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 |
Ongoing / Sundays | Yoopers for Ukraine Bridge March. Every Sunday at 3 PM. More info on the YfU Facebook page. |
February 4 @ 6 PM | HCDP February Potluck & Monthly Meeting. RSVP here. |
February 5 @ 8 PM | Eyes on Ice: Document and Record. Online training by national Indivisible. RSVP here. |
February 7 @ 3 PM | Resist Together - Know Your Rights Training. Online training by the office of Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. RSVP here. |
February 21 @ 5:30 PM | Soup-er Bowl All You Can Eat Fundraiser for Special Olympics Area 39. Buy tickets here. |
Events featured in our newsletter can also be found on the Events Calendar on the main page of our website.
REMEMBER THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO DIED
”Citizens stood for justice - their voices ringing through the night.” “We’ll remember the names of those who died on the streets of Minneapolis.” From the lyrics of the powerful new song from Bruce Springsteen. See the official video on YouTube above, or see Bruce sing the song live in Minneapolis on this YouTube video. As of this weekend, the song was #1 on iTunes in 19 different countries.
PARTY NEWS
POTLUCK & MONTHLY MEETING TOMORROW
Join us for our monthly meeting tomorrow at 7 PM at the Super 8 in Houghton.
Potluck starts at 6 PM. Bring a dish to share if you can, or just stop in and enjoy some quality time with your fellow Dems before we settle down to business at 7.
Remote attendance is available by Zoom. Click here at 7 PM Wednesday to attend by Zoom.
Membership in the Houghton County Democratic Party is encouraged, but not required, to attend meetings. We welcome all Houghton County residents who support progressive Democratic government to attend our meetings and events and also to become involved.
SPECIAL GUEST FOR A “mini” MEET AND GREET
Joining us by Zoom at our February meeting will be Demcratic primary candidate for Attorney General Karen McDonald. McDonald was last in Houghton County for a meet and greet in October.
From Karen McDonald’s campaign website:
Karen McDonald grew up in a working-class Michigan family that taught her the value of hard work and standing up for others — lessons that shaped her career as a teacher, attorney, judge, and now Oakland County Prosecutor. From the classroom to the courtroom, she’s fought for kids, families, and justice with compassion and common sense. In the wake of the Oxford High School tragedy, Karen made history by securing landmark convictions, but it was not enough. Karen’s actions sent a clear message: as a state and a country, we can do more to prevent gun violence. A mother of five, she’s dedicated to building a safer, fairer future for every Michigan family — and she’s just getting started.
MDP 2026 LEGACY DINNER
State Party Chair Curtis Hertel and the Michigan Democratic Party invite you to join elected leaders from across the state for the 2026 Legacy Dinner: A Celebration of Governor Whitmer. The dinner will be held the evening before the MDP 2026 Endorsement Convention — April 18th at Huntington Place in Detroit. Doors open at 4:30 PM. Tickets are available through ActBlue.
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.)
COMMUNITY NEWS
LOCAL ICE RUMORS LEAD TO COMMUNITY PREPARATIONS
A Minneapolis protestor shares a message written on a background of the state flag of Minnesota
Rumors began to spread over this past weekend about ICE showing up in Houghton County. The story began with a report that DHS had attempted to book rooms at a local hotel but were unable to do so because Winter Carnival meant the hotel was at capacity. Whether that report was true, or perhaps true but a prank call, is unclear. But at this time there are no credible reports of ICE in Houghton County that we’re aware of.
That is not to say that ICE and the CBP haven’t been active in Michigan however. They definitely have. According to a Bridge Michigan report last week, “ICE arrested 2,349 people in Michigan from January through October 2025, nearly triple the number arrested in the state in the same time frame in 2024.” It may just be a matter of time before they come to Houghton County.
To prepare for that eventuality we are aware of two things happening:
Keweenaw Indivisible has created a local ICE Watch hotline email. Please add this email address to your contact list: [email protected] and use it to report any ICE or CBP activity in our area. Observed ICE activity can also be reported to the nationwide ICE Watch reporting effort at https://www.stopice.net
KATO (Keweenaw Against the Oligarchy) is planning a “Know Your Rights” training session for our community on February 22nd. We’ll share more information on that as it becomes available.
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.
NEWS BRIEFS
IN MICHIGAN
GOVERNOR’S ART CONTEST: In preparation for the State of the State address on February 25, Governor Whitmer has announced that there will again be an art contest for the 2026 State of the State program cover and a new writing contest for the chance to be a part of the address. The contests are open until Feburary 15th, and students K-12 are encouraged to apply. MORE: Soo Leader
ROBOCALL BILLS PASS SENATE: Last week the MI Senate unanimously passed Senate Bills 351–355 to prohibit telephone solicitors from engaging in misleading, exploitative business practices that take advantage of consumers. This is the culmination of an anti-robocall effort long championed by AG Dana Nessel. MORE: Press Release - State Sen. Moss
STATE AGs STAND WITH MINNESOTA: Speaking of AG Nessel, she joined a coalition of 21 other state AGs last week in denouncing the Department of Justice’s latest attempt to coerce the State of Minnesota. The coalition made clear that their states will stand firm against unlawful federal interference and defend both state sovereignty and the rights of their residents. MORE: Press Release - AG’s Office
SCANDAL MONIES RECOVERED: In our May 23, 2023 newsletter we highlighted the funding scandal around a planned healthcare campus in Clare. That scandal tainted the reputation of former House Speaker Steven Johnson (R). Now almost $5 million of unused grant funds from a contractor involved in that scandal has been recovered. That money is being returned to the state’s general fund. MORE: Up North Voice
CAMERAS FACE BACKLASH: Flock cameras, whose use was recently under discussion in Hancock, are facing backlash statewide as concerns about privacy and data sharing beyond local borders rise. MORE: Bridge Michigan
NATIONWIDE
ICE SHUTDOWN: The federal government is in partial shutdown due to the Senate deal to fund DHS for only two weeks as negotiations among lawmakers over continued funding for ICE continues. The House, which is expected to vote today, can only afford to lose one Republican In order to end the shutdown. MORE: Associated Press
FBI RAID IN GEORGIA: There was plenty of concern raised by the FBI raid in Georgia collecting election information from 2020. Was it just another example of the President seeking retribution over his failed election? Or a prelude to attempts to thwart elections this fall? MORE: LA Times
“NATIONALIZE ELECTIONS”: Trump’s comment on a podcast yesterday that “Republicans ought to nationalize the voting” is sparking fears that he IS attempting to thwart the fall elections. The Constitution gives authority to the states to “set the times, places and manner” of elections, but gives Congress the power to “make or alter” election rules. MORE: USA Today
NOT LIKELY: Many argue that Trump will be unsuccessful in any attempt to “nationalize elections”. His bark, at least on this one, is likely worse than his bite. MORE: Today’s Edition by Robert Hubbell
GABBARD AT RAID: Democratic lawmakers are demanding answers about why National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard was at an FBI raid at a Georgia election facility. MORE: UPI
LIAM AND FATHER ORDERED RELEASED: A federal judge on Saturday ordered the release of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, whose detention by immigration authorities in Minnesota last week sparked an international outcry. (Read the Court Order here, it’s short, stunningly straightforward and quite damning.) MORE: NBC News
DEM REDISTRICTING: Progress was mixed week last week for Democratic redistricting efforts. In Virginia, a judge ruled that a proposed constitutional amendment letting Democrats redraw the state’s Congressional maps was illegal. Democrats plan to appeal. Meanwhile, in Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) gave his backing to a new congressional map and encouraged state Democratic legislators to enact it. MORE: AP News
LOCAL GOVERNMENT MEETINGS
The South Range Village Council meets Thursday at 6 PM in the South Range Community Building. For more information contact the Village at [email protected] or (906) 482-8833
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