Michigan Equality Political Action Committee

The Michigan Equality Political Action Committee (MEPAC) is a separate segregated fund used to support affirming state leaders. You will find our endorsed candidates and ways you can become involved. Michigan Equality actively seeks out qualified and LGBT-affirming candidates. We campaign for and support these candidates to ensure a friendly legislature, which means greater opportunities to bring full equality to Michigan.

Our purpose of Michigan Equality is to indicate the level of support for candidates seeking elected office. Michigan Equality will endorse candidates running in races within the State of Michigan, regardless of whether the election is contested or uncontested, partisan or non-partisan. Michigan Equality is not committed to the endorsement of candidates nominated by any particular political party. Generally, three options are available to signify varying levels of support: (1) Endorse, (2) Oppose, (3) Stay Neutral. This document will describe the procedure and significance of each option.

All determinations regarding candidates will be made by the Michigan Equality Board of Directors at a regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors.

Suggestions or request for consideration of an endorsement by Michigan Equality must be sponsored by a member of the Board of Directors and presented to the full Board at a meeting for which previous notice to the members of the Board had been given that an endorsement will be considered at the meeting.

Indications of support (endorse, oppose, stay neutral) will be applicable for only one election. Thus, a new consideration for endorsement will be required for each primary and each general or special election.

If the election is a primary, Michigan Equality may consider and may indicate a level of support for multiple candidates for multiple political parties (or independents) who may be candidates for the same office. Michigan Equality will indicate support for only one candidate per office in a general or special election.

In order to be considered for endorsement, a candidate must first be determined by the Board of Directors to be a viable* candidate in the election for which endorsement is to be considered. Also, the candidate (or an authorized member of the candidate’s staff) must complete the Michigan Equality Endorsement Questionnaire.

Before each election, the Board of Directors will approve and Endorsement Questionnaire to be used for that election. The Board at the time of that approval will clearly indicate on the Endorsement Questionnaire any issues which must be supported by the candidate in order to receive an endorsement, and any issues the opposition of which would result in a decision to oppose the candidate.

* The factors to consider in determining viability will be: (1) partisanship; the candidate’s party affiliation must be with the party that is within 8 percentage points of the dominant voter affiliation in the election; (2) defined campaign structure, such as an organized committee and a written campaign plan, commiserate with the particular race; and (3) a financial plan realistic for the particular race, and the resources or likely support to achieve it.

Michigan Equality will indicate a level of support for a candidate according to the following criteria:

I. Endorse

A decision to “endorse” is the highest honor to be granted to a candidate by Michigan Equality. It signifies Michigan Equality’s recommendation that the candidate is the best choice in the election and that the candidate will serve for the benefit of all constituents, especially GLBT constituents. A decision to endorse will signify Michigan Equality’s willingness to work and conduct activities, including fundraising, for the benefit of the candidate(s). The Michigan Equality Endorsement Questionnaire will set forth the issues to be considered in the decision for endorsement. However, those criteria are anticipated to include, at a minimum, the following criteria:

The candidate has personally met with the leadership of Michigan Equality and that meeting has been acknowledged publicly.

The candidate has responded to issues of concern to Michigan Equality in the Endorsement Questionnaire, or in a public statement by the candidate or his/her organization.

The candidate has demonstrated a willingness to work with GLBT constituents for the benefit of all constituents, especially GLBT constituents.

II. Oppose

A decision to “oppose” a candidate should be reserved for those rare cases in which a candidate actively opposes issues critical to Michigan Equality as indicated in the Endorsement Questionnaire or in public statements by the candidate or his/her organization.

III. Neutral

A decision to stay “neutral” signifies that Michigan Equality has considered the above options in a consideration regarding the candidate and has determined that the candidate does not meet the criteria for an endorsement, but that the candidate is not taking positions opposing issues critical to Michigan Equality.

Candidate Questionnaires

2006

2008