Spring Fling is Almost Here. Have You Got Your Tickets?

There Are So Many Good Things Going On Now That We’ve Moved the Upcoming Events Section to the Top of the Newsletter to Highlight All the Action. If You Are Looking for a Way to Get Involved Check Out All of the Events Below -

Spring Fling is Almost Here. Have You Got Your Tickets? - Get Yours Today!

April 20th is right around the corner. Have you got your Spring Fling tickets yet? Tickets are available through ActBlue - click the button below to be taken to the ActBlue Spring Fling page.

Spring Fling will be held Saturday, April 20th from 5 to 8 PM. We’ll be at the Bonfire at the Continental Fire Co. in Houghton. We’d love to see you there.

Ticket prices this year will again be $50, with Student tickets available at $40.

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.

Direct Action Training Session from the Michigan People’s Campaign is Tomorrow!

The next session in the Rural Organizing Revival training series is TOMORROW evening at 6:30 PM.

This fantastic Houghton-based training opportunity is available from our friends at the Michigan People's Campaign. If you'd like to come together with like-minded folks to learn how to organize to win the justice our communities deserve, then take advantage of this FREE training. Learn more and sign up here: https://www.mobilize.us/mipeoplecampaign/event/610290/

Candidate Filing Deadlines This Month and Next

THERE ARE TWO DEADLINES FAST APPROACHING FOR THOSE THINKING OF RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

If you are interested in running for a partisan office - including many local government seats, from Houghton County Board to Township Boards - you have until 4 PM Tuesday April 23rd to file to appear on the Aug. 6 primary ballot.

If you are interested in becoming a precinct delegate the filing deadline is 4 PM Tuesday May 7th. Filing for precinct delegate requires the submission of the Precinct Delegate Affidavit of Identity and Receipt of Filing form, which is available from the Houghton County Clerk. Click the graphic below to be taken to the Clerk’s web page to download the form and instructions.

If you have questions about running for any office, email us at [email protected] and we’ll be happy to provide assistance.

(NOTE: THE FILING DEADLINE FOR SCHOOL BOARD AND CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS IS NOT UNTIL JULY 23RD.)

Election Inspectors Needed - Training on Friday May 10th

ELECTION WORKERS ARE NEEDED FOR THE AUGUST PRIMARY AND NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Becoming an election worker is a great way to support the democratic process in your local community.

Election workers are hired, paid, and trained local government workers who assist with running local elections.

During an election, Houghton County needs a staff of paid and skilled election workers, called election inspectors, to assist voters and help process ballots. Anyone in Houghton County can be trained to serve as an Election Inspector in Houghton County. Houghton County Clerk Jennifer Kelly will provide training in May. The training takes about an hour. Training info below -

ELECTION INSPECTOR TRAINING

Friday, May 10th at 1:00 p.m.

Franklin Township Hall

An Election Inspector Application form is available here. To apply for the training, download, complete and submit this form to your local City/Township Clerk (use this search tool if you need help to find your local clerk). NOTE: You must declare a party on this form because State Law requires a balance of party affiliation among the Election Inspectors at each poll. It doesn't mean that you must be a member of a party, just that you identify with one of the parties.

If you’d like to learn more about what it means to be an election worker, view these Frequently Asked Questions from the Michigan Department of State.

Several Houghton Dems to Attend the Michigan Rural Summit This Thursday

The 2024 Rural Summit of the Michigan Rural Caucus begins this Thursday.

The Rural Summit will bring together rural activists, candidates, and elected officials, along with other organizations working in the rural organizing space to learn, discuss and collaborate to improve the lives of our rural neighbors in Michigan.

The Houghton County Democratic Party is proud to be a sponsoring organization for the Rural Summit. We have several Houghton Dems signed up to attend the Summit, and are looking forward to hearing their reports of their experience.

At the Capital and On the Campaign Trail

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

• Detroit Maps Redrawn - In response to Black voters concerned about the racial fairness of metro Detroit state House maps defined by Michigan’s Independent Citizen’s Redistricting Commission, a three judge Federal panel redrew five Detroit maps late last month. The changes are not expected to impact the partisan breakdown of the Michigan legislature. MORE: Detroit Free Press

• Supreme Court Races - Four candidates are currently vying for a seat on the Michigan Supreme Court. They include Kyra Harris Bolden, who was appointed by Governor Whitmer in 2022. Michigan Bridge takes a look at the four candidates.

• Special Election Next Tuesday - A special election will be held next Tuesday to replace two Democratic state House Representatives who vacated their offices after winning mayor’s races within their districts. Since the two vacated office the state House has been deadlocked at 54 Democrats and 54 Republicans. This has resulted in minimal legislative activity. MORE: Associated Press 

• Anti-abortion Without Exception - In one of the special election races the Republican candidate has said that he opposes abortion “without exception”, and, if elected, is open to repealing the state’s landmark abortion law. MORE: Michigan Advance 

• Michigan Decriminalizes Surrogacy - One legislative change that did make it through the spring session was signed into law by Governor Whitmer last week. HB 5207-5215 lifts the state’s ban on compensated surrogacy agreements. Michigan was the only state to have such a ban. MORE: Detroit Free Press

• Trump Lies at Michigan Rally - At his rally in Grand Rapids last week Donald Trump attempted to score points on immigration by lying that he had spoken to the family of a Michigan woman who was killed by her boyfriend. The boyfriend was in the country illegally at the time. Trump was caught out in his lie when the sister of the victim came forward and said that neither Trump nor anyone from his campaign had spoken to the family. MORE: USA Today

• More Jobs - The latest jobs report released late last week left one economist “borderline speechless” as job growth continues to outpace projections. The economy added 303,000 jobs in March. This latest report means that President Biden has overseen a whopping 15 million new jobs since he took office. The US unemployment rate also fell to 3.8% last month, continuing a two year streak of less than 4% unemployment. MORE: Yahoo Finance

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: APRIL 3RD

Governmental Meetings

TUE APR 9 (TODAY)

The yearly statutory meeting of the Laurium Village Council will be held at 6:00PM in the village council chambers. More info can be found on the Village's website. 

WED APR 10

The Houghton City Council meets at 5:30 PM on Wednesday. For information on attending the meeting remotely, see the City Council’s webpage.

THUR APR 11

This month's meeting of the Houghton County Board of Commissioners has been postponed from Tuesday to Thursday afternoon at 4 PM in the Conference Room on the fifth floor of the Houghton County Courthouse. Find more information on the Board's webpage.

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