November 3, 2026 | |
Proposal to prohibit regulated utility companies with $250,000+ in government contracts from making campaign contributions to candidates running for or in government offices impacting them |
| Elections in Michigan |
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A referendum on campaign finance reforms will take place on November 3, 2026, as part of the 2026 Michigan elections. This referendum is a popular initiative.
A group, Michiganders for Money Out of Politics, submitted 561,282 signatures to the Board of State Canvassers, enough to be placed on the 2026 ballot. After being recommended to by the state's Bureau of Elections, the canvassers voted 3–1 to certify the proposal's signatures. [1]
Under the state's constitution, popular initiatives are sent to the state legislature to be approved within 40 days. If it is not approved within that period, it is then placed on the ballot. While approved by the Michigan House of Representatives in a 77–26 vote, the Michigan Senate did not hold a vote within the 40 days, thus sending the proposal to the general election ballot. [2] [3]
The campaign for this initiative is being pushed by the group Michiganders for Money Out of Politics, a coalition including groups such as Clean Water Action, Community Change Action, Michigan League of Conservation Voters, and Voters Not Politicians. [4]
Protect MI Free Speech, the committee formed to oppose this initiative, has received funding from CMS Energy, the parent company of Consumers Energy. The health insurance company Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has also been found to have given money to Protect MI Free Speech. [4]
The proposal will appear on the ballot as follows: [5]
A proposed initiated law to prohibit campaign contributions from certain regulated utilities and government contractors and apply campaign finance laws and regulations to additional types of political communications.
The proposal would:
- Prohibit regulated electric and gas utilities, contractors with over $250,000 annually in government contracts, and people and organizations with substantial connections to these utilities/contractors from making direct or indirect campaign contributions to those who run for or hold offices that impact them.
- Expand laws regulating spending on political communications, including those requiring disclosing donor information, to apply to communications clearly identifying candidates or ballot questions, even if they do not expressly advocate voting for/against them.
- Expressly apply the law requiring disclosure of who paid for political communications to internet political communications.
Should this proposal be adopted?