Michigan

Michigan Republicans have a money problem

Published

1 year ago

August 3, 2024

Michigan Republicans have a money problem

With less than a 100 days to go before the presidential election, the Michigan GOP is entangled in financial turmoil, despite recent attempts to stabilize the state party’s shaky finances.

After a troublesome year under the helm of former Michigan GOP Chair Kristina Karamo, who clashed with some long-term, big-name donors to the party during her leadership, new chair Pete Hoekstra vowed to put the party back on the right track. Recent financial statements prove that, in the time between Karamo’s ouster in January and now, Hoekstra hasn’t yet achieved that goal financially.

The latest financial report from the Michigan GOP, released on July 25, shows that the party has only $384,000 on hand in its federal campaign account, while owing $184,000 in its state account.

Michigan Republican Party delegates convene at the Michigan GOP State Convention on March 2, 2024, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Despite attempts to bring the Michigan GOP’s shaky finances back on track, the party’s funds are…

Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

Those are dire numbers for the party, especially when compared to the funds available to the Michigan Democratic Party, which recently reported having over six times the amount of money in their federal campaign account than the Michigan GOP. As of June 30, the Michigan Democratic Party reported having $2,273,068.51 cash on hand.

“The Michigan GOP Chair Pete Hoekstra vowed to get the party’s financial state in order when he took over for disgraced chair Kristina Karamo—clearly this hasn’t happened,” Andrew Feldman, founder and principal of the progressive strategic communications firm Feldman Strategies, told Newsweek.

“Regardless of what Donald Trump says about his support in Michigan, this financial picture plus new polls showing the race is tied are bad news for him, and puts the MAGA GOP in a tough place with just over three months until Election Day,” he added.

Michigan is a key swing state having gone for the Democratic nominee for president in seven of the last eight elections, including for Joe Biden in 2020. Trump won the state in 2016, one of the key victories in his ascent to the White House.

Newsweek reached out to the Michigan GOP for comment by email on Wednesday but has not received a response.

Political consultant and former Michigan GOP Executive Director Jeff Timmer, who describes himself as an “erstwhile” Republican, told Newsweek that looking at the current Michigan GOP’s campaign account, the party’s “really missing two entire zeros after that $300,000. They should have $30 million in their account. They don’t even have $3 million. They have one tenth of that.”

While saying that Karamo was “a quantum level bad fundraiser”, Timmer believes Hoekstra is “just an atomic level bad fundraiser.” Investors just aren’t willing to put money behind Trump in the battleground state, Timmer said.

“The historic donors to the party have said, this is not my circus, they’re not my monkeys. There have been reports that the DeVos family has resumed donations to the Michigan GOP, but they have committed like $10,000 each. That’s a fraction of what they were doing 25 years ago. They haven’t really invested; they’ve just written token checks.”

According to recent Federal Election Commission filings by the Michigan Republican Party, seven members of the DeVos family—Betsy, Dick, Cheri, Dan, Pamella, Doug and Maria—donated $10,000 each to the party in June, as reported by MLive.

Donations were resumed after a yearlong freeze while Karamo was at the helm of the party.

For Timmer, the Michigan GOP just doesn’t have enough money in their account to compete in one competitive legislative race, “let alone fight to regain control of the legislature in Lansing,” he told Newsweek. “They’re functionally bankrupt with $300,000—might as well be zero dollars. They matter the same in these next hundred days.”

Timmer expects the financial troubles of the Michigan GOP to cost Trump the state in November. “I fully expect that at the end of the day, Trump will lose Michigan and the Republicans will lose the Congressional and Senate races here,” he said.

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Michigan

Michigan State defeats Penn State in Beaver Stadium on Charlie Stramel hat trick

Published

4 hours ago

January 31, 2026

Press Room

Michigan State defeats Penn State in Beaver Stadium on Charlie Stramel hat trick

Charlie Stramel, have yourself a day.

The senior forward came up with the hat trick for No. 2 Michigan State men’s hockey in its 5-4 overtime win over fifth-ranked Penn State in front of over 60,000 people outdoors at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 31, which included the overtime winning goal on a 1-on-1 opportunity against Penn State goaltender Kevin Reidler.

Stamel’s overtime winning goal also completes the weekend and season sweep over the Nittany Lions for the Spartans, who beat Penn State 6-3 on Friday, Jan. 30 inside Pegula Ice Arena in Happy Valley.

“Huge thanks to Penn State for putting this event on. To play in front of that many people, it’s pretty surreal and obviously happy with the win, but unreal environment, and super cool hockey game to be a part of,” Stramel said after the game on the Big Ten Network.

Stramel, who was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft with the 21st overall pick, scored his first goal of the afternoon in the first period when he cleaned up the rebound of Porter Martone shot attempt with a chip hot into the back of the net. His second came with two seconds remaining in the second period when he finished off a pass from Daniel Russell that came from behind the net.

With his hat trick on the afternoon, Stramel now has 23 goals on the season, making him Michigan State’s leader.

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Michigan

How to watch Penn State vs. Michigan State outdoor hockey game today

Published

16 hours ago

January 31, 2026

Press Room

How to watch Penn State vs. Michigan State outdoor hockey game today

Beaver Stadium hosts first outdoor hockey game in stadium history

After having its winning streak snapped on Friday evening on home ice, Penn State will hope for a rebound in front of the largest crowd ever to watch a Nittany Lions hockey game. No. 5 Penn State (18-7-0, 10-5-0 Big Ten) hosts No. 2 Michigan State (20-5-0, 11-4-0 Big Ten) for the first outdoor hockey game in Penn State’s Division 1 history on Saturday afternoon in Beaver Stadium.

Michigan State established early control against Penn State on Friday evening in the Pegula Ice Arena by jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first period, thanks in part to a pair of power-play goals later in the period. Penn State notched its first goal of the game when Jackson Smith knocked one in midway through the second period. But Michigan State answered moments later to regain a three-goal advantage with a goal from Porter Martone.

Penn State battled its way to within one goal of the Spartans with goals by Reese Laubach and Matt DiMarsico, who had three points in the game. Michigan State would go on to net a pair of empty-net goals to put the game away.

That sets the stage for Saturday afternoon’s outdoor contest in Beaver Stadium. For the first time in program history, since jumping into the world of Division 1 hockey, Penn State will play in an outdoor hockey game. And they will do so on the field of Beaver Stadium, marking the first time in stadium history that the football venue known for its football game days and primetime whiteouts will see a puck dropped on it. A vision that has been years in the making could serve as a trial run for a potential future outdoor NHL game in one of college football’s largest stadiums.

Michigan State has already won the regular-season series with the Nittany Lions with three wins in three games. So Penn State will be playing for a bit of pride in addition to keeping pace for a top-five ranking heading into the postseason.

Here is what to know about Saturday afternoon’s outdoor Big Ten hockey game in Beaver Stadium.

Stream Penn State vs. Michigan State hockey on FUBO (free trial)

What channel is Penn State vs. Michigan State hockey on today?

Date: Saturday, January 31, 2026
Start time: 1:00 p.m. ET
TV Channel: Big Ten Network
Livestream: FUBO (free trial)

Penn State’s outdoor hockey game against Michigan State will air on Big Ten Network on Saturday afternoon. For those looking for a streaming option for the coverage, the Big Ten Network’s coverage is available to stream on FUBO, which comes with a free trial for new customers.

Penn State to wear alternate uniform for outdoor game

Penn State revealed a new look to be worn for the outdoor hockey game that is a bit of a nod to the football program’s traditional look.

Updated NCAA ice hockey national championship odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Saturday, January 31, 2026.

Michigan State +400
Michigan +450
Penn State +800
North Dakota +1100
Western Michigan +1200
Denver +1300
Wisconsin +1400
Quinnipiac +1600
Boston University +1800

Upcoming Penn State hockey schedule

Friday, February 13 at Michigan*
Saturday, February 14 at Michigan*
Friday, February 20 vs. Ohio State *
Saturday, February 21 vs. Ohio State*
Friday, Feb. 27 at Notre Dame*
Saturday, Feb. 28 at Notre Dame*
Thursday, Mar. 5 vs. Wisconsin*
Friday, Mar. 6 vs. Wisconsin*

Full Penn State hockey schedule

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Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions coach, picks a side in epic U-M/MSU battle

Published

1 day ago

January 30, 2026

Press Room

Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions coach, picks a side in epic U-M/MSU battle

EAST LANSING – Dan Campbell has picked a side in the Michigan vs. Michigan State rivalry.

And Michigan fans aren’t going to be pleased.

The Detroit Lions coach was spotted sitting courtside with his wife, Holly, both wearing MSU gear before the game at Breslin Center in East Lansing on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026.

No surprise, the Lions coach was met with a huge applause from the MSU faithful thrilled to see him rocking green and white.

Campbell also was spotted shaking hands with new MSU football coach Pat Fitzgerald.

Michigan fans may be able to cut Campbell a little slack as his daughter reportedly attends MSU, as some fans may remember from when Campbell went viral for unloading a couch out of his truck.

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