UPCOMING EVENTS
DATE & TIME | EVENT & LOCATION |
|---|---|
Anytime | Know What You Sign - View the Online Training on Ballot Petitions from the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country |
All Thru the Month of December | Donate to this month’s charity - Copper Country Housing Assistance (and let us know you did here.) |
January 6 | This year we mark 5 years since the attempted coup at the nation’s capital. Watch the full eight hours of testimony by Special Counsel Jack Smith to the House Judiciary Committee here. |
January 7 @ 6 PM | HCDP Potluck and Monthly Meeting. RSVP here. |
January 14 @ 6 PM | Letter to the Editor Workshop by Voters Not Politicians |
January 18 @ 7 PM | KATO hosts “Introduction to Cryptomining and AI Data Centers, A Briefing”. RSVP here. |
January 18 @ 7 PM | Secretary of State Candidates Virtual Forum. RSVP here. |
Events featured in our newsletter can also be found on the Events Calendar on the main page of our website.
RESOLUTIONS FOR RESPONSIBLE DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT & AGAINST PARTISAN SCHOOL BOARDS APPROVED
In the January HCDP meeting this past Wednesday two resolutions were presented and approved.
The first, on Responsible Data Center Development, urges the Michigan Legislature, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), and all relevant state and local agencies to adopt and enforce mandates to ensure data center development is responsible, sustainable, and serves the public interest. You can view the full resolution as passed here.
The second, Opposing House Bill 4588, urges the Michigan State Legislature to preserve the non-partisan nature of school board elections to ensure that local education remains focused on what is best for the district, rather than partisan politics. You can view the full resolution as passed here.
POET AMANDA GORMAN REMINDS US - DESPITE INJUSTICE OUR ENORMITY ENDURES
Here in the Keweenaw many of us have been and continue to be rising up to meet the occasion, as the second Trump administration compounds one injustice with another. Many of us turned out for the “Silent Vigil for Renee Good” and the “Hands Off Venezuela” rally this past Saturday hosted by Keweenaw Indivisible.
In response to the murder of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis last week poet Amanda Gorman penned the poem below to remind us all of our power and what should be animating that power now in response to the injustices we see.
In posting this to her Facebook page Ms. Gorman said, “On January 7th, 2026, ICE agents murdered Renee Nicole Good by shooting her in the head through her car window. She was a poet and writer, a wife, and a mother of three.“
Her post continued from there and she concluded by urging her Facebook followers to donate to a few Minnesota based charities. You can view Ms. Gorman’s post here.
For Renee Nicole Good
Killed by I.C.E. on January 7, 2026
by Amanda Gorman
They say she is no more,
That there her absence roars,
Blood-blown like a rose.
Iced wheels flinched & froze.
Now, bare riot of candles,
Dark fury of flowers,
Pure howling of hymns.
If for us she arose,
Somewhere, in the pitched deep of our grief,
Crouches our power,
The howl where we begin,
Straining upon the edge of the crooked crater
Of the worst of what we’ve been.
Change is only possible,
& all the greater,
When the labour
& bitter anger of our neighbors
Is moved by the love
& better angels of our nature.
What they call death & void,
We know is breath & voice;
In the end, gorgeously,
Endures our enormity.
You could believe departed to be the dawn
When the blank night has so long stood.
But our bright-fled angels will never be fully gone,
When they forever are so fiercely Good.
This poem was also featured in the CRAG (Citizens Rally for Accountable Government) newsletter, a great local resource penned by Sarah Green. You can view Sarah’s newsletter and subscribe (use the button on the top right of her newsletter page) here.
MDP 2026 ENDORSEMENT CONVENTION & HCDP COUNTY CONVENTION
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.
ALL MEMBERS OF THE MICHIGAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND THE 2026 STATE ENDORSEMENT CONVENTION.
The full MDP Call to Convention for the MDP 2026 Endorsement Convention can be found here.
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 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, or Democratic nominees to partisan office in the County are automatically eligible to vote.
FUNDRAISER BY VAN GINHOVEN CAMPAIGN IS THIS SATURDAY! RSVP HERE!!
Mark your calendars for this fundraiser by the Kelli van Ginhoven campaign. January 17th from 2 to 4 PM at Fifth & Elm in Hancock.
COMMUNITY ACTIONS, RALLIES AND EVENTS
WED JAN 14
The group Voters not Politicians offers their monthly Writer-Activists Monthly Letters To the Editor Workshop. Volunteers meet monthly to share tips and strategies for writing compelling Letters to the Editors, Op-Eds, and Blog posts about policies affecting Michigan's democracy. This is a Zoom event starting at 6 PM. MORE: Learn More and RSVP Here.
SUN JAN 18
KATO and the Northern Michigan Alliance for Responsible Development offer Introduction to Cryptomining and Ai Data Centers, A Briefing. This hybrid community educational briefing is designed to inform and empower residents of Northern Michigan's First Congressional District. The event will provide information on the impacts of data centers and cryptocurrency mining facility development in our region and the state. Participants will leave with knowledge about cryptomining and data centers and action steps to further protections for our region. Gather at 7 PM at the Orpheum Theatre, 426 Quincy Street, or attend online. MORE: Learn more and RSVP here.
The Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus will hold a Secretary of State Candidate Virtual Forum. Candidates will have an opportunity to present on their platforms and positions. At the time this Forum was announced candidates Barb Byrum, Agogho Edvebie, and Adam Hollier were all expected to appear. The Forum will be moderated by Rena Basch, the Director of Elections for Washtenaw County and a member of the Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus. Attend over Zoom starting at 7 PM. MORE: Learn more and RSVP here.
Governmental Meetings
TUE JAN 13
This month's regular meeting of the Houghton County Board of Commissioners is tonight at 6 PM in the Conference Room on the fifth floor of the Houghton County Courthouse. Find more information on the Board's webpage (find the Microsoft Teams virtual meeting info in the Agenda).
WED JAN 14
The Houghton City Council meets at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The Meeting Agenda can be found in the Searchable Document Center of the Council's website.
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.
SUBMIT A RESOLUTION
This newsletter is paid for with regulated funds by the Houghton County Democratic Party, and is not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.
Contact us by email at [email protected] or by text or voicemail at 906-523-1233