Michigan People’s Campaign

Background and Leadership

The Michigan People’s Campaign is a grassroots organizing group that engages in political organizing efforts, lobbies for elected officials, operates get-out-the-vote (GOTV) campaigns, and organizes and events to support left-of-center policies and the campaigns of Democratic Party-aligned candidates for office. ² It is the lobbying and electoral advocacy affiliate of the charitable nonprofit Michigan United and the super PAC Michigan People’s Choice. ⁶

Michigan People’s Campaign was founded in 2013 by activist and consultant Ryan Bates. ^{7 4} Kenneth R. Whittaker is the executive director of the group as of 2021. ⁴ Its board president is Ruben O. Martinez, a retired sociology professor at Michigan State University. ⁸

Activism

The Michigan People’s Campaign promotes political organizing among low-income communities across Michigan. It advocates for left-of-center policies on racial inequality, immigration, criminal justice, health care, and the environment. ³

The group advocates on policies such as single-payer health care, government-funded long-term care insurance, and labor union-backed “living wage” requirements for health care workers. ⁹ It claims that Black voters in Michigan are victims of “voter suppression” and has organized demonstrations promoting this view. ¹⁰

In 2022, Michigan People’s Campaign activists hung a Black Lives Matter banner on a privately owned lighthouse off Mackinac Island that was located near a statewide policy conference hosted by the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce. ¹¹ Local police evicted the activists and removed the banner, while no charges were filed. ¹¹

In 2020, the Michigan People’s Campaign endorsed U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in the Democratic Party’s presidential primaries, before endorsing former Vice President Joe Biden in the general election. ^{12 13} That year, the group was part of a coalition of five grassroots organizations that coordinated get-out-the-vote (GOTV) efforts within Detroit in support of Biden and other Democratic candidates. ¹⁴

In 2021, the Michigan People’s Campaign was part of a coalition organized by Progress Michigan that advocated for U.S. Congress to pass the Biden administration’s Build Back Better Act. ¹⁵

The group is also part of a coalition advocating towards limiting or prohibiting political donations from investor-owned electrical utilities in Michigan. ¹⁶

Funding

In 2023, the Michigan People’s Campaign received a $750,000 three-year grant from George Soros’ Open Society Foundations. ¹⁷

The Michigan People’s Campaign has also received support from left-of-center groups including the Way to Lead PAC and NOPE! Neighbors Organized for Power and Equality. ^{18 19}

FEC Settlement

In 2022, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) filed a complaint against the Michigan People’s Choice super PAC and Kenneth Walker as the super PAC’s treasurer over $268,000 in reported contributions. ⁵ In its response, Walker claimed that the money had come from the People’s Action Institute, but the Michigan People’s Campaign was the intended recipient. He further claimed the initial reporting was a bookkeeping error for the funds to have been deposited in the Michigan People’s Choice super PAC accounts. ⁵ In a negotiated settlement, Michigan People’s Choice and Whittaker agreed to improve internal operations and pay a $8,500 civil penalty. ⁶