St. Joe-Benton Harbor News

Chokwe Pitchford for 79th District House of Representatives spent the most out of all the political committees based in cities associated with Berrien County during the first quarter of 2021, according to the Michigan Department of State.

The committee paid $13,172 to seven vendors.

The largest expense was $11,822 paid to Benton Harbor-based Forward Together PAC for donation.

The second largest political spend from a committee operating in a city within Berrien County during the quarter came from Brad Paquette for State Representation. It spent $6,359 during the time period on nine different vendors.

What’s known as “dark money,” which comes from political non-profits and shell corporations, has greatly increased expenditures and donations in recent elections to record-breaking highs.

Total political expenditures made by candidates in the 2022 elections amounted to $147 million.

Political campaign financial data is often updated, leading to a sometimes incomplete picture of a committee or candidate's finances.

Committee	Expenditures	Paid Vendors
Chokwe Pitchford for 79th District House of Representatives	$13,172	7
Brad Paquette for State Representation	$6,359	9
Forward Together PAC	$1,212	3
Paquette Leadership Fund	$723	4
Committee to Elect Pauline Wendzel	$453	1
Committee to Elect Dan Vanden Heede	$366	2