Coalition Forms Ballot Question Committee To Fight Corporate Influence In Politics

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 06/30/2025) The Taking Back Our Power coalition on Monday announced it has formed a ballot question committee to fight corporate influence in Michigan’s politics.

If successful, the effort, which includes Voters Not Politicians – the group that successfully overhauled Michigan’s redistricting process – could reshape how lawmakers in Lansing operate as well as test whether the public wants to rein in energy companies that have become major forces in state politics.

“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,” said Sean McBrearty, director of Clean Water Action and vice chair of the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics (MMOP) ballot question committee.

“… The only thing that beats the power of organized money is the power of organized people,” he added.

Kim Murphy-Kovalick, senior director of policy and programs of VNP, agreed, saying, “Ultimately, grassroots power is the answer here.”

The proposed target of contracts exceeding $250,000 would include corporations like Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, which contracts with the state and has a political action committee.

The coalition, Taking Back Our Power, hasn’t released its proposed petition language. The group said the initiative aims to address dark money loopholes and ensure accountability.

Campaign spokespeople said they plan to collect 357,000 signatures to put the question before voters in November 2026.

In addition to VNP, the Taking Back Our Power coalition includes Clean Water Action, Climate Cabinet, Community Change Action, Detroit Action, Emergent Justice, Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition, Michigan League of Conservation Voters, Michigan United Action, MOSES Action, and Progress Michigan.

The group’s website is MopUpMichigan.org.