500
  • MERCK & CO., INC., EMPLOYEES PAC (MERCK PAC) $2,000
  • MI CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION PAC (MI CORN PAC) $1,000
  • MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF HEALTH PLANS (MAHP/PAC) $500
  • MICHIGAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FEDERAL PAC $1,000
  • MICHIGAN FARM BUREAU PAC $8,000
  • MICHIGAN MILK PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION PAC $2,000
  • MICHIGAN OIL AND GAS ASSOCIATION PAC MOGA-PAC $4,800
  • MICHIGAN RESTAURANT & LODGING ASSOCIATION PAC $500
  • MICHIGAN SUGAR COMPANY GROWERS PAC $10K
  • MR. SOUTHERN MISSOURIAN IN THE HOUSE PAC - (MR. SMITH PAC) $5,000
  • NATIONAL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ASSOCIATION PAC $1,000
  • NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHEMICAL DISTRIBUTORS RESPONSIBLE DISTRIBUTION PAC (NACD) $10K
  • NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS PAC (RPAC) $5,000
  • NATIONAL BEER WHOLESALERS ASSOCIATION PAC (NBWA PAC) $6,500
  • NATIONAL CHICKEN COUNCIL PAC $5,000
  • NATIONAL CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION PAC - CORNPAC $2,500
  • NATIONAL PORK PRODUCERS COUNCIL PORK PAC $10K
  • NATIONAL PROPANE GAS ASSOCIATION PAC(PROPANE PAC) $10K
  • NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION POLITICAL VICTORY FUND (NRA) $1,000
  • NATIONAL RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION AMERICA'S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES PAC (NRECA) $7,000
  • NATIONAL SHOOTING SPORTS FOUNDATION, INC. PAC (NSSF PAC) $5,000
  • NATIONAL TURKEY FEDERATION PAC (TURPAC) $5,000
  • NIRON MAGNETICS PAC $3,500
  • NOVARTIS CORPORATION PAC $1,000
  • NUTRIEN AG SOLUTIONS EMPLOYEE CITIZENSHIP FUND PAC ('NUTRIEN CITIZENSHIP FUND PAC') $5,000
  • OUTDOOR AMUSEMENT BUSINESS ASSOCIATION INC PAC $2,500
  • PACIFIC DEFENSE STRATEGIES, INC. PAC $1,000
  • PARKER -HANNIFIN CORPORATION PAC $2,500
  • PFIZER INC. PAC $1,000
  • PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH & MANUFACTURERS OF AMERICA BETTER GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE $1,000
  • PILLSBURY WINTHROP SHAW PITTMAN LLP PAC $2,000
  • POWERPAC OF THE EDISON ELECTRIC INSTITUTE $2,500
  • PROFESSIONAL COMPOUNDING CENTERS OF AMERICA PAC $2,500
  • RAIN AND HAIL INSURANCE SOCIETY PAC $1,000
  • REGENERON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. PAC $1,000
  • REPUBLICANS UNITED TO DEFEND YOU PAC $1,000
  • ROBINHOOD MARKETS, INC. PAC $5,000
  • RUDY FOR INDIANA $4,000
  • S. C. JOHNSON & SON, INC. PAC $2,000
  • SAAB, INC. EMPLOYEES PAC (SAAB PAC) $2,000
  • SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS AMERICA INC PAC $2,000
  • SCALISE FOR CONGRESS $2,000
  • SERCO INC. PAC (SERCO PAC) $2,500
  • SHIFT5 PAC $7,000
  • SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP PAC $5,000
  • SQUIRE PATTON BOGGS PAC $1,500
  • SUSAN B. ANTHONY LIST INC. CANDIDATE FUND (DBA SUSAN B. ANTHONY PRO-LIFE AMERICA CANDIDATE FUND) $2,500
  • T-MOBILE USA, INC. PAC (T-PAC) $1,000
  • TARGET CORPORATION CITIZENS POLITICAL FORUM (TARGETCITIZENS POLITICAL FORUM) $1,000
  • THE BOEING COMPANY PAC (BPAC) $1,500
  • THE CLARK HILL FEDERAL PAC $5,966
  • THE EYE OF THE TIGER PAC $5,000
  • THE FARM CREDIT COUNCIL PAC $10K
  • THE SEASONAL EMPLOYER PAC $1,500
  • THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC INC. PAC $2,000
  • TORCH TECHNOLOGIES, INC PAC $5,000
  • TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC PAC (TOYOTA/LEXUS PAC) $5,500
  • UPPER HAND FUND $5,000
  • VENABLE PAC (VEN-PAC) $3,000
  • VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $4,500
  • WALMART INC PAC FOR RESPONSIBLE GOVT (WALPAC) $2,000
  • WK KELLOGG CO PAC $1,000
  • ZENECA INC. PAC (AZPAC) $1,000

All filings at the FEC ↗

No campaign ads analyzed for this race yet.

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