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Every decision our lawmakers make has a price tag.

Right now, we are living with the costs of bad decisions that have raised our energy bills, polluted the waters where our children swim, left our homes and communities vulnerable, and put our beloved natural resources at risk. 

But this November we have the opportunity to elect leaders who believe in fighting downstream costs and protecting our state.

Your vote. Their decisions. Our costs.

Every day we see the costs of bad decisions rolling down onto our families, homes and communities—from rising utility bills, to increased beach closures and swimming advisories, to the slow erosion of funding and support for our parks and waterways. All while our national leaders abandon any commitment to protecting the people and places we love. This November, we must choose leaders with a plan to make our waters cleaner, our energy bills more affordable, our communities more resilient, and our natural resources abundant for generations to come.

Before casting your vote, use the Costs & Consequences Checklist. A candidate who’s serious about reigning in the downstream costs Michiganders are living with has a plan to: 

  • Make energy more affordable, reliable and clean.
  • Protect Michiganders from toxic chemicals.
  • Make Michigan communities affordable and vibrant.
  • Protect the waters and natural areas that support recreation and tourism.
  • Fight the long-term impacts of climate change

Costs & Consequences

This election is pivotal for Michigan, and the stakes have never been higher. Our national leaders have worked tirelessly on behalf of industry to give polluters a pass and put profits over communities, while simultaneously slashing funding and critical protections.

We need strong leaders who will help Michigan hold the line and protect our future. It’s essential you compare the candidates carefully, and make sure they have a plan that puts Michiganders and the places we love first. Consider these criteria when evaluating their plans.

BEFORE YOU VOTE – does your candidate have plans to:

Make energy more affordable, reliable and clean
Protect Michiganders from toxic chemicals
Make Michigan communities affordable and vibrant
Protect the waters and natural areas that support recreation and tourism
Fight the impacts of Climate Change
Download the costs & consequences checklist
Candidate Voter Guides

how do the candidates compare on the key issues?

Issue Voter Guides

What are the top issues voters should consider?

voter resources

See how candidates and key issues stack up

Considering the five buckets in the Costs & Consequences Checklist, how do candidates actually stack up? Which issues require particular attention? 

Check out these additional Michigan voter resources and get informed before heading to the polls. 

Questions about where and when you need to vote? Don’t forget to register and mark your polling location!

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© 2026 Michigan Environmental Council

Plan must-have: Make energy more affordable, reliable and clean

Utilities are investing in dirty and expensive fossil fuel infrastructure and passing those costs onto Michiganders. Programs that would repair our aging housing infrastructure are underfunded and backed up. As a result, homeowners are feeling the heat (no pun intended) of sky-high utility bills, paying some of the highest electric rates for some of the least reliable electric service.

Michigan should invest in clean energy that provides free fuel and efficiency programs that weatherize homes and provide immediate savings.

A candidate plan that’s serious about making energy more affordable and reliable would:

  1. Lower household energy costs through energy efficiency, weatherization and other cost-saving measures. 
  2. Reign in utilities’ soaring profits by reducing subsidies to shareholders as Michiganders continue to overpay for poor service.
  3. Protect Michiganders from paying for costs for large industrial customers and  data centers. 
  4. Expand affordable clean energy options including renewable energy, storage and small-scale solar power. 
  5. Plan for Michigan’s future energy needs by investing in cheaper, cleaner energy infrastructure that lowers costs for ratepayers over time.
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Plan must-have: Protect Michiganders from toxic chemicals

Weakening regulations are allowing heavy industry to pollute our neighborhoods and waterways. Our children are swimming in waters affected by toxic algal blooms and PFAS, while breathing in air polluted by wildfire smoke and unregulated industries. As a result, we’re seeing more beach closures, swimming advisories, and air quality warnings than ever before.

Michigan needs stronger regulations for our air and waters, ensuring polluters are held accountable for the harm they cause.

A candidate plan that’s serious about protecting Michiganders from toxic chemicals would: 

  1. Protect clean air by requiring companies to reduce their pollution, particularly when air quality is unhealthy.
  2. Ban toxic chemicals such as PFAS and other harmful substances, like single use plastic, from consumer products, our homes, communities and environment.
  3. Protect water by holding corporate polluters accountable to cleaning up their pollution.
  4. Address environmental health disparities and the disproportionate pollution burdens faced by some Michigan communities.
  5. Regulate corporate agriculture to keep manure and animal waste out of our lakes, rivers, and streams and parasites off our food.
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Plan must-have: Make Michigan communities affordable and vibrant

Lawmakers have disinvested in public infrastructure and programs that would empower Michiganders to weather the effects of worsening weather events. Homeowners are experiencing more flooded homes, streets and neighborhoods, and programs that offer relief are often backed up for months or years. And our pipes, roads and cities are aging and unprepared to support growing, thriving communities.

Michigan needs to invest in strong public infrastructure that repairs what’s broken and prepares our communities for the future.

A candidate plan that’s serious about making Michigan communities safer, more affordable and more resilient would: 

  1. Invest in aging infrastructure including drinking water, wastewater, stormwater and other essential systems.
  2. Reduce flooding and stormwater costs through natural and built infrastructure investments.
  3. Expand affordable transportation choices through reliable public transit and other alternatives to driving.
  4. Support more housing choices so Michiganders can find affordable homes in communities across the state.
  5. Invest in safer streets and public spaces for people walking and biking.
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Plan must-have: Protect the waters and natural areas that support our recreation and tourism

Our leaders have dramatically reduced funding for our beloved parks and waterways. Now, our favorite trails, recreation spots, campgroups, lakes and rivers are being left unprotected from invasive species, disrepair and even possible closure. The Department of Natural Resources alone estimates nearly a billion dollars for capital outlay projects across the state–an alarming number given that outdoor recreation contributes over $15 billion annually to Michigan’s economy. 

We need to prioritize our globally rare and invaluable natural resources to ensure our tourism economy thrives and Michiganders can enjoy our state for generations to come.

A candidate plan that’s serious about protecting the natural resources that support Michigan’s communities and economy would: 

  1. Safeguard groundwater, wetlands and land surrounding drinking water supplies from polluted runoff, untreated waste, and development.
  2. Prevent contamination of our water and lands from extractive industries like aggregate and copper mining.
  3. Protect the Great Lakes and Michigan’s coastline from development and hardening including beaches, dunes, wetlands and natural shorelines.
  4. Invest in parks, public lands and wildlife through sustainable funding and protections for land conservation, state parks and critical species like pollinators.
  5. Expand and support Michigan’s outdoor economy and access to the outdoors including camping, hiking, trails and recreation.
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Plan must-have: Fight the long-term impacts of climate change

Michigan is changing, and the choices we make today will determine what it costs to live, work and thrive here tomorrow. From more extreme weather and flooding to rising energy demands and aging infrastructure, Michiganders are already feeling the effects of a changing climate. We can either pay more to clean up, rebuild and adapt after problems occur—or make smart investments now that reduce costs, protect our communities from sever storms and prepare Michigan for the future.

We need leadership that acknowledges the growing threat of climate change and commits to bold clean energy goals and community resiliency.

A candidate plan that’s serious about preparing for Michigan’s long-term environmental and economic future would: 

  1. Adopt policies that cut harmful climate pollution from transportation, heavy industry and energy utilities, and align state resources behind building out clean, affordable energy. 
  2. Invest in long-term solutions that prepare Michigan communities for climate impacts already occurring instead of waiting to respond after storms occur.
  3. Build a cleaner, more resilient transportation system with accessible alternatives to driving, more affordable electric vehicles and ample charging infrastructure.
  4. Expand community and household owned clean power by enabling more people to access rooftop solar, community solar, batteries and plug-in solar. 
  5. Combat the federal administration’s deregulation agenda by adopting state-level policies that put protecting Michigan first. 
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