Ann Arbor, Michigan, November 4, 2026. Although Proposal E fell just short in yesterday’s election, Ann Arbor for Public Power (A2P2) will continue pursuing the goal of a publicly owned electric utility that would serve the entire city. With all precincts fully counted, the vote was 26,411 yes to 28,414 no, 48.2% to 51.8%. “In this election, we were up against the almost $2 million spent by DTE through its front group to misinform voters,” said A2P2 executive director Brian Geiringer. “We were outspent 34-to-1, and still almost won. Our entire team warmly thanks the Ann Arbor residents who saw through the smoke and cast their votes for a democratic energy future.”
A2P2 also thanks the hundreds of dedicated campaign volunteers and the many supporters who donated to support Proposal E. They enabled the A2P2-led petition drive to succeed this summer against DTE’s best efforts. “Today’s outcome shouldn’t diminish what our campaign accomplished to even place this proposal before voters, despite an obscene amount of spending by DTE,” said A2P2 field coordinator Fiona Dunlop. “In the process, we created a strong and vast community of supporters that will carry the fight forward.”
Voter approval of Proposal E would have amended the City Charter to establish a municipal electric utility and a process for selecting its governing board in 2028. But it would not have authorized any action against DTE. Such action would require future approval by City Council or the voters, a fact largely lost in the flood of disinformation about costs. “Proposal E carried no cost obligation at all, much less the wildly inflated $1 billion figure endlessly cited by opponents,” said A2P2 president Sean Higgins. “And it did not authorize taking over DTE. But we couldn’t get the truth out to enough voters in time to carry the day.”
Despite not prevailing in yesterday’s election, the municipalization drive will go on. “Ann Arbor for Public Power will continue to advance the cause of public ownership of Ann Arbor’s electric grid,” Geiringer said. “The city--and the planet--can’t afford DTE’s dirty power, and utility customers can’t afford the constant and unjust rate increases. We look forward to continuing the conversation with our new Mayor and the incoming City Council, and with the public at large.”
