Note From the Chair - Events and Activities

It was quite a busy weekend for Dems in the Copper Country, and the
events haven't stopped yet!

PASTY FEST ON SATURDAY

On Saturday, we tabled at Pasty Fest in Calumet. The atmosphere was great fun, with lots of local supporters from the northern part of the County and out-of-staters from Wisconsin and farther. People took photos with our Kamala stand-up, and we distributed signs and made buttons. Kim Corcoran, our candidate for the 110th, put in an appearance and worked the crowds.

KEWEENAW COUNTY DEMS KICKOFF ON SUNDAY

Sunday was a day to push for growth. We gathered some officers and candidates and drove even further north, into Keweenaw County, where we met with residents of Michigan's northernmost county about the formation of a Keweenaw County Democratic Party in one of just 5 counties in Michigan that do not yet have one. We were able to find four Keweenaw voters who were willing to volunteer to put in the work as initial officers: getting bylaws written, applying to the MDP, and all the work that goes into setting up a County party. With support from the Congressional District 1 Committee, Jay Gage with Elissa Slotkin's campaign, and thanks in large part to the efforts of Brian Hoduski, we hope to soon hear word of a great new northern neighbor to turn out a few more votes in the statewide campaigns.

LABOR DAY WEEKEND PICNIC COMING SEPTEMBER 1!

For more events happening later this week, check out the items below on the Fair and a Thursday watch party at HQ for the DNC. Lastly, it's a little further out, but make sure our Labor Day Weekend Picnic and pot luck at Kestner Park is on your calendar, 4pm on September 1st.

HOUGHTON COUNTY FAIR

This Thursday through Sunday, we'll be tabling at the Houghton County Fair, as we have for more than 20 years. If you make it to the Fair, stop by the exhibitor's arena and say hello. Depending on when you read this, there might be a few shifts still available to help us out: if you are interested, drop Barb Turuc a line at [email protected].

HARRIS ACCEPTANCE SPEECH WATCH PARTY

There's one more big event this week, and that's the DNC, being held down in Chicago, where the Democratic Party will formally nominate Kamala Harris and Tim Walz for President and Vice President. Some big names will be speaking in prime time each night from Monday through Thursday, around 9pm, if you'd like to tune in. Thursday night will feature the acceptance speech from Kamala Harris. The HCDP will be holding a Watch Party Thursday evening starting at 9 PM at our headquarters at 323 Quincy Street in Hancock. We'll have snacks and lots of fellow Dems.

THROW YOUR OWN WATCH PARTY!

An even better option, however, would be for you to hold a watch party of your own.  Personal contact is the best voter outreach! 

Consider inviting a few friends to your place Thursday night, to relax around the TV, have some sodas, watch the speeches, and marvel at the energy and joy that has infused this campaign. Make sure your friends are planning to vote, and you might even inspire them to do some volunteering themselves. 

Talking to our friends and neighbors is worth any amount of postcards or phone calls - it's the best way to turn out more votes to make sure Michigan is in Harris' column come November 5. 

Highlights From the First Night of the Democratic National Convention

PRESIDENT BIDEN CAPS A FIRST NIGHT OF ENERGIZING SPEECHES

Wow! What an amazing first night, full of great speeches - barn burners and tear jerkers. Early in the evening Michigan’s own Sen. Mallory McMorrow helped get things going with a short speech slamming Project 2025. The night’s main program kicked off around 8 PM and included amazing speeches from UAW President Shawn Fain, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, former Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Georgia Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock, and others.

First Lady Jill Biden took to the convention stage at the United Center after 11 PM, and President Biden before midnight, to a raucous 4 minute long standing ovation.

The President made a forceful case for the Harris Walz ticket in his keynote address, using the speech to hand the baton off to the Vice President while reminding Americans why they don’t want Donald Trump anywhere near the White House again. You can find a video of the President’s full address to the convention here.

Today Vice President Harris and her running mate are expected to host a rally in Milwaukee, some 60 miles north of Chicago. The event will be held in the Fiserv Forum, the arena where the Republicans held their national convention last month. The rally will take place before the prime-time speeches at the convention this evening. Former President Obama will be the main speaker at the Convention tonight.

STAY ON TOP OF EVENTS AT THE NATIONAL CONVENTION:

• Visit the official Democratic National Convention website to stay informed about what’s happening throughout the week.

• At the DNC website you can view the latest news from the convention, see what’s scheduled each day (and livestream sessions as they happen), and sign up to have text message updates delivered.

• You can even shop for Convention themed apparel, buttons and accessories.

Your Vote Matters: Why Your Early Vote Helps GOTV efforts

THERE ARE ONLY 37 DAYS UNTIL ABSENTEE VOTING BEGINS…

Signs of Fall’s approach are all around us. Many of our high school football players have been at practice for a few weeks now, and the NFL preseason is in full swing. First year students at Michigan Tech moved into residential housing over the weekend. Our annual Labor Day weekend picnic is right around the corner (more about that in the Upcoming Events section below). And the start of absentee voting is only 37 days away.

Readers of this newsletter are among the most dedicated and enthusiastic voters in our county, and you are sure to cast your ballot in this fall’s election. But did you know that if dedicated Democrats like you vote absentee or vote early that it can actually have a positive impact on Get Out the Vote (GOTV) efforts to persuade less dedicated Democratic-leaning voters to get to the polls?

The rise in popularity of absentee and early voting has meant that the period of time for Get Out the Vote efforts has gotten longer. Which means that more voters can be reached during this extended time frame. And, that’s why it’s true that your early vote helps.

When voters vote absentee or in the early voting period, the fact that they’ve voted is recorded (not how they voted, just the fact that they did vote). That information is then bubbled up and made available to campaigns working on GOTV efforts, and they are able to remove your name from the lists of voters they are reaching out to.

That has two positive impacts. One is that you stop getting canvassed and called, and the other? GOTV efforts can now focus on those folks who haven’t yet voted, which means more less-likely voters can be encouraged to go to the polls.

While the Harris Walz ticket has generated tremendous enthusiasm polls show that this is still a tight election, and Kamala Harris herself continues to emphasize that we are the underdogs in this race. That means that even small steps we take can help to support the top of the ticket, AND all the candidates across the ballot.

So please consider, if you haven’t already, voting absentee or during the early voting period this election, and encourage your friends and family members to do the same. There is still time to request an absentee ballot - and you can start that process online. 

HOW YOU CAN VOTE ABSENTEE OR VOTE EARLY:

• REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT: If you are not already on the permanent absentee ballot list, you can begin the process of requesting an absentee ballot at your local clerk’s office or online. Help in locating your local clerk, and the form to request an absentee ballot online can be found at this Michigan Department of State website.

• VOTE DURING THE EARLY VOTING PERIOD: Early voting begins October 26th. The Early Voting polling location for ALL Houghton County voters - regardless of your usual polling place - is Room 203 at Houghton City Center, 616 Sheldon Avenue in Houghton.

Kimberly Ann Thomas Visit

Tuesday a small group of Houghton County Dems took time out on a workday morning to welcome Michigan Supreme Court candidate Kimberly Ann Thomas to Houghton.

Thomas spoke briefly with us. She is an appellate lawyer and law professor at the University of Michigan Law School. She is running for Supreme Court out of a commitment to equal access to justice.

To learn more about Kimberly Ann Thomas and donate to her campaign visit her website here.

County Fair and Labor Day Weekend Picnic Coming Up Quickly!!

Two summer events coming up fast! Volunteer for the Houghton County Fair, and join us for our Labor Day Weekend Picnic. Mark your calendars!

• August 22 thru 25 - HOUGHTON COUNTY FAIR: We staff a table every year to engage with the public and distribute literature. We’ll have our button maker and materials ready for the kids to create their own button designs, while we chat with the adults.

We still need volunteers to cover some shifts at the Houghton County Fair. If you can help please email [email protected] or leave a message at (906) 523-1233. Thank you!

• Labor Day Weekend - LABOR DAY PICNIC: Each year we gather over Labor Day Weekend to picnic and connect as we head into the heat of the fall campaign season. Join us at 4 PM on Sunday, September 1 at Kestner Park Pavilion!

Our Next Monthly Meeting

HCDP Monthly Meetings: Unless otherwise communicated our monthly meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month. Potluck at 6 PM, Meeting at 7 PM. In the conference room at the Houghton Super 8, and by Zoom (starting at 7 PM).

NEXT MEETING: September 4th

Governmental & Community Meetings

TUES AUG 20

The Laurium Village Council meets tonight at 6 PM in the Council Chambers of the Town Hall. More info can be found on the Village's website. 

WED AUG 21

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

Governmental meetings are scheduled throughout the month by bodies from the County Commission to City, Village and Township boards, committees and commissions; as well as local School Boards and the Copper Country Intermediate School District.

Check by phone or on the particular governmental website for meeting notices in your community. Your participation in local government meetings lets your elected and appointed officials know you are interested in their work, and can provide you with the opportunity to speak about your concerns during public comment periods