As Consumers Energy Seeks Another $456 Million From Michigan Families, Voters Deserve to Know Which Politicians Have Pledged to Reject Corporate Influence, and Which Have Not.
When Consumers Energy announced in June 2026 that it was seeking another $456 million annually from Michigan ratepayers, the news immediately generated concern across the state. If approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission, the request would increase residential electric rates by nearly 10 percent for approximately 1.8 million customers throughout Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Attorney General Dana Nessel quickly announced that her office would intervene, arguing that Michigan residents continue to face a steady stream of utility rate increases at a time when many families are already struggling with rising costs.
Like many people, my initial reaction centered on the impact on ratepayers. Utility bills are not optional expenses. Families cannot simply decide to stop paying for electricity. Small businesses cannot operate without it. Every approved rate increase affects household budgets, particularly for seniors, working families, and those already living paycheck to paycheck.
But as I began reading about the latest request, I found myself heading down a very different path. The story stopped being solely about Consumers Energy and became something much larger. It raised questions about corporate influence in government, campaign finance, and the relationship between powerful institutions and the elected officials responsible for overseeing them.
That led me to a growing statewide effort known as the Money Out of Politics movement and a pledge signed by lawmakers and candidates who have publicly committed to rejecting certain forms of corporate and utility-related political contributions. The pledge is part of a broader conversation taking place across Michigan regarding transparency, accountability, and whether corporations that depend upon government decisions should be allowed to wield significant financial influence within the political system.
The issue is not limited to utilities. Consumers Energy simply serves as a timely example because of its latest rate request. The larger concern involves any corporation or organization that seeks government contracts, tax incentives, regulatory approvals, subsidies, or other forms of public support while simultaneously contributing money into the political system. For many voters, the concern is not necessarily that every contribution changes a vote. The concern is that the public increasingly lacks confidence in whether decisions are being made independently or whether money has become too influential in determining who gets access, influence, and favorable outcomes.
That is where the pledge becomes significant.
According to information compiled and shared by Distill Social, along with reporting from organizations supporting campaign finance reform efforts, dozens of current officeholders and candidates across Michigan have publicly pledged to reject money connected to monopoly utilities and other corporate interests. The pledge is also closely connected to broader reform proposals, including future legislation such as Michigan Money Out of Politics, which seeks to limit political contributions from corporations that hold large contracts with state government.
Whether someone agrees with every aspect of those proposals is not really the point. What makes the pledge noteworthy is that it creates a clear and measurable distinction between candidates and elected officials. Rather than forcing voters to sift through campaign finance reports, lobbying disclosures, and PAC filings, the pledge provides a straightforward answer to a straightforward question: Are you willing to voluntarily reject certain forms of corporate political influence?
As I reviewed the list of signers, I was particularly interested in what it revealed about Southwest Michigan and Kalamazoo County.
Several names familiar to local voters appeared among those who signed the pledge. Representative Matt Longjohn, who represents House District 40, publicly signed. So did Jen Strebs and Jessica Swartz, both candidates seeking election in House District 41. Bill Korb, who is running in House District 42, also signed the pledge.
Regardless of political party, those candidates have made their position clear. Voters may ultimately agree or disagree with their decision, but there is no ambiguity about where they stand on the issue. In an era where political messaging is often carefully crafted to avoid difficult questions, something is refreshing about candidates who publicly commit themselves to a position that can later be evaluated by voters.
The names that did not appear on the list were equally noteworthy.
Current State Senator Sean McCann does not appear among the publicly circulated list of pledge signers. State Representative Julie Rogers, who is seeking to succeed McCann in the State Senate, also does not appear on the list. House Speaker Matt Hall, one of the most powerful elected officials in Michigan government and the current representative for House District 42, likewise does not appear among the signers. While the reasons may differ from one candidate or officeholder to another, their absence from the published list creates a clear point of contrast with those who chose to publicly sign the pledge.
To be absolutely clear, not signing a pledge is not evidence of corruption, wrongdoing, or unethical conduct. Signing a pledge does not automatically make someone a better public servant, nor does it guarantee independence from special interests. Those are important distinctions to make. However, transparency matters, and the absence of a signature on a pledge specifically designed to address concerns about corporate influence is a fact that voters have every right to consider.
The local contrasts are particularly interesting.
In House District 41, current Representative Julie Rogers does not appear on the pledge list, yet both candidates seeking to replace her, Jen Strebs and Jessica Swartz, have signed. In House District 42, current House Speaker Matt Hall does not appear on the list, while challenger Bill Korb does. These situations create a direct contrast between current officeholders and candidates seeking office, providing voters with a tangible point of comparison as the election season approaches.
As I reviewed the publicly available information, I focused specifically on elected officials and candidates serving Kalamazoo County and the surrounding Southwest Michigan region. While the pledge includes dozens of lawmakers and candidates from across the state, the names most relevant to local voters reveal a clear contrast between those who signed and those who do not appear on the published list.
Source: Graphic created by Jennifer L. Dayton using publicly available pledge information compiled by Distill Social and candidate records reviewed at the time of publication.
What makes this issue particularly relevant right now is the growing disconnect many voters feel between government institutions and the people they are intended to serve. Public trust in government, media, corporations, and other major institutions has declined significantly over the past decade. Regardless of political affiliation, many Americans increasingly believe that ordinary citizens have less influence over public policy than large organizations with substantial financial resources.
Campaign finance reform efforts emerge from that concern. Supporters argue that reducing the role of corporate money helps restore public confidence and creates greater accountability. Critics often argue that such efforts raise constitutional concerns or unfairly limit political participation. Those debates are likely to continue for years.
What should not be controversial, however, is transparency.
Voters should know who has signed these pledges.
Voters should know who has not.
Voters should have access to information that allows them to make informed decisions at the ballot box.
Ultimately, this is why I believe the pledge itself deserves attention. Not because it solves every problem. Not because it eliminates corporate influence. Not because it guarantees ethical government. Rather, it matters because it provides information. It gives voters another tool for evaluating candidates and understanding where they stand on an issue that affects public trust.
Consumers Energy’s request for another $456 million may have been what started this investigation, but it ultimately led to a much larger question about the role money plays in Michigan politics. As voters prepare for another election cycle, they will hear countless promises from candidates seeking their support. They will see campaign advertisements, mailers, debates, endorsements, and carefully crafted messaging.
The pledge offers voters something increasingly rare in modern politics: a clear public position. Candidates either chose to sign it or they did not. That decision alone does not determine who deserves support, but it does provide voters with additional information as they evaluate the people seeking to represent them.
Whether voters view that decision as important is ultimately up to them. But before casting their ballots, they deserve to know who signed and who didn’t.
—
Jennifer L. Dayton
Founder & Executive Director
Kalamazoo Justice Project, Inc.
Supporting Documents & Sources
- Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s announcement regarding the Consumers Energy rate case.
- Planet Detroit reporting on the No Utility Money Challenge.
- Michigan League of Conservation Voters’ No Utility Money Challenge.
- Michiganders for Money Out of Politics campaign materials.
- Michigan Bureau of Elections candidate filings.
- Distill Social graphics and publicly shared pledge information.
Distill Social graphics are used for commentary, reporting, and discussion of matters of public interest. All rights remain with the original creators.
Accountability Watch Series
This article is part of the Accountability Watch series, which examines matters of public interest involving government, elections, campaign finance, public policy, and institutional accountability. Unless otherwise noted, information presented is derived from publicly available records, official government sources, candidate filings, public statements, and cited third-party reporting. Readers are encouraged to review original source materials and reach their own conclusions.
Author’s Note: This article discusses publicly reported pledge participation and publicly available information regarding elected officials and candidates. Inclusion or exclusion from a pledge list should not be interpreted as evidence of wrongdoing, misconduct, or unethical behavior. Readers are encouraged to review candidate positions, campaign finance filings, and source materials independently.
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