EXCLUSIVE — In a show of fundraising strength, Republican Michael Bouchard raked in more than a quarter million dollars in the first week of his campaign for Michigan’s 10th Congressional District.
Bouchard, an Army veteran and son of a popular Detroit-area sheriff by the same name, eclipsed $250,000 in fundraising seven days after launching his campaign on Nov. 6. In a statement, he called the sum a sign of early momentum for his candidacy.
“I’m deeply humbled by the welcome home I received after returning from Iraq just weeks ago, and equally as humbled by the early momentum behind our campaign,” said Bouchard, who finished a nine-month deployment earlier this fall.
“Michigan’s 10th Congressional District deserves a continued legacy of strong, service-driven leadership, and I’m grateful to every person who’s stepped forward to help us keep this seat and continue delivering for our community,” he added.
JOHN JAMES RUN FOR MICHIGAN GOVERNOR FRUSTRATES HOUSE GOP LEADERSHIP: ‘IT STINGS’
The announcement, shared first with the Washington Examiner, follows a strong quarter for Bouchard’s rival in the Republican primary. Robert Lulgjuraj, a local prosecutor who announced his campaign in August, raised $650,000 in the third quarter of 2025, a haul that his team described as the most of any first-time GOP candidate in the country.
Each is attempting to demonstrate they can follow in the footsteps of Rep. John James (R-MI), who opted to run for governor instead of seeking a third term in the purple 10th District. James is one of House Republicans’ most prolific fundraisers, and his race attracted millions in outside spending last cycle.
Bouchard’s allies have spent months laying the groundwork for his campaign, with a “Draft Captain Mike Bouchard” super PAC collecting celebrity and heavyweight political endorsements before he launched.
FLINT REPUBLICAN COURTS BLACK TRUMP VOTERS TO FLIP MICHIGAN HOUSE SEAT
In a press release announcing the quarter-million milestone, Detroit Pistons legend Vinnie Johnson called Bouchard “the kind of leader who gets things done – no excuses, just results.”
Lulgjuraj, the grandson of Albanian immigrants, is courting the support of Balkan and other ethnic enclaves that make up a sizable share of the district. He has the support of Brian Pannebecker, the head of Auto Workers for Trump.
