Michigan Voters Decide on Utility Power and Political Spending
Michigan voters are deciding on a statewide ban on utility political contributions and a local Ann Arbor proposal to municipalize the electrical grid.
Voters in Michigan are deciding on two separate citizen-led initiatives on November 3, 2026, aimed at curbing the influence of electric utilities. At the state level, Proposition 2 seeks to ban political contributions from regulated gas and electric utilities, as well as companies with more than $250,000 in government contracts. This ban would extend to executives and their families.
In Ann Arbor, residents are voting on Proposal E, which would establish a city board to oversee the takeover of the electrical grid from DTE Energy. The push for municipalization and the statewide spending ban stem from public frustration over high energy rates, poor grid reliability, and the growth of energy-intensive datacenters.
Opposition to these measures is significant. DTE Energy and Consumers Energy have funded non-profits and PACs to campaign against the initiatives. The group Protect MI Free Speech argues the spending ban violates First Amendment protections, while the Ann Arbor City Council filed a lawsuit to block the municipalization effort. Other opponents include the Ann Arbor Responsible Energy Coalition.
Proponents of the measures, including Michiganders for Money Out of Politics and Ann Arbor for Public Power, argue the initiatives are necessary to ensure utility companies do not bankroll the campaigns of officials who regulate them. In Ann Arbor, the vote coincides with a U.S. Senate race between Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed and Republican nominee Mike Rogers.
