A proposal aimed at curbing corporate influence in Michigan politics will head to the Nov. 3 election, giving voters a chance to decide whether to ban political spending by state-regulated energy utility companies – including DTE and Consumers Energy – and companies with large government contracts.

The Michiganders for Money Out of Politics (MMOP) proposal recently cleared a review by the state’s elections panel, which certified that the proposal had gathered enough valid voter signatures to advance. The move sent MMOP to the Michigan Legislature for consideration. But the Democratic-led Michigan Senate won’t hold a vote on the proposal, sending the measure to the ballot instead, according to Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids, who was recently picked as Democratic gubernatorial candidate Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s running mate.

“MMOP has successfully gathered more than half a million signatures and the message from Michiganders is clear: They want this on the ballot in November. Senate Democrats already agree that there is too much dark money in politics, and we are eager to hear what voters have to say on this issue. In that spirit, we will not be subverting the will of the voters taking it up legislatively,” Brinks said in a statement shared with the Detroit Free Press Tuesday, Aug. 25.

Michiganders for Money Out of Politics celebrated the decision. “Leader Brinks gets it. Michiganders are fed up with out-of-control corporate political spending and are ready to change our political system this November,” said Maura Cowley, Campaign Manager for the MMOP campaign, in a statement.