LANSING, Mich. — Regulated utilities and big government contractors in Michigan will soon be shut out of campaign giving after voters overwhelmingly approved Proposal 2 on Tuesday.
The measure was called at 9:38 p.m., shortly after polls closed. By early Wednesday, with about 91% of the expected vote counted, the yes side stood at 81.1% against 18.9% for no, a margin of more than 62 points that barely moved all night.
Under the new law, regulated electric and gas companies, businesses holding more than $250,000 a year in government contracts, and people or groups closely tied to them may not give money, directly or indirectly, to candidates and officeholders whose decisions affect them. It also widens donor disclosure rules to cover ads that clearly identify a candidate or ballot question even without telling people how to vote, and spells out that paid-for-by disclosures apply to online political ads.
The push came from a citizen-led ballot committee formed in July 2025. Organizers delivered over 560,000 petition signatures to the state elections bureau in May, and supporters pointed to DTE Energy and Consumers Energy and their recent rate increases as the reason for the measure. In October state utility regulators approved a $139 million increase for Consumers Energy, more than 40% below what the company asked for.
Lawmakers had a chance to adopt the plan themselves. House Republican leaders passed a version, which Democrats warned would be easier to undo later, but Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, now the incoming lieutenant governor, left it to voters.
Opponents organized as Protect MI Free Speech argued the ban would trample First Amendment rights of businesses and people tied to them. Their challenge to the petition signatures ended in September, when the Michigan Supreme Court declined to hear it. Both utilities have said they follow campaign finance law and are open about their giving.
Section: More Grand Rapids MI politics news
Filed under: Grand Rapids MI Politics News
