Statewide ballot proposal · November 3, 2026
Proposal 2: Michiganders for Money Out of Politics
A yes vote means
A yes vote adopts the initiated law. Regulated electric and gas utilities such as DTE Energy and Consumers Energy, companies with more than $250,000 a year in government contracts, and people and organizations closely connected to them could no longer make direct or indirect campaign contributions to candidates for, or holders of, offices that affect them. Groups paying for political ads that name a candidate or ballot question would have to disclose their donors, and paid-for disclaimers would apply to internet ads.
A no vote means
A no vote leaves Michigan's campaign finance law as it is. Utilities and state contractors keep their current ability to give, and disclosure rules continue to apply only to ads that expressly urge a vote for or against someone.
Official ballot language
Proposal 2026-2
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?
[ ] Yes[ ] No
Verbatim from the Michigan Bureau of Elections' “2026 November ballot questions” (Board of State Canvassers).
In the news
18 articles- Vote 'no' on deceitful Proposal 2 | Our ViewThe Detroit News· Sep 22, 2026· Opinion
- Two statewide proposals head to Michigan's November ballotThe Arab American News· Sep 11, 2026
- Michigan's November 2026 ballot is official, includes two questions for all votersWKAR· Sep 4, 2026
- Michigan Ballot Proposal 2: Money out of politicsFOX 2 Detroit· Sep 2026
- Michigan Proposal 2 seeks to limit campaign contributions from utilities and government contractorsWXYZ· Sep 2026
- Fact check: Would 'money out of politics' proposal stifle free speech?Bridge Michigan· Sep 2026
- Fact check: Would 'money out of politics' proposal live up to its name?Bridge Michigan· Sep 2026
- Michigan utility political spending proposal heads to votersAxios Detroit· Aug 27, 2026
- Michigan House backs Money Out of Politics proposal, voters will have final saySpectrum News· Aug 26, 2026
- 'Michiganders for Money Out of Politics' petition taken up in the HouseMichigan Public· Aug 25, 2026
- Board of State Canvassers approves ballot language for money out of politics proposalMichigan Advance· Aug 17, 2026
- 'Michiganders for Money out of Politics' ballot question language finalizedMichigan Public· Aug 17, 2026
- A ballot fight over corporate money in Michigan politics is coming to votersMichigan Advance· Aug 11, 2026
- Michigan ballot question on political spending faces final hurdlesPlanet Detroit· Aug 2026
- State canvassers approve Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot languagePlanet Detroit· Aug 2026
- Michigan utility interests pump $100K into fight against political spending banEnergy and Policy Institute· Aug 2026
- 'Money out of politics' proposal cleared for Michigan ballotBridge Michigan· Jul 27, 2026
- Proposal to ban DTE, Consumers spending in politics clears big hurdleThe Detroit News· Jul 24, 2026
