Reminder: Lt Gov Gilchrist Visits This Saturday

Reminder: Lt Gov Gilchrist Visits This Saturday

Just a reminder - we’re hosting Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist this Saturday October 21st at 5 PM. The location of the event will be sent to those who RSVP by Friday. Click the button below to RSVP.

As part of the Whitmer Administration, Lt. Governor Gilchrist has focused on helping Michiganders in communities across our state realize their full economic and political potential. From co-chairing the Michigan Joint Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration, to helming the Michigan COVID-19 Task Force on Racial Disparities, to leading efforts to connect over 23,000 unserved locations in Michigan to affordable high-speed internet, Lt. Governor Gilchrist is committed to building a more just, equitable, prosperous, and connected Michigan where everyone can thrive.

Spooktacular Virtual Fundraiser October 28th

Join us for an online fundraiser to help Democratic candidates in the 2024 elections. 

It’s the HCDP Spooktacular!

Saturday, October 28 at 7 PM

This is an opportunity to help support your local party as we work to support local candidates for 2024. We are lining up a number of Democratic candidates and elected officials to participate. Hear our guests talk about the importance of local parties for their campaigns, and the importance of free and fair elections for our democracy.

In today’s closely contested races your support is vital.

Our seasonal fundraiser can help us all avoid scary election outcomes next year! Click on the button below to contribute. By doing so you’ll get your email address on our list for attendance. The Zoom link will be made available to donors before the event. Click the button below to donate and RSVP.

First Wednesday: The Perfect Night for a Potluck?

The idea of holding potlucks before each of our monthly meetings was raised at the October meeting. Providing for a pre-meeting time to share food might be a good way to build community, and it also might encourage more people to attend the monthly meetings. The idea was well received.

So, starting with the next meeting on November 1st we’ll be having a potluck! You’re encouraged to show up at 6 PM, one hour ahead of meeting time, with a dish to share - whether homemade or store bought - and enjoy some quality time with your fellow Dems before we settle down to business at 7. And don’t worry, if you’re not a good cook and don’t have time to shop, we’d still love for you to stop in and enjoy some food and conversation.

Become a Precinct Delegate

The Houghton County Dems invite you to consider becoming a Precinct Delegate.

The precinct is the smallest political unit in the county and all voters in a precinct vote at one location. The precinct is where elections are won and lost. It is your neighborhood. You know the people and you know what issues are most important to them.

Precinct Delegates serve as a bridge between the Democrats in your neighborhood and the local county party.

Each Democratic precinct delegate in Houghton County represents their neighborhood at our monthly county party meetings.

It’s the active precinct delegate who wins elections for the Democratic Party.

Interested in becoming a Precinct Delegate?

• Learn more about being a Michigan Precinct Delegate from MI Precinct First.

• Email us at [email protected] with any questions you may have about what it means to serve as a Precinct Delegate.

• Visit the Houghton County website. Filing instructions and Delegate Affidavit forms are now available. You have until 4 PM on May 7, 2024 to file for the August primary.

Hamas Terror Attacks and our Meme of the Week

The terror attacks by Hamas in Israel on the morning of October 7th shocked the world. As the days have gone by the toll from that Saturday’s events have come more clearly into focus. Estimates of those killed in the Hamas attacks has grown to over 1300, including 29 Americans. Over 100 people (with some estimates up to 200), including an unknown number of Americans, are being held hostage inside Gaza.

Officials in Gaza estimated over the weekend that 2300 have been killed in Israel’s retaliation bombing. Israel has massed troops on the border with Gaza awaiting the word to move, while Palestinians try, mostly unsuccessfully, to flee from harm’s way.

President Biden has firmly and forcefully said that America stands with Israel and against terrorism. He has also called for the protection of civilians, urged Israel to operate under the rules of war, and warned that an occupation of Gaza would be “a big mistake”.

As the world watches events unfold there’s much angst and emotion. There are concerns about the loss of civilian life in Gaza, and the potential for the conflict to spread and include other actors. There are concerns that the Israel Hamas conflict will slow or hinder America’s ability to assist Ukraine.

But on this we can all agree - the terrorist acts of Hamas were acts of “sheer evil” as President Biden said in his speech one week ago.

Our Meme of the Week comes from the official account of the President on Instagram, featuring the White House lit in the colors of the Israeli flag as a show of solidarity on the evening of October 9th. This photo was repeatedly seen on social media in posts from accounts around the world.

“Tonight, America says clearly to the Israeli people, to the world, and to terrorists everywhere that we stand with the Israeli people.”

More Good Things Happening in Lansing

Highlights of the latest news from the state level:

• Governor Whitmer upped the pressure on Democratic Rep. Karen Whitsett with her comments this past Monday. Whitsett has objected to portions of the proposed Reproductive Health Act. If she continues to hold out, it could threaten the passage of the bill, which will require unanimous Democratic support in the state House. MORE: ABC 13 

• On Wednesday the state Senate passed a package of bills aimed at strengthening domestic violence protections - preventing anyone convicted of a domestic violence-related misdemeanor from owning a gun until eight years after they complete their sentence. A similar package of bills is awaiting action in the state House MORE: Michigan Radio

• We’ve all heard about Michigan Tech’s high enrollment numbers this year. But Tech is not alone - nine of Michigan’s state university campuses have seen incoming student growth this year. That news was shared by Gov. Whitmer as she spoke about the Michigan Achievement Scholarship which launched last year. MORE: The Gander

• A Spark Grant through the Michigan DNR is providing $495,000 for the renovation of the Chassell Centennial Park. The grant was announced late last week. The Spark Grants program is made possible by Gov. Whitmer’s “Building Michigan Together Plan,” which included a record-setting $450 million from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act to improve state and local parks. MORE: Daily Mining Gazette

• The first woman in Michigan’s history to serve as Senate Majority Leader had her official portrait unveiled at the Capitol last week. Learn more about Winnie Brinks, who has served as state Senator from Grand Rapids since 2019, in her interview with The Gander. MORE: The Gander

• Court of Claims Judge Redford is fast-tracking a lawsuit challenging Donald Trump’s eligibility to appear on Michigan presidential ballots. The lawsuit argues that Trump is disqualified under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment for his role in “inciting and facilitating” the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. MORE: Michigan Advance

Michigan’s GOP leadership has received lots of unfavorable press, some of which we’ve noted here. This week AP News puts it into context, pointing out that infighting, power struggles and chaos have “become a hallmark of the modern GOP” nationwide.

 Save the Date - Upcoming HCDP Events

September 28: Spooktacular Virtual Fundraiser - see the item above, or RSVP here.

HCDP Monthly Meetings: 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: NOVEMBER 1ST

Community Events

Tue 10/17

• The Laurium Village Council meets tonight at 6 PM in the Council Chambers of the Town Hall. More info can be found on the Village's website.

• The Calumet Village Council meets tonight at 6:00 PM in the Village Council Chambers. More information on the Council, it's committees, and minutes of past meetings can be found on the Council's webpage.

Wed 10/18

• The Hancock City Council meets at 6 PM in the Hancock City Hall Council Chambers.

Fri 10/13 through Friday 10/20

• November 13th through the 19th are Transgender Awareness Week, leading up to the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) on November 20th. TDoR memorializes those we’ve lost to fatal transphobic violence. It is an unfortunate truth that, simply for trying to be who they are, transgender people are subject to violence far too often, up to and including murder. Learn more about Transgender Day of Remembrance from the GSA Network. See the “In Memoriam” prepared by GLAAD listing victims of fatal transphobic violence.