Lots of Local Actions Coming Up

HCDP APRIL POTLUCK & MONTHLY MEETING

Join us for our monthly meeting at 7 PM NEXT Wednesday April 2 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.

LOCAL ACTION - AWAVE MEETING TOMORROW EVENING

AWAVE HOLDS PLANNING MEETING

Local group AWAVE (Advocates for Those Without a Voice Everywhere), is holding a get together and meeting tomorrow, Wednesday March 26th, at the 5th and Elm in Hancock. Get-together starts at 5:45 PM. Pizza will be available. The meeting itself starts at 6:30 PM. The Meeting Objective — Developing Group Action Plans.

LOCAL ACTION - SILENT PROTEST SATURDAY

KEWEENAW AGAINST THE OLIGARCHY

Keweenaw Against the Oligarchy (KATO) is a new group / project in our area, in partnership with Michigan United Action. The focus of KATO is on organizing, resistance and collective action to effect real change.

KATO is organizing a Silent Protest for this Saturday, March 29th at 10:30 AM. Protesters will meet at Veteran's Memorial Park in Houghton for review of safety protocols, guidelines, and brief speeches before commencing with the protest.

Find more information about KATO at their Instagram or LinkTree pages.

NOTE: In preparation for the protest the group held a Listening & Info Session on Sunday, and an Art Build & Poster Making Event last night. We apologize that we didn’t get news about this event to you sooner, but we encourage you to sign up for the silent protest using the button below.

ACTION ELSEWHERE IN MICHIGAN - PEOPLE’S TOWN HALL IN MI-10TH DISTRICT THIS SATURDAY

TOWN HALL IN NORTH SUBURBAN DETROIT

In last week’s newsletter we told you about how actions by local citizens like those in Escanaba and here in Houghton are now spurring national Democratic leaders to step up. The Democratic National Committee has gotten involved, helping to organize/publicize what it is calling “People’s Town Halls”. More information on those are available here.

One grassroots town hall meeting the DNC is helping promote is in Michigan’s 10th Congressional District, currently represented by Republican John James.

SHARE THE NEWS, AND URGE ANY FAMILY MEMBERS OR FRIENDS IN DETROIT’S NORTHERN SUBURBS TO ATTEND. THEY CAN SIGN UP AT THE BUTTON BELOW.

LOCAL ACTION - HANDS OFF 2025! MARCH ON SATURDAY APRIL 5TH

KEWEENAW INDIVISIBLE

Mark your calendars. We’ve learned that Keweenaw Indivisible (KI) plans to be part of the nationwide HANDS OFF Event on Saturday April 5, with a local event from 11 AM to 1 PM at the Bridge in Houghton.

KI promises more information will be available soon. They are hoping for a large group (hundreds) of people to show up and be seen/heard.

UNPACK & UNWIND SOCIAL APRIL 6TH

You are invited by some of your fellow, like-minded citizens to a Social on Wednesday, April 6th at 7 PM. The Social will be held at the Observatory Bar located in the Hampton Inn, in downtown Houghton (on the seventh floor — accessible via the elevator).

The Unpack & Unwind Social is a casual space to share ideas, vent, ask questions, and connect with others over progressive thoughts and curiosity. No agenda. No group. Just open minds and good vibes. Drop in, speak up, or just listen—whatever feels right.

RUN FOR SOMETHING’S NEXT ENDORSEMENT DEADLINE IS SUNDAY APRIL 6

RUN FOR SOMETHING

Run for Something is a progressive American political organization dedicated to recruiting and supporting young candidates running for down-ballot office. If you or someone you know are planning a run for local or state office this year, the deadline for their next 2025 endorsement class is Sunday, April 6, 2025.

Learn more about Run for Something’s endorsement guidelines and learn how to apply by clicking the button below.

PERSONAL ACTION NEEDED - You Can Help Elect Two Democrats to the US House NOW

FLORIDA SPECIAL ELECTIONS COULD TIP CONTROL OF THE US HOUSE

Two Republican Florida representatives, Mike Walz and Matt Gaetz, were elected in November but have since resigned. The Florida special elections to replace Walz and Gaetz take place April 1st. Early voting begins March 22nd.

Public school teacher Josh Weil is the Democrat running in the 6th District to replace Walz. Mother and gun violence prevention activist Gay Valimont is the Democrat running in the 1st District to replace Gaetz.

FLORIDA SPECIAL ELECTION

• Josh Weil: Learn More and Contribute | Phone Bank Remotely 

• Gay Vlimont: Learn More and Contribute | Phone Bank Remotely

ELON MUSK TRYING TO BUY A WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT SEAT

We need to support our Midwestern neighbors. Elon Musk is dropping millions of dollars to fund deceptive ads in an effort to buy the Republican candidate a seat in the Wisconsin State Supreme Court race.

In the April 1st election Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford, who is backed by Democrats, faces off against the conservative Brad Schimel. The winner will replace Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, who is retiring from the court at the end of her term.

You can help your fellow Democrats in Wisconsin keep a progressive State Supreme Court by contributing to Susan Crawford’s campaign or participating remotely in a phonebank to get out the vote.

WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT

• Susan Crawford: Learn More and Contribute | Phone Bank Remotely

Spring Fling May 3rd

JOIN US AT THE 63RD ANNUAL SPRING FLING BANQUET AND FUNDRAISER

SATURDAY, MAY 3

DINNER, AWARDS, AND SILENT AUCTION

PLEASE SUBMIT AUCTION DONATIONS AND AD ORDERS NO LATER THAN TUESDAY, APRIL 15

All businesses, organizations, and individual donors will be recognized in the printed program, on signage at the event, and in an HCDP email newsletter.

To donate items for the auction or to place an ad in the program, contact Nancy Verive. Email: nn_verive@yahoo.com ph: 812-573-1403.

This year’s theme:

MEETING THE MOMENT

Watch future newsletters for more details! 

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!
$55 PER PERSON / $45 FOR STUDENTS AND SENIORS

Registration Now Open For the MDP Rural Caucus Summit

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR RURAL CAUCUS SUMMIT APRIL 10, 11 & 12TH

THE GREAT RURAL REVIVAL
This space is ours - to plan, unite, and resist harassment.

Click the button below for all the latest Summit information direct from the Rural Caucus. Information includes the full schedule of sessions for all three days, the full meal menu and links to register and to pay for your attendance.

News from Lansing

• RURAL LIBRARIES AMONG THE LATEST TO FEEL THE HIT FROM TRUMP / MUSK ACTIONS: Trump’s directive to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to find cuts in staff and funding has alarmed Michigan library and museum officials. One of the highest areas of impact will likely be to rural libraries. On the chopping block is funding for the statewide loan system known as Michigan eLibrary Catalog, or MeLCat, which allows library cardholders to borrow books and other materials from libraries throughout the state and have them delivered to their home library. The program allows rural libraries to meet patrons needs on limited budgets. MORE: Bridge Michigan

• ‘BRITE’ GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY BILL REINTRODUCED BY HOUSE DEMS: Democratic sponsors of the Bringing Reforms for Integrity, Transparency and Ethics (BRITE) package of bills held a press conference last week to discuss their plan to improve government accountability standards in Michigan. The package’s re-introduction came during “Sunshine Week” which highlights the importance of public records and open government. MORE: House Dems Press Release

• GOP BILL TO FUND ROAD REPAIRS CLEARS MI HOUSE: The bill eliminates the sales tax on gasoline while raising the motor fuel tax by an offsetting amount so that the full tax paid at the pump goes into Michigan roads. Other government services would take a hit from the loss of sales tax revenue, forcing the Republicans to shift budgets line items around. Some Democrats voted with Republicans to pass the bill while others expressed concerns about potential for further budget cuts to negatively impact state services. The bill now moves to the Democratically controlled state Senate. MORE: Michigan Advance

News from Washington

The news out of Washington continues to be challenging to stay on top of, though the actions of the Trump White House continue to be cause for action. Below are three items that show some of the limits to the madness.

• TRUMP IN OVER HIS HEAD IN UKRAINE - RUSSIA TALKS: The television businessman and author (through a ghost writer) of The Art of the Deal is proving himself once again to be not much of a negotiator. The so-called peace talks in Jeddah, and Trump’s personal phone call with Vladimir Putin last week have so far not led to much success, proving to be another Trump embarrassment for the United States. A CNN analyst had this (sadly unsurprising) insight: ”It is important to emphasize that Trump’s … call with Russian President Vladimir Putin yielded almost nothing bar the predictable fact that the Kremlin head feels he can outmaneuver his counterpart effortlessly.” MORE: CNN

• TRUMP COURT LOSSES PILING UP: The number of court cases resulting from the reckless actions of Trump and Musk was at 135 cases over the weekend (see the court case tracker maintained by Just Security, a non-profit, daily, digital law and policy journal). While only two of those cases are now closed, a number of them have led to significant legal losses for the current administration. It’s important not to lose sight of how many of Trump’s attempts to thwart the law are falling short in court. MORE: The Intelligencer

• TRUMP LEAST POPULAR PRESIDENT OF THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY: Job approval? Trump is not off to a good start in his second term. In a comparison of approval ratings for each President’s first six months in office since the year 2001, Trump is at the bottom of the pack. The chart below breaks it down:

  

Governmental & Community Meetings

WED MAR 26

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.

TUE APRIL 15

Houghton County Board of Commissioners Special Meeting All County residents are invited to attend a Special Meeting on April 15, 2025 at 10 AM, located at 401 East Houghton Avenue, 3rd Floor Circuit Court, Houghton, MI 49931, to learn about the designs under consideration for the construction of a new county jail. If approved by the County Board, there will be a proposed millage request to fund the construction of the selected design. Further information on the Special Meeting can be found in this Press Release.

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 HoughtonDems@gmail.com or by text or voicemail at 906-523-1233