Voter Turnout - A Simple Step You Can Take to Help Triple the Vote

February Potluck and General Meeting Tomorrow

Our next General Meeting will be tomorrow at 7 PM. Our potluck dinner begins at 6 PM. Bring 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.

You do not need to be a member to attend our monthly meetings, and we would welcome your attendance.

IN PERSON: The meeting will be held in-person at the Super 8 Motel in Houghton.

REMOTE ATTENDANCE: Remote attendance is via Zoom. Email readers can click the button below at 7 PM on Wednesday to be connected to the Zoom session.

Voter Turnout - A Simple Step You Can Take to Help Triple the Vote

There are 21 days left before the Michigan Presidential Primary. 

Turn out is key in every election, and that’s the case in this year’s primary as well. 

A strong turnout in the Democratic race will send a message that Michigan Democrats are energized and ready to defend our freedoms and our democracy.

In last week’s newsletter, we provided some key dates and resources to be aware of for voting in this month’s Michigan Presidential Primary. This week we want to highlight a simple step each of us can take to increase voter turnout.

ASK THREE FRIENDS

There is a straightforward technique each of us can use that’s called “vote tripling.” Vote tripling is simple but powerful. It just means asking three friends to vote, and then helping to make sure they follow through. Vote tripling is a proven way to multiply the impact of your vote.

Pick three friends or family members to text, call, or email and ask them if they are ready with a plan to vote. When talking with your three friends, a good resource to recommend for making their voting plans is the online Michigan Voter Information Center (MVIC). The MVIC has all kinds of information for Michigan voters - from how to register to vote, to finding your local Clerk’s office and polling place, to how to get an absentee ballot.

When you engage your three friends, here are some questions you could ask:

• Have you decided when you’re voting? (Last week’s newsletter has all the important dates and times for absentee, early in-person, and Election Day voting.)

• Do you know what you need to bring? (The MVIC can help with this.)

• Do you know where to go? (Send them to the MVIC to find their local clerk’s office to register, or their local polling place to vote.)

• Are your friends and family ready to vote too? Can you check in with three of them? (This is where the power of vote tripling really proves its worth - if even one of your three friends ALSO engages with three of their friends the multiplying effect will kick into overdrive.)

It really is that simple - ask three friends - and help triple the voter turnout for our Presidential Primary.

Mark Your Calendars for Spring Fling

The annual Spring Fling is in the planning stages, and a date has been set.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 20th, from 5 to 8 PM. We’ll again be at the Bonfire at the Continental Fire Co. in Houghton.

The Spring Fling is a great way to meet up and converse with fellow Democrats and progressive voters while listening to elected officials who represent you, and learning first hand about candidates who are looking for your support.

The Fling is also one of our largest fundraising events each year, and in an election year your support is especially important.

Details on speakers and more will be forthcoming as the planning firms up.

President Biden Visits Michigan - Our Event of the Week

We mentioned a few weeks back that we’d be shifting our focus away from memes and social media posts as the political season heats up, and instead focus more directly on important events happening on the campaign trails locally, statewide and at the national level. And so it is this week.

Once again last week President Biden visited Michigan to meet with members of the UAW. But unlike last September when the President joined striking UAW workers on the picket line, this time he was here to thank the UAW for their endorsement.

In front of cheering UAW workers Biden highlighted the strong economy, and the manufacturing renaissance that is now underway, saying “Remember they told us ‘manufacturing’s dead in America. China’s going to eat our lunch?’ Well, guess what man, we don’t taste that good.”

On his first campaign stop in Michigan, President Biden landed at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township, where he was met by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist and others. Later in the day he traveled to suburban Harper Woods to a Black owned eatery called “They Say” where he greeted diners and took selfies.

Biden did not meet with Arab Americans, and faced protestors who are upset with his administration’s support for Israel following the terrorist attack by Hamas last October 7th. Israel’s actions in Gaza have cost the lives of an estimated 27,000 Gaza residents. The President and his team have taken several recent steps to urge Israel to scale back its operations in Gaza.

But many in Michigan's large Arab American community remain frustrated with the President, upset that he’s not done more to stop the war and save innocent families. Arab Americans are part of the coalition of voters who gave President Biden his victory in Michigan in 2020. The loss of support among Arab Americans may pose a challenge to the President’s chances of victory in our state this year. It is a challenge that he and his campaign are aware of, and it remains unknown how large a challenge it will ultimately pose come November.

At the Capital & Around the State

• After a lawsuit by Detroit voters, a Federal court ruled that the independent citizen’s redistricting committee must redraw 13 House and Senate districts in the Detroit metro area. A Bridge Michigan analysis says the proposed redistricting could threaten the Democratic majority in the state House MORE: Bridge Michigan

• On Thursday Attorney General Dana Nessel announced a settlement with Publicis Health as a result of the prescription opioid crisis. The settlement will result in Michigan receiving over $11 million dollars to help address the crisis. MORE: Fox 17 West Michigan

• A number of the victories Democrats achieved in the 2023 legislative session will become law next Tuesday, February 13th. The new laws include LGBTQ+ protections, gun control laws, the repeal of Right to Work, and more. MORE: 9&10 News

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: FEBRUARY 7TH

Community Events

TUE FEB 6 - MON FEB 12

There are no County Commission, nor City or Village Board meetings scheduled in the next week.

Meetings are scheduled throughout the month by governmental 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.