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PhRMA, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, funneled nearly $30,000 to Michigan! My Michigan!, a dark money group that helped fund the “Unlock Michigan” campaign—a petition to limit Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s emergency powers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Between 2019 and 2021, PhRMA’s contributions helped fuel this effort, which sought to roll back key public health measures.

An investigation revealed that Michigan! My Michigan!, along with two other groups, provided nearly 90% of Unlock Michigan’s funding, with much of the money hidden through illegal dark money channels. In February 2024, two Republican fundraisers were charged with felony campaign finance violations for concealing donor identities. This case underscores the powerful role dark money plays in state politics and how corporate contributions can be used to undermine transparency and public health initiatives.

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