Lansing — A coalition of groups, including one that successfully overhauled Michigan’s redistricting process seven years ago, will seek a ballot proposal in 2026 to ban the state’s dominant electric utilities and major contractors from giving money to political leaders and shine new light on the flow of secret money in elections.
The effort, being formally announced Monday, could reshape how lawmakers operate in Lansing. It could also test the public’s desire to rein in energy and health care companies that have become major forces in state politics and poured millions of dollars into nonprofit organizations connected to elected leaders.
Compared with other states, Michigan has lax ethics laws that have drawn criticism for years. In November 2015, the nonprofit Center for Public Integrity ranked Michigan 50th out of the 50 states for its policies in place to deter corruption. But the Legislature has been resistant to reforms.
“Ultimately, grassroots power is the answer here,” said Kim Murphy-Kovalick, the senior director of policy and programs at the organization Voters Not Politicians. “We have to reach enough people and make them understand what is at stake in order to be successful.”
Voters Not Politicians, which championed the 2018 campaign to have an independent commission redraw Michigan’s legislative district lines, is part of the coalition backing the new Michiganders for Money Out of Politics campaign. Other groups involved in the coalition include Clean Water Action and Michigan United Action.
The group’s website is MopUpMichigan.org.
This story was originally published by The Detroit News. Read more here: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2025/06/30/michigan-campaign-seeks-ban-political-giving-utilities-contractors-transparency-voters/84388822007/