UPCOMING EVENTS
DATE & TIME | EVENT & LOCATION |
|---|---|
Ongoing / Wednesdays | Yoopers for Ukraine Bridge March. Every Wednesday at 5 PM. More info on the Yoopers for Ukraine Facebook page. |
September 12 | Fundraising Event to support MI Senate candidate Kelli van Ginhoven. (see item below for more info.) |
September 15 | The MI Secretary of State’s office will register voters at the National Voter Registration Day Event at Michigan Tech. (More info here.) |
September 21 | HCDP’s first ever In It to Win It fundraiser at Carmelitas in Calumet @ 6 PM. Tickets on sale now. (see item below for more info) |
September 23 | HCDP Fall Highway Clean Up (see item below for more info) |
Events featured in our newsletter can also be found on the Events Calendar on the main page of our website.
FALL ELECTION DATES
DATE | WHAT’S HAPPENING |
|---|---|
September 24 | Absentee ballots and drop boxes become available |
October 19 | Last day to register to vote online or by mail (registration in person at your local clerk’s office is still available up to and including Election Day.) |
October 24 | Early in-person voting begins. The early voting site for all Houghton County precincts is the Houghton County Building at 19741 W. Sharon Avenue. |
November 3 | Election Day |
PARTY NEWS
LARGE TURNOUT FOR SENATOR SLOTKIN VISIT
Over 60 people turned out last week for the visit by Senator Slotkin to our monthly potluck and meeting. It was a great opportunity to hear directly from our Senator and to ask questions. Thanks to all who came out!
(Photo credits: Brian Hoduski & Barb Turuc)
ANOTHER LABOR DAY PICNIC IN THE BOOKS!
IN IT TO WIN IT FUNDRAISER
WE ARE HOSTING OUR FIRST EVER IN IT TO WIN IT FUNDRAISER & SUPPORT OUR SLATE DINNER!!
Join us for this taco bar dinner at Carmelitas in Calumet on September 21. We’re looking forward to an evening of camaraderie and support for our fall slate of candidates.
Together we will make a difference as we fight to elect the candidates who will bring needed change to our state and country — candidates who share our democratic values.
If you’re unable to attend please consider a donation to help the HCDP get out the vote and to support our local candidates.
Tickets are on sale now. Scan the QR code in the flyer or click the button below to get yours!
NEW: RSVP by phone and then pay by cash or check at the door at Carmelitas! Call or text Nancy Verive by 9/20/26 to be added to the guest list! 812-573-1403
HIGHWAY CLEAN UP SEPTEMBER 23
COME JOIN US FOR THE FALL HIGHWAY CLEAN UP!
Join us Wednesday, September 23rd as the Houghton County Dems go out on the road again for our fall highway clean up. We’ll be cleaning our stretch of highway as part of the Adopt-A-Highway program — M-26 from just past Goat Hill Rd heading out of Ripley, and on through to Dollar Bay.
Join us Wednesday, September 23rd at 5:30 PM. (Rain Date is the following Wednesday, September 30th). Parking is available at the Adopt-A-Highway sign just past Goat Hill Rd. We provide gloves, safety vests and bags.
GET OUT THE VOTE WITH MDP ONE TEAM
Join the Michigan Dems’ One Team efforts to Get Out the Vote! Across the UP this fall the Michigan Dems’ One Team is organizing door knocking and phone banking to get out the vote for Democratic candidates.
From the One Team:
DOOR KNOCKING IN HOUGHTON COUNTY
This fall, Michigan picks a new Governor, a new U.S. Senator, and the officials who run our elections and enforce our laws — and the doors we knock now are how we win in November. We'll be talking with voters about our values as Democrats and about the team that will fight for them: Jocelyn Benson for Governor, Abdul El-Sayed for U.S. Senate, Garlin Gilchrist II for Secretary of State, and Eli Savit for Attorney General.
Whether this is your first time knocking doors or you're a seasoned pro, we'll provide plenty of training and all the materials you need to feel comfortable and confident. You'll get a walk list, a quick run-through of the script, and everything you need to hit the doors.
PHONE BANKING (VIRTUALLY)
With over 300,000 people in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, we have the capacity to swing the results of this November's election and ensure that in 2027 we are moving towards a brighter future. But that future only exists if each and every one of us do our part.
So this is our invitation to you, our northern friends, to aid us in this endeavor. If you have a day, an hour, and the desire to help us build a brighter tomorrow, then we have a place for you. Six days a week we're making calls to folks across the UP and the rest of Northern Michigan.
NOW EVEN MORE OFFICE HOURS!
Now open four days a week!
Stop by to pick up yard signs and campaign literature, or just to say hello!
CAMPAIGN NEWS
KELLI VAN GINHOVEN CAMPAIGN HOLDS FUNDRAISER IN HANCOCK
Join your hosts Bill and Diane Hougaboom to support of State Senate Candidate Kelli van Ginhoven. The house party fundraiser takes place September 12th starting at 6 PM. Tickets come in various fundraising levels, and are available through the button below or the QR code in the graphic. Find directions on Google maps here.
SUPPORT YOUR DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES
Can’t door knock or phone bank this fall? Your monetary donation to a candidate can make a big difference in getting out the vote. Below are links to the ActBlue fundraising pages of our 2026 Michigan Democratic candidates. Please consider a donation:
Callie Barr for US House
Abdul El-Sayed for US Senate
AN UPDATE ON BALLOT INITIATIVES
CITIZENSHIP VOTING PROPOSAL DEAD
In the August 11th newsletter we outlined two ballot initiatives likely to appear on the fall ballot. Two weeks ago we highlighted that one of those initiatives — the Citizen Voting initiative — had been considered by the Board of State Canvassers on August 24th, which deadlocked on the review of signatures by their professional staff. That deadlock meant that, barring action by the Michigan or Federal Supreme Court, the proposal was “dead” and would not appear on the fall ballot. Americans for Citizen Voting Michigan made emergency appeals of the Board’s actions to both the Michigan and Federal Supreme Courts.
Both courts have now ruled, and both have denied those appeals, which means that the Citizen Voting initiative WILL NOT appear on the ballot. With that proposal off the ballot there are now two proposals all Michigan voters will consider this fall.
MONEY OUT OF POLITICS
One, the Michigan Money Out of Politics proposal would prohibit certain organizations and individuals — such as regulated electric and gas utilities, contractors with over $250,000 annually in government contracts, and people and organizations with substantial connections to those utilities or contractors — from making direct or indirect contributions to those who run for office, and also provide further regulations for campaign finance laws and spending on political communications.
THE HCDP RECOMMENDS A YES VOTE FOR THE MMOP BALLOT MEASURE.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
The second is the question of whether the state should hold a Constitutional Convention. This proposal automatically appears on the ballot every 16 years, and this is one of those years. It has appeared before voters three times since the current Michigan constitution was adopted in 1963, and has been soundly defeated each time.
This time around both Democratic and Republican candidates are almost unanimous in saying they do not favor holding a new convention.
THE HCDP RECOMMENDS A NO VOTE FOR THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION BALLOT MEASURE.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT MEETINGS
TUE SEP 08
This month's regular meeting of the Houghton County Board of Commissioners, which would have normally been held on September 8, HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
WED SEP 09
The Houghton City Council meets at 5:30 PM on Wednesday. The Meeting Agenda is typically posted ahead of the meeting. Look for it in the Searchable Document Center of the Council's website.
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