LANSING — A group of Michigan advocacy organizations launched a new ballot campaign this week, seeking to limit political donations from state utility companies.
Michiganders for Money Out of Politics, known as Mop Up Michigan, is made up of left-leaning organizations like Voters not Politicians, Clean Water Action and the League of Conservation Voters.
Supporters of the proposal say that the large purses of Consumers and DTE Energy cast a shadow over Michigan politics — the companies have donated to a majority of state lawmakers in recent campaign cycles.
“We will simply be working to put the power of the people up front and ensure that those companies are held accountable,” said Sean McBrearty, director of Clean Water Action.
Similar proposals have been put forward in the state Legislature, but they’ve never made it into law.
Advocates say that the proposed ban would allow lawmakers to better represent the interests of their constituents, most of whom have paid increased utility rates in recent years.
“Our goal is to pass a citizen-led ballot initiative that bans political contributions from regulated monopoly utilities like DTE and Consumers Energy, and corporations that seek or hold large state and local government contracts in excess of $250,000,” McBrearty said.
Consumers and DTE have both said that their political activity is directed by voluntary employee contributions, rather than corporate interests.
The campaign would need to receive nearly 360,000 valid signatures from Michigan voters to appear on the 2026 ballot.