Prop 2 aims a punch at utilities and government contractors, but it lands on issue-focused nonprofits.

People United for Privacy (PUFP) today published an analysis of Michigan Proposal 2, dubbed the “Mop Up Michigan” initiative by its backers. Prop 2 has been promoted as a means of prohibiting direct and indirect political contributions by utilities and large government contractors. PUFP’s analysis finds, however, that the proposal’s clandestine changes to campaign finance law would weaponize the enforcement process and chill issue speech by Michigan nonprofits and associations.

PUFP’s analysis, “Mop Up Michigan (Prop 2026-2): Throwing Nonprofit Advocacy and Donor Privacy Out With the Mop Water,” explains that the measure would expand the Michigan Campaign Finance Act (MCFA) beyond electoral advocacy to regulate everyday policy discussions.

“If adopted, issue-focused nonprofits would be forced to navigate vague descriptions of regulated communications and risk triggering donor exposure requirements at the whim of enforcement officials interpreting the measure’s subjective language,” the analysis explains.

Prop 2 would expand the MCFA’s definition of “expenditure” to include the infamous “promote, attack, support, oppose” (PASO) standard, under which communications may be regulated even if they do not expressly advocate for or against a candidate or ballot measure. This standard is notorious for its vagueness and subjectivity, leaving issue-focused nonprofits unsure of what they can say without jeopardizing the privacy of their donors. Merely spending $500 or more annually on messages deemed to “PASO” a candidate or ballot measure would classify a nonprofit as a “committee,” which requires public disclosure of the group’s full donor list, including supporters’ home addresses.

The vagueness in the PASO standard also enables elected officials and private actors to weaponize campaign finance enforcement to persecute critics and political opponents. The enforcement process is administered by Michigan’s Secretary of State and Attorney General, making it vulnerable to partisan and selective abuse targeting speakers disfavored by those in power.

Download PUFP’s analysis here to learn more about how the “Mop Up Michigan” initiative (Prop 26-2) affects Michigan nonprofits, associations, and donors.