Citizens Protecting Michigan’s Constitution, an opposition group, says Prop 2 would create an unchecked branch of state government and is trying to raise doubts about the motives behind the measure, noting the Democratic ties of some petition leaders.

Two groups in combat ‒ each drawing financial support from vastly different sources.

While VNP won a big donation from a national group with Democratic Party ties, it has received more than 16,000 individual donations in its unlikely campaign to place redistricting on the state ballot. CPMC, the opposition group, receives its funding from only a handful of donors, most linked to the Michigan business community.

Here are the details:

National footprints on both sides

National redistricting groups affiliated with both major parties have added fuel to the redistricting firefight in Michigan.

Voters Not Politicians had raised $1.67 million by July 20th with just over 16,000 donors contributed $981,950 to VNP, an average donation of about $60.

But in September, VNP received a huge boost with the announcement of a $250,000 donation from the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC), a group headed by Eric Holder, U.S. Attorney General in the Obama administration. IRS filings show NDRC’s mission is “to build a comprehensive plan to favorably position Democrats for the redistricting process through 2022.”

But the group denies partisan intent. Holder wrote on Twitter the group’s donation is so “the citizens of Michigan will have the chance to decide their own fate in redistricting. All we ask for is fairness ‒ not partisan advantage. Take the power away from politicians and give it to the people of Michigan.”

National Republicans aren’t sitting this ballot measure out, either. The nonprofit Fair Lines America donated $50,000 to Citizens Protecting Michigan Constitution (CPMC), the Michigan group fighting the initiative. As of July 20th, CPMC had raised $392,351.

Fair Line’s website says it supports “fair and legal redistricting through” a variety of means, including “strategic investments in redistricting-related reforms and litigation.” In addition to its donation, it submitted a friend of the court brief in support of CPMC in an effort this summer to remove the Voters Not Politicians initiative from the ballot. Ultimately the Michigan Supreme Court approved the proposal’s appearance on the November ballot.

While Fair Line calls itself nonpartisan, an article on the National Republican Redistricting Trust’s (NRTT) website refers to Fair Line as an affiliate. Both Fair Lines and the NRTT, according to Politico, are lead by Adam Kincaid, a longtime Republican operative.

Neither Fair Lines America nor the National Republican Redistricting Trust responded to Bridge Magazine’s inquiries about its funding.

Bankrolled by business

Other donations to the opposition campaign are dominated by Michigan business interests. As of July campaign finance disclosures, Citizens Protecting Michigan's Constitution had a $392,351 budget.