Michiganders for Money Out of Politics submitted an estimated 562,000 signatures to the Michigan secretary of state’s office on May 27, 2026, seeking to place a campaign finance reform initiative on the November 2026 ballot. The campaign exceeded the 356,958 valid signatures required to qualify for the ballot.
The proposed initiative would prohibit regulated electric and gas utilities, government contractors with over $250,000 in annual state contracts, and individuals or organizations with substantial ties to those entities from making direct or indirect campaign contributions to candidates for governor, attorney general, secretary of state, the state legislature, and certain local offices, as well as to ballot measure committees. The measure also includes new disclosure and disclaimer requirements. It would mandate reporting for electioneering communications exceeding $5,000 a year and lower the threshold for independent expenditure reporting from $1,000 or more annually to more than $500.01 per year. Additionally, it would expand electioneering disclosure rules to cover ads that clearly identify candidates or ballot measures, even if they do not expressly advocate for or against them. Current Michigan law only requires disclosure for communications that explicitly advocate for or against a candidate or measure.
Christy McGillivray, the co-chair of Michiganders for Money Out of Politics, said, "Voters in Michigan will get to vote this November to ban the corrupt campaign donations flowing from regulated utilities, like DTE and Consumers, and corporations with contracts with the state of Michigan, like Blue Cross Blue Shield. These are the same companies who are not checked when they raise our utility bills, when they raise our health care premiums, because they are the ones funding the politicians who are supposed to be representing us."
The initiative would also impose disclaimer requirements on political communications made with artificial intelligence, including internet advertisements and prerecorded phone messages.
Wendy Block, the senior vice president of business advocacy for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, criticized the proposal, saying, "What’s clear is that this measure raises serious concerns and sets a dangerous precedent by limiting public discourse and free speech. We believe Michigan’s political and legislative process should welcome all voices and encourage fair, open and transparent debate."
If approved by voters, the initiative would add a second measure to the November 2026 ballot, which already includes a constitutional convention question automatically referred to voters under state law.