Events featured in our newsletter can also be found on the Events Calendar on the main page of our website.

MDP 2026 ENDORSEMENT CONVENTION

ALL MEMBERS OF THE MICHIGAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND THE 2026 STATE ENDORSEMENT CONVENTION.

The 2026 Endorsement Convention for the Michigan Democratic Party (MDP) will be held Sunday, April 19th at Huntington Place in Detroit. At the convention the state Party will endorse candidates to the November General Election in the following contests: Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Supreme Court, State Board of Education, Michigan State University Board of Trustees, Wayne State University Board of Governors, and University of Michigan Board of Regents.

The full MDP Call to Convention for the MDP 2026 Endorsement Convention can be found here.

HCDP SPRING COUNTY CONVENTION

The HCDP will hold a County Convention prior to the MDP State Endorsement Convention. Per MDP rules (see the MDP's Call to Convention page 6 and 7), the County Conventions must be held NO LATER THAN March 28th.

The purpose of the County Convention is to elect members and alternates to the State Convention Committees and to consider resolutions to be forwarded to the State Party. We will finalize the exact date for the Convention at the February Monthly meeting.

Remember, you must be an MDP member NO LATER than 30 days prior to the County Convention to vote at the County Convention. (Please note that Precinct delegates, Democratic elected officials, and Democratic nominees to partisan office in the County are automatically eligible to vote.)

2026 SPRING FLING PLANNING UNDERWAY

The group planning the 2026 Spring Fling got together this past week for the first time. The annual Spring Fling is our largest gathering and typically our biggest fundraiser of the year. Once we have a date and venue firmed up we’ll be announcing that here. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone again for this Election-Year Spring Fling!

BECOME A HOUGHTON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PRECINCT DELEGATE

It’s that time once again to consider becoming a Democratic Precinct Delegate.

The precinct delegate is the elected office closest to the people. As delegate, you represent the people of your precinct to the party and the party back to your constituency. Precinct delegates help get people involved in the party and in campaigns. They help distribute yard signs and campaign literature. They introduce candidates to their constituents and their constituents and their issues and concerns to candidates. They help get out the vote. They represent the party in its local conventions, and help shape the party’s platform and public positions. Precinct delegates are the foundation of the party.

Every precinct has at least one precinct delegate seat, and many have more. So you needn't worry about running a competitive race - to win you’ll likely just need to vote for yourself. Although it's always nice to get a few friends and family to do the same!

Precinct Delegates are elected every two years during the August primary. The filing deadline for this August’s Precinct Delegate candidates is no later than 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. To file you must complete and submit to the County Clerk a notarized Precinct Delegate Affidavit of Identity. Petition signatures are not required.

SOUP-ER BOWL TO SUPPORT THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS

Support our local Area 39 Special Olympics by attending a family-friendly meal of all-you-can soup, salad, bread, cookies, and drinks at the Keweenaw Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on February 21 from 5:30-8:00 PM. (Area 39 includes the western UP counties of Ontonagon, Gogebic, Houghton, Baraga and Keweenaw.)

All attendees will receive a ceramic bowl decorated by an Area 39 athlete or volunteer. Proceeds support our local Area 39 Special Olympics Athletes. Funds provide uniforms, equipment, transportation, entry fees, and practice venues for year-round sports programs for intellectually challenged people, ages 8 and up! Tickets are $25 in advance ($30 at door). Click the flyer below to get the full-sized PDF you can print and fill out to donate and purchase tickets by mail. Or, you can donate and get your tickets online.

SILENT VIGIL AND ‘HANDS OFF VENEZUELA’ EVENTS WELL ATTENDED

Over 120 people turned out for two back-to-back events on January 10th, despite the cold and wind, and the short notice. The first event, a Silent Vigil in response to the ICE killing of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis was organized by Keweenaw Indivisible, the second, a march across the Lift Bridge, was put together by the Keweenaw Socialists in reaction to the Trump administration’s military action in Venezuela.

Our Chair, William Keith, was in attendance, and quoted in the excellent write-up by Michele Bourdieu in her Keweenaw Now blog. "No one in Houghton knew Renee Good,” William said, “but we all know someone like her: a mom in a minivan, getting her kids to school, worried about her neighbors. When someone like her isn't safe from armed half-trained cowards thinking they're above the law, no one is. Coming together as we did Saturday is the first step in doing the best thing we can do: demanding accountability from our leaders and cleaning house of those that enabled all of this."

A few photos shared by KI are shown above, and more can be seen here.

If you are looking for ways to support the people of the Twin Cities who are having to put up with ICE invading their communities, then you’ll want to check out the latest CRAG newsletter from Sarah Green. She has suggestions, along with a list of established organizations assisting immigrants in Minnesota. Find the CRAG newsletter here (you’ll want to click the three dots at the top of the CRAG web page, choose “Newsletter Archive”, and scroll to the January 15th edition for those suggestions).

TUE JAN 20

The Laurium Village Council meets tonight at 6 PM in the Council Chambers of the Town Hall. More info (including the GoTo Meeting link to attend virtually) can be found on the Village Council's web page. 

The Calumet Village Council meets tonight at 6:00 PM in the Village Council Chambers. More information (including the Zoom link to attend virtually) can be found on the Village’s News & Events web page.

WED JAN 21

The Hancock City Council meets at 6 PM in the Hancock City Hall Council Chambers.

A FULL LISTING OF ALL LOCAL CITY, VILLAGE AND TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENTS, WITH CONTACT INFORMATION, AND (WHERE AVAILABLE) TIMING OF LOCAL COUNCIL MEETINGS CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE.