Two Groups With Consumers Energy Ties Target Carra In HD 36

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 07/23/2026) Two organizations with ties to Consumers Energy have spent nearly $290,000 on advertising targeting Rep. Steve Carra (R-Three Rivers) in the Republican primary for Michigan’s 36th House District.

Faithful Conservatives for Michigan has spent $138,691 in the race, while Citizens for Energizing Michigan’s Economy has spent $149,756, according to AdImpact.

Both organizations are registered as 501(c)(4) nonprofits, entities commonly referred to as “dark money” groups because they can spend money attempting to influence elections without publicly disclosing the sources of their funding.

Although little information about either organization is readily available, records from the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) indicate folks connected to Consumers Energy are responsible.

Faithful Conservatives for Michigan, which has been registered with the state since 2018, lists Chris Iannuzzi as its secretary. Iannuzzi is the executive director of governmental affairs at Consumers Energy.

The organization’s treasurer is Dennis Darnoi, a Republican political consultant who previously served as campaign manager and communications director for former House Speaker Tom Leonard’s gubernatorial campaign.

Citizens for Energizing Michigan’s Economy, which has been registered since 2013, lists Brandon Hofmeister as its president. Hofmeister is Consumers Energy’s senior vice president of strategy, sustainability and external affairs.

The involvement of Consumers Energy officials in the organizations may be connected to Carra’s public opposition to artificial intelligence data centers. Carra told MIRS, "Yeah, Consumers Energy wants to provide power to the data centers, and because I have challenged their crony ways, they are coming after me.

Carra said they got involved because “they are corrupt to the core, and they don't like principled people in the legislature.”

“It’s an honor to have earned their effort trying to take me out and trying to protect the good old boys clubs, special interest groups and corrupt politics as usual,” Carra said. “The fact that they see me as the biggest threat to Lansing is something that is the reality. I am,” he said. “And it’s an honor that they see it so much that they’re trying to take me out. And when I am successful in beating them on Aug. 4, I’ll come back stronger because of it.”

A Faithful Conservatives for Michigan advertisement titled “Soft Steve” accuses Carra of supporting “woke RINO policies” and repeatedly voting against funding for the Michigan State Police.

“Soft Steve voted to not fund the state police, not just once, but six times,” the advertisement says.

The ad also says Carra voted “50% of the time with the most radical left member” of the House, referring to Rep. Dylan Wegela (D-Garden City).

Meanwhile, an advertisement from Citizens for Energizing Michigan’s Economy titled “Luke’s Plan” promotes Carra’s Republican primary opponent, Luke Lori, as a law-and-order conservative who would cut property taxes and support police funding.

“Back the badge and cut taxes. That’s conservative Luke Lori's plan for Michigan,” the advertisement says before highlighting Lori's two decades working as a corrections officer with the sheriff’s department.

The spending also drew attention Wednesday from Republican gubernatorial candidate Perry Johnson, who Carra has endorsed.

In a Facebook post, Johnson directly attributed the advertisements to Carra’s opposition to Consumers Energy and proposed data center projects.

“Steve has the courage to stand up to Consumers Energy, powerful special interests, and the data center developers trying to force massive projects onto local communities,” Johnson wrote.

Johnson accused “Consumers Energy-backed political mercenaries” of spending approximately $300,000 to defeat Carra and silence his opposition.

“Steve will not back down, and neither will I,” Johnson wrote. “We are fighting together for a data center moratorium, real transparency, and a government that puts Michigan families ahead of powerful insiders.”

MIRS contacted Eric Doster, the registered agent for both organizations and an election attorney, for comment but did not receive a response by publication.