No Kings Protests See Signature Gatherers Galore

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 10/20/2025) The roughly 100 No Kings protests held throughout Michigan on Saturday were fertile ground for signature gatherers looking to get an issue on the ballot or looking to get their candidate on the ticket.  

The volunteers were out in force. 

Three ballot questions backed by progressive organizations said they had representatives canvassing at least 80 of the protests on Oct. 18. Jessica Newman, a spokesperson with Invest in MI Kids, said more than 1,000 circulators were out and about.  

"There was an immense amount of excitement. I don't think I talked to a single person, personally, that did not want to sign immediately, they understood it," Newman said.  

She said the Detroit Federation of Teachers, Dearborn Federation of Teachers, Michigan and Grand Rapids Education Association members came out at the protest locations to help collect signatures. 

She said the ballot question was on track to achieve their signature goal of 700,000. 

"We know this weekend was a real shot in the arm for these folks. They feel really emboldened, especially after these great conversations that they've had. Everyone was just so excited about how well these conversations went and how many signatures they were able to collect,” she said.  

She said the volunteers with Invest in MI Kids were working closely with the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics (MOP) campaign and many of the circulators were carrying multiple petitions. 

Ranked Choice Voting Chair Pat Zabawa said they were also out with "hundreds" of volunteers to gather signatures and were at more than 80 events across the state. 

MOP Vice Chair Sean McBrearty echoed Newman and said there were thousands of people signing petitions at the protests over the weekend. He said MOP volunteers were already motivated. After the protests, volunteers were gathering signatures at the Wharton Center. 

"The morale is pretty high. We're really doing a great job on collecting signatures, and so far, it's looking like a whole lot of our signatures are coming back as valid," he said. 

He said the group was doing a pre-validation and was on track for their signature goal. 

"I think the rallies this weekend were a great show of support for all sorts of people across the state who might feel kind of down and alone with what's happening politically. I think it was good for people to come together," he said. 

McBrearty and Newman both said they saw U.S. Congressional and Senate campaigns among the circulators in the No Kings protest crowds. 

U.S. Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak) was one of those getting signatures with her volunteers. She said more than 100 people showed up at nearly 50 events gathering signatures. 

"I'm so grateful for our grassroots volunteers on Team McMorrow putting in the work statewide and laying the groundwork to win this thing next November," McMorrow said. 

A spokesperson with U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham) said they were also out at the No Kings protests gathering signatures. 

Stevens posted on social media that she attended the Livonia protest. 

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) said her campaign circulated petitions, but she personally attended six No Kings rallies to "stand up for democracy. 

"Nothing is more democratic than the strength of community, freedom of speech and the right to assemble," Dingell said. 

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