Proposal 2: Michigan's 2026 Money-Out-of-Politics Ballot Initiative
Mop Up Michigan is a ballot committee that authored Proposal 2, a 2026 Michigan statewide ballot initiative targeting corporate political contributions and campaign finance disclosure gaps.
Who Would Be Affected by the Ban?
Proposal 2 targets two categories of entities: regulated utility monopolies (such as electric and gas utilities subject to state oversight) and companies that hold or are seeking state or local government contracts valued above $250,000. Both categories would be prohibited from making political contributions to candidates or officeholders who regulate or contract with them.
Closing the Issue-Ad Loophole
Under current Michigan law, political advertising that stops short of explicitly advocating for or against a candidate can be funded without public disclosure. Proposal 2 would close this gap by requiring disclosure of spending on such issue ads in the period leading up to an election, bringing Michigan's rules in line with federal transparency standards.
Legislative History
In 2024 and again in 2025, lawmakers introduced legislation to address corporate political contributions, but it did not advance. The MMOP coalition turned to a citizen-led ballot initiative as the mechanism for change, submitting over 560,000 signatures that were certified by the Michigan Board of State Canvassers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the issue-ad loophole?
The issue-ad loophole allows political advertising that does not explicitly endorse or oppose a candidate to be funded anonymously. Proposal 2 would require disclosure of such spending close to an election.
When will Michigan voters vote on Proposal 2?
Michigan voters will decide on Proposal 2 on November 3, 2026, as part of the statewide general election ballot.
How did Proposal 2 get on the ballot?
MMOP submitted more than 560,000 citizen signatures, which the Michigan Board of State Canvassers certified, qualifying Proposal 2 for the November 2026 ballot.