Michigan Democrat Who Wanted Utilities Out Of Politics Picks Power Company Director For Transition

Michigan Gov.-elect Jocelyn Benson, who campaigned to restrict utility companies’ political spending, has named DTE Energy board member Gary Torgow as a chair of her transition council. The appointment has drawn questions about how she will balance industry experience with her pledge to limit utilities’ influence over regulation and elections.

Torgow is also chairman of Huntington Bank. Michigan voters approved Proposal 2 by 81 per cent in unofficial results; it would restrict political donations by utility executives, board members and their relatives, though DTE and Consumers Energy have sued to block it. Michigan’s average household electricity price reached 22.99 cents per kilowatt-hour in August, about 11 per cent higher than a year earlier, and both utilities received rate increases in 2026.