Michigan voters approved Proposal 2, which bars utilities and large government contractors from spending on state campaigns, and rejected Proposal 1, the once-every-16-years question on calling a constitutional convention, according to Michigan Advance. Both results are unofficial until the state certifies them.
The same ballot sent Abdul El-Sayed to the U.S. Senate.
Proposal 2: who can no longer spend on campaigns
The measure, backed by a coalition called Michiganders for Money Out of Politics, bans campaign spending by three groups: regulated electric and gas utilities, contractors holding more than $250,000 a year in government contracts, and people and organizations with substantial connections to either.
"Tonight, David beat Goliath," said Ken Whittaker of Michigan United as supporters claimed victory shortly after 9 p.m. Eastern.
Before the vote, Republican leaders in the state House tried to pass a version of the measure into law themselves, which would have kept it off the ballot; Democrats argued a statute would be easier to change later, and Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks never took it up. The opposition group Protect MI Free Speech sued over the petition signatures. In early September the Michigan Supreme Court declined to hear the case.
Proposal 1: no constitutional convention
Michigan's constitution requires the convention question at the 1978 general election and every 16th year after that. A yes vote would have led to an election of delegates to rewrite the state's founding document.
It has not passed since 1961, when the convention that wrote the current constitution met. Voters have rejected it every time since, most recently in 2010. They did so again Tuesday. The opposition campaign this year drew groups from across the political spectrum.
Voters in other states also decided ballot measures Tuesday, including school sports rules in Arizona, Nebraska and Washington.
