Events featured in our newsletter can also be found on the Events Calendar on the main page of our website.

A NOTE FROM CHAIR WILLIAM KEITH - 2026 HCDP CAMPAIGN OFFICE

WE HAVE NOW LEASED THIS YEAR'S OFFICE SPACE

We owe a huge thank-you to all who donated for the office fund, which allowed us to explore more options than we have in past years, including space on Shelden Avenue in Houghton (expensive!), and in the Hancock Community Hub (high-demand!). In fact we were ready to sign on the dotted line for one of those spaces when it got leased out from under us.

Fortunately, our longtime partners at Lahti Properties came through with flying colors, and we have returned to our familiar office at 323 Quincy Avenue in Hancock. The funds we have collected will carry us through the mid-term campaign season comfortably, and we may well have enough left over to get some useful organizer furniture, or possibly even run some short-term events as opportunities arise.

The lease begins June 1st. We will take some time to clean and set up, and activities at the office will ramp up closer to the election. As the campaign season gets into swing, one thing we will need is volunteers to keep the doors open for visitors, so please consider whether you might be able to spend a few hours saying hello to people stopping in.

POTLUCK & MONTHLY MEETING NEXT WEDNESDAY

Join us for our monthly meeting next Wednesday June 3rd 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.

RESOLUTIONS FOR THE JUNE MEETING

We will consider the following resolution at our monthly meeting next week.

FLOCK CAMERAS

One resolution will again consider the position our county party wants to take on Flock cameras. The first resolution on this topic was unanimously approved at the April meeting. Then at last month’s meeting that resolution was rescinded - not because of its conclusion but due to concerns about the wording that laid the grounds for action in the resolution. (More information on the rescission can be found in the May 12th newsletter).

In preparation for the vote on the revised resolution, you are asked to please review the Flock Camera Fact Sheet shared by Policy and Resolutions Chair Katie LaCosse.

MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK ON FIRST HIGHWAY CLEAN UP OF THE YEAR

GREAT TURN OUT FOR HIGHWAY CLEAN UP!

A big thank you to the eleven folks who turned out for last Wednesday’s highway clean up. Our event organizer, and HCDP Secretary, Barb Turuc, commented that she hadn’t seen that many folks turn out in quite some time. With eleven people cleaning the task went much quicker than usual!

We clean the stretch of M-26 from outside of Ripley to just beyond Dollar Bay at least twice each season. Look for the announcement of our next clean up in a future newsletter. Hoping you can join us then!

UPCOMING EVENTS

With Spring Fling now behind us, many summer events are coming up quickly. For Parades, we will share information about walking in them closer to each date.

We now have enough volunteers for Pridefest, but many volunteers are still needed for Tabling at Bridgefest.  Tabling involves greeting people who stop by, answering questions, and helping to make buttons. Email or text Events Chair Nancy Verive ([email protected] / (812) 573-1403) to sign up for any of the following shifts:

RURAL CAUCUS’S RURAL SUMMIT UPDATE

We highlighted the Michigan Rural Caucus’s 2026 Rural Summit in last week’s newsletter but unfortunately included the incorrect link for registering to attend the Summit. Click the button below for the correct link.

The Rural Summit runs from June 16th to the 20th and is held at the UAW Black Lake Conference Center in Onaway, Michigan. The Summit kicks off with a Meet & Greet at 7 PM June 16th. The daily schedule of Summit sessions starts June 17th.

The Rural Caucus is still taking registrations (through June 1st) with the entry fee ranging from $85 to attend for any 1 day, up to $325 for the full four day event. These costs includes meals but not lodging. Lodging is available (but filling up) at the Black Lake Conference Center and can be reserved when registering.

KELLI VAN GINHOVEN CAMPAIGN HOLDS FUNDRAISER IN HANCOCK

The Kelli Van Ginhoven campaign will hold a fundraiser at 5th & Elm in Hancock this Saturday, May 30th from 2 to 4 PM.

From the campaign:

ABDUL EL SAYED CAMPAIGNING IN EASTERN UP ON FRIDAY

Abdul El-Sayed, Democratic candidate for the US Senate, will be stopping in St. Ignace and Sault Ste. Marie this coming Friday.

Doors open at 11 AM in St. Ignace where Abdul will appear with the Mackinaw County Dems. For more information, and to RSVP to attend the event visit this Mobilize page.

In Sault Ste. Marie the candidate joins EUP Solidarity for his appearance beginning at 5:30 PM. For more information, and to RSVP to attend the event visit this Mobilize page.

NEWS OF INTEREST TO LOCAL DEMOCRATS - BERGMAN EDITION

FRONT PAGE DMG ARTICLES ARE NOT A SIGN OF STRENGTH FOR BERGMAN

WED MAY 27

The Houghton City Council meets at 5:30 PM on Wednesday. Agendas and agenda packets for Council meetings are typically placed in the City’s Searchable Document Center on the Monday before the meeting by 5:00 p.m.

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.