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In this Email
HCDP News for December 26 2023
Party News
Happy New Year!
Presentation at January’s Monthly Meeting: Proposal 22-2: What Michigan Voters Need to Know in 2024
2023 Recap - Our Meme of the Week
Statewide News
At the Capitol
Around the State
Upcoming Events
Community Events
We hope you’ve had a great holiday season!
We are rolling up our sleeves, and looking forward to what the New Year will bring.
There’s a lot on the line in the national election in 2024, and we will need to pull together and work hard to get out the message - Vote Blue, up and down the ballot!
Looking Back at 2023
It was an eventful year for Michigan Democrats and for us in the HCDP. Here are some of the highlights from 2023:
Senator Debbie Stabenow announced her retirement in early January.
We held a County Convention in late January, and six resolutions were passed.
The Michigan Rural Caucus held their Democratic Summit in Sault Ste. Marie in April and a few of our HCDP leaders attended.
President Biden announced his re-election campaign in late April.
Our annual Spring Fling was held June 10th, with over 70 in attendance.
In the fall we had visits from Senator Stabenow, Attorney General Nessel and Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist.
Our annual Labor Day Eve Picnic was at Hancock Beach this year, and it was a hot one.
We participated, as we do every year, in a 4th of July parade (this year in South Range), Bridgefest, the Strawberry Festival and the County Fair.
We also participated in some new events this year, including the Spring Flare in March and a Volunteer Fair at Michigan Tech this month.
You can hear State Party Chair Lavora Barnes talk about Democrats’ successes at the state level in 2023 - in contrast with the Do Nothing Republicans in the federal House - in the latest edition of the state party’s podcast Party on the Peninsulas.
For a comprehensive look back at all the happenings in state politics in 2023, check out this post from Saginaw’s Review Magazine, or focus on the Democratic legislature’s accomplishments with this article from The Gander.
You can take a look back at the successes racked up in our national economy in the White House blog post Ten Charts That Explain the U.S. Economy in 2023.
Presentation at January’s Monthly Meeting: Proposal 22-2: What Michigan Voters Need to Know in 2024
Our January meeting is coming up on the 17th, and we want to make sure you are aware of an informative and important presentation that will be shared at the meeting.
Valorie Troesch will be presenting on behalf of Voters Not Politicians - the group that worked hard to get 2022’s Proposition 2 on the ballot, and to get out the vote for it’s passage.
Prop 2 was passed by a huge majority of Michigan voters in 2022 to amend Michigan’s Constitution to expand and guarantee certain voting rights. Most of the provisions of Prop 2 have been enacted into enabling legislation. There is still confusion about some of the provisions and many voters don’t even know about the changes or how they will be impacted. Voters Not Politicians (VNP) is working to educate voters in Michigan about the changes and, most importantly, what voters need to do to take advantage of these changes.
The presentation will cover topics such as the new permanent absentee voter list, early voting, drop boxes, and early voter registration by minors.
We encourage all HCDP members and supporters to attend, and invite your friends to attend too. Attendance is either in person at the Super 8 in Houghton, or by Zoom (Zoom link can be found below under Upcoming Events).
Find out what the changes brought on by the passage of Prop 2 mean for Michigan voters in 2024
2023 Recap - Our Meme of the Week
It’s that time of the year when everyone (ourselves included) are looking back at the events of 2023.
Our Meme of the Week comes from the Instagram account of the national Democratic Party. This video reel looks back at the very different year the Democrats and Republicans had at the national level, while displaying the very different vision each party has for America..
“Democrats’ 2023 vs Republicans’ 2023“
Click on the screenshot below to view the full video reel in Instagram.
At the Capitol / Around the State
Given the time of year the news of political or governmental happenings at the state level is pretty slow. But one political story continues to get traction within the state and from the national media - the sorry state of the Michigan Republican Party organization.
There have been various opinions floated in the media over the last several weeks about whether the state of the economy or the conflict in Gaza will have negative impacts on Democrat’s chances next year, or on President Biden’s ability to carry Michigan in 2024.
But we shouldn’t discount the fact that, as a political organization, the Democrats are in MUCH better shape in Michigan right now than the Republicans. MORE: Mining Journal
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: JANUARY 17TH
Community Events
DEC 26 to JAN 1
There are no county, city or village meetings scheduled this week.
MON 1/1
Monday is New Years Day. Happy New Year Everyone!