Michiganders Decide On Utility Donation Ban
Ballot measure restricts contributions from firms with large state contracts and expands disclosure rules for political ads.
By Julia Wang ·
Michigan voters go to the polls on Nov. 3 to weigh a new limit on campaign money.
Proposal 2 would block regulated electric and gas utilities from giving directly or indirectly to politicians whose offices impact their business. The ban extends to contractors holding more than $250,000 in annual government contracts and to individuals or organizations with substantial ties to those firms.
The measure also changes how political spending is tracked. It expands existing laws on political communications to include messages that clearly identify a candidate or ballot question, even if they do not explicitly urge a vote. The rule for disclosing who paid for political ads would also apply expressly to internet communications.
The citizen-led initiative came from the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics committee. Formed in July 2025, the group submitted a petition in September 2025 to amend the state campaign finance act. By May 2026, they delivered more than 560,000 signatures to the Bureau of Elections. The state canvassers certified the votes two months later.
Protect MI Free Speech, an opposing committee, challenged the signature count before certification. They argued the proposal stripped businesses of First Amendment rights. The dispute reached the Michigan Supreme Court, which allowed the measure to stay on the ballot in September 2026. The proposal could have passed via the state legislature, but the Senate did not move forward. Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks said they wanted to leave the decision to residents.
Christy McGillivray, co-chair of the MMOP executive board, said more than half a million people signed the petition. She stated that the moment for residents to take government back from corporate interests is here. She added that the stakes are clear: whether to allow government to remain for sale to the highest bidder or to hold monopoly utilities accountable.
DTE Energy and Consumers Energy say they currently comply with state and federal campaign finance laws. They note that policies enacted by lawmakers affect their operations. Katie Carey, a Consumers Energy spokesperson, said in a statement last month that the proposal will shift influence toward wealthy national donors and special interests. She noted that MMOP has raised $7.4 million to finance its effort.
John Sellek, a spokesperson for Protect MI Free Speech, told CBS News Detroit on Oct. 19 that voters should oppose the measure. He said it uses frustration with living costs as cover to attack the speech rights of everyday residents related to or contracting with covered entities. He added that out-of-state billionaires can continue spending as they please to influence policy.
