Michigan Voters Just Put Energy Affordability on November’s Ballot

Contact: Samah Shaiq

Following Tuesday’s statewide primary election in Michigan, Evergreen Action Midwest Advocacy Director Courtney Brady released the following statement:

“Michigan voters sent a clear message last night: they want leaders who will go big on clean energy. Candidates who ran on lowering energy costs, utility oversight, and data center accountability won up and down the ballot—from Congress to governor and state legislature—confirming that energy affordability will be a defining issue on the ballot this November.

“Michiganders are pushing back against a Trump energy agenda that has saddled their wallets with record-high gas prices and utility bills. An April poll found that Michigan voters overwhelmingly support more investments in clean energy and want stronger guardrails for data centers. The lesson for candidates in Michigan and across the country is loud and clear: you can’t address Americans’ affordability crisis without taking on the energy crisis.”

Key races signifying energy affordability as a central issue:

U.S. Senate

Abdul El-Sayed is campaigning on lowering utility bills and has a record of advancing renewable energy. He has made clear he will stand up against the fossil fuel industry to achieve that goal. He has also pushed to hold Michigan’s utility companies accountable, criticizing their political spending and outsized influence over state regulators—arguing that ratepayers are shouldering the cost of decisions that prioritize profits over affordable, reliable service.

Michigan Governor

Jocelyn Benson is running on an energy affordability agenda rooted in ending unfair rate hikes and investing in a clean energy future, while targeting the utility companies that have long functioned without any accountability or transparency. This includes a proposal to ban utilities, like DTE Energy, from using political spending to influence elections.

Congressional District (MI-07)

William Lawrence has made confronting data center and utility companies a central platform of his campaign. As an environmental advocate and champion throughout his career for the clean energy transition, he made clear he will fight for more investments in clean energy.

Congressional District (MI-13)

Donovan McKinney has been a clean energy champion with a record to prove it. He has fought to lower energy costs and advance clean energy policies like community solar. He has campaigned on utility accountability and forcing data centers to pay for the large burdens they place on the grid. 

Congressional District (MI-10)

Christina Hines supports investments in clean energy and electric vehicle production to reduce pollution. As a prosecutor, a forefront issue in her campaign is to hold large corporations accountable for the pollution they produce. She has made clear that protecting the planet and protecting the economy are part of the same fight. 

Congressional District (MI-04)

Sean McCann supports investments in renewable energy sources like solar and wind to reduce pollution and boost the economy. He was a strong proponent of clean energy legislation in his previous role as Chair of the Senate Energy and Environment Committee in the Michigan state legislature.

Michigan State Senate District 10

Natalie Price is running on a platform to defend Michigan’s clean energy policies, while pushing for more investments to make renewable energy sources more accessible. She has been a strong advocate for utility accountability and has shown her commitment to stop ratepayers from paying unfair prices.

Michigan State Senate District 15

Felicia Brabec is a strong proponent of ending rate hikes by utility companies and holding them accountable. She supports promoting clean energy to address rising costs and is in favor of Michigan’s 100% renewable energy standard by 2040.