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. |
Ongoing thru the August Primary / Tuesdays ( 5 - 7 PM) and Saturdays (10 AM - Noon) | HCDP Office hours, 323 Quincy Street, Hancock. Google Maps location here. |
July 11 @ 10 AM | Join the Houghton County Dems at the Strawberry Festival. Line up @ 10 AM, Parade @ 11 AM. See item below for more info. |
July 19 @ 5:30 PM | Callie Barr hosts a Town Hall with special guest Bart Stupak at the Calumet Theatre. Pre-register to attend here. |
July 19 @ 7 PM | Keweenaw Against the Oligarchy Monthly Action meeting. More info here. |
September 1 | Deadline for your recipe submission to our Community Cookbook. Submit your recipe here. |
Events featured in our newsletter can also be found on the Events Calendar on the main page of our website.
THE SPIRIT OF ‘76
Fife and drums lead the Continental Army into war, as envisioned by Archibald Willard in his 1912 oil painting “The Spirit of ‘76”
VOLUNTEERING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A KEY PART OF THE AMERICAN CHARACTER
In June of 1775, two months after the battles at Lexington and Concord, the Continental Congress created the Continental Army with George Washington as its Commander-in-Chief. The new, national Army transformed the volunteer groups of local militias into a unified, though still mostly volunteer, national fighting force.
The Minutemen of Lexington and Concord, and the soldiers of the newly formed Continental Army volunteered to serve - inspired by the calls for liberty and independence, and by their own individual concerns with British rule that curtailed their freedoms and harmed their livelihoods. They were farmers, merchants and everyday people who understood that you must stand and fight for what you believe in.
Now that we have all observed our nation’s 250th birthday, let’s continue in our resolve to face today’s challenges to our freedoms and livelihoods by volunteering anew for the fight to preserve our democracy, as we continue the struggle for those unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
In today’s newsletter we acknowledge and thank you for all that you have done for these American ideals, and we humbly submit for your consideration current opportunities, right here in Houghton County, for you to continue to carry on the Spirit of ‘76.
PARTY NEWS
PARTY POSITIONS AVAILABLE
Are you interested in putting your time and effort toward Democratic success, but are reluctant to take a public role like running for office? Lots of volunteer opportunities to help elect Democrats will be popping up soon during the campaign season, but if you're interested in helping us out for a longer term, we have several Party positions open.
Money helps a lot of things go better. Our Finance Chair helps us raise it. Some experience doing this with other organizations would be preferred. Our Treasurer handles the accounting and reporting - the Finance Chair organizes fundraisers, helps us maintain donor relations, and strategizes with us in our biannual budget
process.Meanwhile, the rubber hits the road in our voter turnout operations. Our Political Organizing Chair wrangles volunteers, coordinates with the One Campaign (the MDP's central strategy operation), and stays in touch with campaigns to make sure we have things like signs stocked and lit bags ready at the office. If you have experience coordinating volunteers with another organization you could be perfect for this position.
In addition to these officer positions, several of our Committees - Policy, Events, and others - can always use helping hands, not to mention folks shadowing our officers to help keep our lines of succession robust. If you'd like to help out but are leery of taking the lead we'd be happy to point you to one of these committees.
Interesting in learning more about these positions? Send us an email at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 906-523-1233. We’d love to talk with you! Or, drop by any of our monthly business meetings and you'll see the kind of work we do. We'd be happy to discuss the wide variety of ways you can join the team!
HIGHWAY CLEAN UP JULY 15 - VOLUNTEER!!
COME JOIN US FOR THE SECOND HIGHWAY CLEAN UP OF THE YEAR!
Join us next Wednesday as the Houghton County Dems go out on the road again for our second highway clean up of this summer. 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, July 15th at 5:30 PM. (Rain Date is the following Wednesday, July 22nd). Parking is available at the Adopt-A-Highway sign just past Goat Hill Rd. We provide gloves, safety vests and bags.
ITS ALWAYS ADVISABLE TO BRING YOUR OWN WATER BOTTLES.
OTHER VOLUNTEERING WITH THE HOUGHTON DEMS
WALK THE STRAWBERRY FEST PARADE WITH US
This Saturday, July 11th, we’ll be marching in the Strawberry Festival Parade in Chassell. Strawberry Fest is one of the largest festivals held in Houghton County each year, and the parade attracts lots of people. We’d love to have you join us - the more the merrier! Line up and decorating for the parade is at 10 AM near the Krist gas station and triangular park in Chassell. Look for William Keith's gray Ford Fusion with a VOTEBLU license plate.
TABLE WITH US AT PASTY FEST
Help is needed tabling at the 22nd annual Pasty Fest in Calumet. Contact Nancy Verive @ (812) 573-1403 to volunteer.
HOUGHTON COUNTY FAIR
Table with us at the Houghton County Fair. Contact Barb Turuc @ [email protected] to volunteer.
HELP STAFF THE OFFICE
As campaign season moves beyond the primary we would like to expand office hours as we have in previous years. To do so takes volunteers to staff the office. Shifts are flexible and are typically evenings and weekends. If you’d like to volunteer just drop a line to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 906-523-1233.
HELP US COOK UP SOMETHING GOOD
In honor of our nation’s 250th birthday we’d like to prepare a community cookbook so we can all cook up a celebration! So gather up the recipes for those longtime favorites and submit them our Community Cookbook! Just scan the QR code in the graphic, or click the button below to access our form where you can submit your recipe. Or if you’d like you can email your recipe to [email protected]. WE’D LOVE TO HAVE YOUR RECIPES NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 1ST. Thanks for participating, and please share with your friends and family!!
SERVE AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER
Our Candidate Recruitment Committee encourages all interested Democrats and progressive citizens to file to run for your local school board.
THE FILING DEADLINE IS JULY 21ST.
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 2026 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 “Get on Board” Town Halls, with two online sessions between now and the filing deadline. Information on the dates and times of the Town Halls is available in their Become a Board Member web page.
The Great Lakes Political Academy (GLPA-LEAD) offers in-person and virtual training sessions 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. More information on for GLPA-LEAD School Board Training, including dates and locations, can be found here.
SUBMIT YOUR IDEA FOR AN HCDP RESOLUTION
GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY IS AT THE CENTER OF THE HOUGHTON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY
At our meeting last Wednesday the proposed Resolution to voice opposition to a “Documentary Proof of Citizenship” ballot initiative was unanimously approved. You can view the approved resolution here.
The resolution shared above was adopted because a member brought it forward, and you can do the exact same thing! By submitting a resolution idea for consideration at our monthly meetings, you directly guide the local party on where to stand and how to support on local, state, and national issues.
Ready to make an impact? Use our Resolution Request Form below, available every week in our newsletter, to shared your ideas and start the formal consideration process with the HCDP community. You can take part in the writing of the resolution, or simply submit your idea and our Policy and Resolutions Chair will compose the resolution with the guidance you have provided. Please keep in mind that only members are allowed to vote on the adoption of a resolution, so take the opportunity here to become a member today!
CAMPAIGN NEWS
SUPPORT YOUR DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES
We are now in the midst of the 2026 primary election, with absentee ballots available since last week. Here are some opportunities to help support our Democratic primary candidates:
State Senate Candidate Kelli van Ginhoven: The van Ginhoven campaign is seeking volunteers for door knocking and phone banking throughout July and August. Opportunities are available on short shifts on weekday afternoons and evenings, and on weekends throughout the district. Door knocking in Houghton County is slated for Fridays. Sign up here to volunteer.
State House Candidate Brian Irizarry: Brian Irizarry is seeking volunteers willing to knock doors on his behalf at the homes of “strong Democrats”. Sign up here to volunteer.
Volunteer opportunities are available for other legislative candidates as well -
US House Candidates
Callie Barr - Volunteer here
Kyle Blomquist - Volunteer here
Wayne Stiles - Volunteer here
US Senate Candidates
Abdul El-Sayed - Volunteer thru “Yooper Counties for Abdul” here
Haley Stevens - Volunteer here
CALLIE BARR TOWN HALL AT CALUMET THEATRE JULY 19TH
Callie Barr will hold a Town Hall at the Calumet Theatre on Sunday, July 19th from 5:30 PM until 7 PM. Joining the candidate will be former state and US House Rep. Bart Stupak. Find more information and RSVP here.
The Callie Barr campaign is seeking volunteers to phone bank locally this week to let people know about her Calumet Theatre Town Hall. To volunteer send us an email at [email protected] and we’ll pass the word on to the campaign.
COMMUNITY NEWS
MAKE A DIFFERENCE - VOLUNTEER FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS BOCCE BALL TOURNAMENT
From the good folks supporting the local Special Olympics Area 39:
Make a huge difference in the community by helping with the Special Olympics Michigan Upper Peninsula Regional Bocce Ball Tournament, hosted by our local Area 39 program. We expect nearly 100 athletes from across the U.P. to participate. The tournament will be on August 1 at the Houghton High School Football Stadium. All volunteers helping will receive a very cool volunteer t-shirt. Those helping during the day on August 1 will receive a free lunch as well. We will provide training for all volunteers who sign up to judge the matches...no bocce knowledge or experience is necessary. Please review the available slots on our Sign-Up Genius Page and consider helping out!
LOCAL GOVERNMENT MEETINGS
WED JUL 08
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