Our Visit with Callie Barr

Presidential Debate Watch Party

FOOD, DRINKS AND POLITICS

Join us this Thursday, June 27th for a Debate Watch Party and fundraiser. This promises to be a great opportunity to meet with your fellow Democrats and to support our local Democratic candidates.

WHEN: Thursday, June 27 starting at 8:30 PM (Debate starts at 9 PM ET)

WHERE: Houghton County Dems Headquarters @ 323 Quincy Street in Hancock

Donations taken at the door to support local Democratic candidates. Suggested donation $10

Coffee and Snacks provided. BYOB.

Help us spread the word by emailing this newsletter to your friends or by printing and sharing the event flyer with them.

Dook Knocking This Saturday!

OUR FIRST OF THE SEASON IS GREAT FOR FIRST TIMERS!

We’ve got a great opportunity for first time door knockers (and your friends!) this Saturday, June 29th. We’ll be stopping at the doors of strong Democrats in Portage Township. The goal of our campaign will be to look for volunteers for later rounds of door knocking this election season. Secondary possible topics will be our candidates for the Portage Township Board, county-and-up candidates, and encouraging a YES vote on the Portage Lake District Library millage.

Get Out the Vote efforts will be crucial for strong turn out for this fall’s election. If you want to make a difference in this election, now is the perfect time to step up!

WHAT: First Door Knocking campaign of the year. We’re knocking on very friendly doors, so this is a great opportunity for first time door knockers!

WHEN: This Saturday, starting with a brief orientation at Noon at the HCDP office - 323 Quincy Street in Hancock.

BRING WITH YOU: Bring your cell phone and a friend or two! (We’ll be using a mobile canvassing app to record our door knocking activity.)

RSVP: Send your RSVP to [email protected] (appreciated but not required)

Coming Events - Mark Your Calendars (and Volunteer!)

We still have summer activities and events coming up and we’d love to have you join us! Below is the list of our annual summer activities. Mark your calendars and volunteer:

• July 4 - INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADES: We will be marching in the South Range parade this year. If you’d like to join in and march with us, let us know.

• July 12 and 13 - STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL: Strawberry Fest is a favorite every year. We’ll be marching in the Festival Parade - come join us!

• August 10 - HOUGHTON COUNTY DEMS CONVENTION: Pursuant to the Michigan Democratic Party’s Call to Convention on Saturday, August 24th, all County and District Conventions across Michigan shall occur on Saturday, August 10, 2024. Our County Convention will convene at the hour designated in our local Call to Convention, which will be issued no later than July 26th. The purpose of our County Convention will be to elect Members and Alternates to the State Convention Committees and to consider resolutions to be forwarded to the State Party. NOTE: Delegates with eligibility to vote at the County Convention shall be the members of the MDP residing in Houghton County whose membership was renewed at least thirty (30) days prior to the County Convention held on August 10, 2024 - which is July 11, 2024. (Precinct Delegates, Democratic elected officials and Democratic nominees to partisan offices residing in Houghton County may become members that day when they register at the County Convention.)

• 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.

• Labor Day Weekend - LABOR DAY PICNIC: Each year we gather over Labor Day Weekend to picnic and connect as we get ready for the fall campaign season.

If you’d like to volunteer for any of these activities let us know. Just leave a message at (906) 523-1233 or email us at [email protected]

Our Visit with Callie Barr

The Houghton County Democrats do not endorse candidates prior to primary elections. But we do support all Democratic candidates for office and strive to inform our members and newsletter subscribers about their Democratic choices. What appears below, then, is our effort to inform you about Callie Barr, one of your Democratic choices for the 1st District US House seat, who visited us last week.

Callie’s Democratic opponent is Dr. Bob Lorinser, who has appeared at several events in Houghton County this year, including Pridefest, the Little Brothers pancake breakfast fundraiser, and our own Spring Fling. The HCDP is working with the Lorinser campaign to arrange a similar Meet and Greet with Dr. Bob later this summer. Stay tuned for that, and in the meantime you can visit Dr. Bob’s campaign website to support and donate to his campaign.

We had a good crowd show up to hear from Callie Barr on a weekday afternoon. Thanks to all who stopped in. Callie spoke for several minutes and then answered questions. Some highlights:

• Her campaign has been endorsed by former 1st District US House Rep. Bart Stupak, and she quoted Stupak as telling her that she is the first Democrat in a long time that he believes can win the seat.

• She spoke about her background growing up in northern lower Michigan, her husband’s military service, and her career as a lawyer. She is the only candidate in the race who is a native of the district, and thus feels herself uniquely able to address the issue of carpetbagging by the current office holder.

• She spoke about the resurgence of strength in labor unions, the historic importance of labor to the Democratic Party, and how the Democrats can speak to the need for good jobs, healthcare, the ability to retire and the ability to have a life outside of work

• Married to a military veteran, she also feels herself to be uniquely qualified to speak to Jack Bergman’s dishonoring of his military career with his role in the 2020 insurrection.

• Callie mentioned that she had been recently interviewed by Steve Schmidt, former Republican strategist, campaign manager, and one of the founders of The Lincoln Project. He had heard Callie’s story and asked her to be on his podcast. If you’d like to see the interview, which covers many of the topics Callie discussed with us, check out this page on Schmidt’s Substack site.

Learn more and Donate to Callie’s campaign at callieforcongress.com

So You Want To Become A School Board Member?

Our Candidate Recruitment Committee is still encouraging all interested Democrats and progressive citizens to file to run for your local school board. The filing deadline is July 23rd.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT HOW TO FILE AND RUN FOR A SEAT ON YOUR SCHOOL BOARD CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING RESOURCES:

• The Candidate’s Guide put together by The Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) takes you through the process of becoming a School Board candidate, and helps you understand what it takes to be an effective School Board member.

• MASB is also offering Virtual Candidate Forums throughout June and July to answer questions from prospective candidates. Information on the dates and times of the Forums is available in their Candidate’s Guide.

• The Great Lakes Political Academy (GLPA-LEAD) is offering a virtual training session for School Board candidates. This day-long training covers the key issues facing school boards, how to persuasively handle controversial issues in education today and the nuts and bolts of running for school board. The training will be offered on Saturday, August 3rd from 10 AM to 3 PM. Sign up here.

At the Capital and On the Campaign Trail

A SMALL SAMPLING OF WHAT’S HAPPENING IN MICHIGAN AND ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

• Federal Appeals Court Returns Line 5 Case to State Court: In an opinion published last Monday, a three-judge panel in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals directed a federal district court to return the case to state court, where Attorney General Dana Nessel originally filed it shortly after taking office in 2019. MORE: Bridge Michigan

• Gov. Whitmer Celebrates Low Unemployment Rate: In a statement issued last Thursday the Governor celebrated the latest economic data on Michigan’s unemployment. “Michigan’s low unemployment rate of 3.9% is now below the national average for the first time since May 2023. Michiganders are rolling up their sleeves and working hard to provide for themselves and their families, growing our economy and helping our communities thrive,” the Governor said. MORE: Governor’s Press Release

• Supreme Court Upholds Gun Control Law: In a rare Supreme Court win for common sense on gun violence, the Court on Friday upheld a Federal gun control law protecting victims of domestic violence. The justices ruled 8-1 in favor of a 1994 ban on firearms for people under restraining orders to stay away from their spouses or partners. The ruling comes a week after the Court overturned the Federal ban on “bump stocks” implemented after the horrific mass shooting in 2017 in Las Vegas that killed 60 people. MORE: Associated Press

• Biden-Harris Campaign Releases New Ad on 2nd Anniversary of Dobbs Decision: The new ad takes direct aim at Donald Trump and his role in overturning Roe. CNN says that the campaign “is blasting former President Donald Trump over abortion rights in a new TV ad coinciding with the two-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade and days ahead of the first presidential debate.” You can watch the new ad below.

• Charlevoix House Rep Latest in String of MI Republicans Arrested: Lansing Police have requested charges of felony sexual assault, assault, and a weapons-related offense against 62 year old state Rep. Neil Friske. Friske was arrested in the early morning hours last Thursday after reports of an armed man and possible shots fired. He has since been released pending the Ingham County prosecutor’s investigation. Charges have not yet been filed. Friske is the latest in a string of Michigan Republican officials to run afoul of the law. Former Republican House leader Lee Chatfield and his wife, along with two top aides, have been charged with financial crimes including embezzlement. And Matt DePerno, who has been charged with tampering with voting machines after the 2020 election recently announced that he is running for the Michigan Supreme Court. MORE: Michigan Advance

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: July 3rd

Governmental & Community Meetings

WED JUNE 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.

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