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Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, left, and Democratic challenger Mark Schauer speak at seperate MLive Ballot Bash events in October 2014.

(MLive file photos)

LANSING, MI — Michigan Republicans who pushed to double campaign contribution limits for the 2014 election cycle are benefiting from the new law more than their Democratic counterparts.

Gov. Rick Snyder, who signed the measure in December, has received more than 800 donations from individuals that exceeded the old limit of $3,400, according to an MLive analysis of campaign finance reports.

The contributions, which can now max out at $6,800, represent more than $2 million in campaign cash that would not have been available to Snyder four years ago.

Democratic challenger Mark Schauer benefited too — but not as much as the incumbent. He has received about $660,000 more from individuals and political action committees than they could have given in 2010.

Roughly 200 individuals have given Schauer more than $3,400, while 10 PACS have donated more than $34,000, including four union groups that made maximum $68,000 contributions.

The new law, fast-tracked through the Republican-led Legislature late last year despite vocal opposition from Democrats, also indexed contribution caps to inflation and codified non-disclosure rules for so-called “issue ads.”

Michigan contribution limits had not been updated since the late 1970s and trailed national averages. Those supporting the change advocated for free speech and argued that higher limits would allow candidates to keep up with outside groups that face fewer spending restrictions.

Snyder, in an editorial explaining his rationale for signing the law, said it strikes a "balance between a voter's right to contribute to the political process while preserving necessary limits to ensure the integrity of our electoral system."

With few exceptions, the law has benefited Republican candidates and extended the influence of already powerful players, including the DeVos and Moroun families.

“I think it was very predictable that those who had the loudest voice and the most influence in steering politics and policy have an even stronger voice now and more influence,” said Rich Robinson, head of the non-profit Michigan Campaign Finance Network. “And I think that’s exactly what the intention of the bill was.”

Republican Attorney General Bill Schuette has received about $400,000 in new money from contributions that exceeded the old limits, compared to just $54,500 for Democratic challenger Mark Totten.

The new law has had a smaller impact in the Secretary of State race, where Republican incumbent Ruth Johnson has gotten about $14,900 above the old limits and Democratic challenger Godfrey Dillard has received a max donation from the United Auto Workers, which was able to give $34,000 more under the new law.

Larger individual and PAC contributions have meant about $475,000 in new money for Republican state Senate candidates so far this cycle, compared to around $280,000 for Democrats.

Republican state House candidates have received about $760,000 via contributions that exceeded the old limits, compared to about $430,000 for Democrats.

Individuals with the last name of DeVos — a powerful West Michigan family — gave nearly $200,000 more to Republican state House and Senate candidates than they could have given those same candidates under the old law.

The Moroun family of Metro Detroit, which owns and operates the Ambassador Bridge to Canada, was able to give an extra $29,000 to Republicans running for the state Legislature along with $9,000 to Democrats.

Campaign finance reports filed with the state on Friday indicate that Republicans running for top statewide offices — governor, attorney general and secretary of state — are raising more than their challengers and have already topped their own totals from 2010.

Candidates are expected to file supplementary campaign finance reports every 48 hours in the run up to the November 4 general election, which is just eight days way.

Jonathan Oosting is a Capitol reporter for MLive Media Group. Email him, find him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.