§ 169.203Definitions; C

Sec. 3.
    (1) "Candidate" means an individual who meets 1 or more of the following criteria:
    (a) Files a fee, an affidavit of incumbency, or a nominating petition for an elective office.
    (b) Is nominated as a candidate for elective office by a political party caucus or convention
 and whose nomination is certified to the appropriate filing official.
    (c) Receives a contribution, makes an expenditure, or gives consent for another person to
 receive a contribution or make an expenditure with a view to bringing about the individual's
 nomination or election to an elective office, whether or not the specific elective office for
 which the individual will seek nomination or election is known at the time the contribution is
 received or the expenditure is made.
    (d) Is an officeholder who is the subject of a recall vote.
    (e) Holds an elective office, unless the officeholder is constitutionally or legally barred from
 seeking reelection or fails to file for reelection to that office by the applicable filing deadline.
 An individual described in this subdivision is considered to be a candidate for reelection to
 that same office for the purposes of this act only.
    For purposes of sections 61 to 71, "candidate" only means, in a primary election, a
 candidate for the office of governor and, in a general election, a candidate for the office of
 governor or lieutenant governor. However, the candidates for the office of governor and
 lieutenant governor of the same political party in a general election are considered as 1
 candidate.
    (2) "Candidate committee" means the committee designated in a candidate's filed statement
 of organization as that individual's candidate committee. A candidate committee must be under
 the control and direction of the candidate named in the same statement of organization.
 Notwithstanding subsection (4), an individual shall form a candidate committee under section
 21 if the individual becomes a candidate under subsection (1).
    (3) "Closing date" means the date through which a campaign statement is required to be
 complete.
    (4) "Committee" means a person that receives contributions or makes expenditures for the
 purpose of influencing or attempting to influence the action of the voters for or against the
 nomination or election of a candidate, the qualification, passage, or defeat of a ballot question,


                                                                    Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 9 of 2026
Rendered Saturday, May 2, 2026                  Page 2 of 64                                Courtesy of legislature.mi.gov

 or the qualification of a new political party, if contributions received total $500.00 or more in a
 calendar year or expenditures made total $500.00 or more in a calendar year. Except as
 restricted or prohibited by this act or other state or federal law, a committee may also make
 other lawful disbursements. An individual, other than a candidate, does not constitute a
 committee. A person, other than a committee registered under this act, making an expenditure
 to a ballot question committee or an independent expenditure committee, shall not, for that
 reason, be considered a committee or be required to file a report for the purposes of this act
 unless the person solicits or receives contributions for the purpose of making an expenditure to
 that ballot question committee or independent expenditure committee.