Biden Wins Michigan Primary!
On Tuesday Michigan voters spoke and the president heard our voices. That’s who Joe Biden is and one more thing that makes him so different from Donald Trump: Joe Biden listens.
Now, let’s go elect more and better Dems up and down the ballot in 2024!
This Saturday, March 2 WCDP Meeting
In person at 4135 Washtenaw Ave., 48108,
Why is rent so high in Washtenaw County? And what are Dems doing to help?
9:15 – 9:45 – Social time – get to know your Democratic neighbors and enjoy breakfast treats!
9:45 – 10:30 – Party business:
- What we’re doing, how you can be part of it, updates from state & local electeds, DC Update from Congresswoman Debbie Dingell
- Opportunities to serve on township boards, and on city and county commissions across Washtenaw County, with Democratic activists and electeds Lonnie Scott (former Executive Director of Progress Michigan) and Eric Roberts, Master Municipal Clerk and candidate for Lodi Township Clerk)
10:30 – noon – Why’s rent so high in Washtenaw County? And what are Dems doing to help?
- Panel Chair: Zack Farah – Chair, Ann Arbor Renters Commission
- Jennifer Hall – Executive Director Ann Arbor Housing Commission
- Cynthia Harrison – Ann Arbor City Council
- Jason Macijewski (invited) – County Commissioner, District 1 (representing both Chelsea and Dexter)
- Carrie Rheingans – MI Representative, HD47 (representing Western Washtenaw and Jackson County)
- Justin Yuan – McKinley Tenants Association & Ann Arbor Tenants Union
Food Drive in support of Food Gatherers
After the holiday season is a slow time for donations to Food Gatherers so it is an important time to donate. Bring you donatable items (see most needed items below
) to the meeting and we’ll make sure they get where they need to go!
DEMS CARE Food Drive Needs
Please bring your donatable items to the March 2nd meeting and we’ll bundle them up for Food Gatherers!
Food Gatherers appreciates all types of non-perishable food donations, however, we have the most requests from our partner agencies for the following items. For donation hours and additoinal instructions, please visit our website: www.foodgatherers.org.
Most Needed Food & Care Items
Non-perishable food
Hearty soups (beef stew, chili, etc.)
Canned meats (tuna fish, chicken, etc.)
Canned vegetables
Packaged pasta & rice
Whole grain cereal & oatmeal
Baking & cookies supplies (flour, sugar, oil, etc.)
Condiments
Nut butters or jelly
Kid-friendly snacks (granola bars, goldfish, etc.)
Baby food & formula
Ensure & other nutritional supplement drinks
Personal care items
Baby items (diapers, wipes, etc.)
Soap & shampoo
Toothpaste & toothbrushes
Disposable razors
Please Note
- Food Gatherers prefers low/no sodium canned food and food made from whole grains.
- We cannot accept opened containers and expired products. Please avoid items with glass packaging.
What have Dems done for you lately?
How about cancelling $138 billion in student loan debt for 3.5 million borrowers?
On the stump in 2020, Joe Biden promised to forgive the educational debt of tens of millions of Americans. When he issued an executive order to forgive up to $20,000 in debt for tens of millions of Americans, for total forgiveness of $430 billion, Republicans howled and in June 2023 the Supreme Court struck it down.
Many people – including loads of students – have blamed Biden for this initial setback. But the President has marched on, issuing a slew of executive orders chipping away at student debt. To date, the President’s actions have forgiven $138 billion for about 3.5 million borrowers – people who can now go on to buy homes, have kids, and maybe go on vacation. Even the magazine Slate ran with the headline, Biden’s Plan B on Student Loan Forgiveness is a Massive and Improbable Success. Learn more at the White House Fact Sheet, and spread the word!
President Biden works tirelessly for the good of the American people.
Rural Summit – April 12-13
Being a Democrat in rural areas can be isolating and even a little frightening. MDP’s Rural Caucus has stepped into the breach to unite rural Dems across Michigan to discuss the work currently being done and ideas for moving forward with coordinated strategies. The Second Annual Rural Summit, bringing together Rural Dems across Michigan, is April 12 – 13 at Shanty Creek Resort in Bellaire. Financial assistance to attend is available.
Opportunities from Michigan Dems
Voter Protection. You can begin now to help MDP with their Voter Protection efforts. The February primary will be relatively low turnout – a relaxed setting for learning the ropes in voter protection. Learn more about these important volunteer roles.
National Convention Delegate. Have you ever dreamed of being an official delegate at a the Democratic National Convention? You have a chance to attend this year in Chicago, August 19-23. Application forms are available now (deadline for submission April 11). Learn everything you need to know about the process for getting one of these coveted positions, and find the nearest training at Delegate Selection Training.
Training Opportunities
Rust Belt Rising campaign training
WeROC and Moses Action – Organizing 101 March 9th 9:30am-4pm (lunch and refreshments provided). Second Baptist Church, 850 Red Oak Road, 48103. Registration required. Sign up here.
The Great Lakes Political Academy (GLPA-LEAD) offers trainings for judicial and other candidates starting in March. https://www.glpa-lead.com/candidate-trainings
If you’re interested in running a campaign, or being a candidate, you need the National Democratic Training Committee. All courses are free, and taught by experienced campaign hands.
Volunteer Appreciation Party
The Washtenaw County Democratic Party relies on the time and energy of hundreds of volunteers to help us make government at all levels Blue – and we did it in 2020 and 2022 with Democratic majorities at the county, state and federal levels! In thanks and celebration for all your hard work, please join us on Sunday, March 17, from 2-4 pm at the Learning Resource Center, 4135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor, 48108. Registration is limited; please sign up before Thursday, March 14 at https://sugeni.us/4HZ9 We hope to see you there!
Volunteers Wanted!
WCDP is seeking graphic designers and a paralegal or two to join our team!
We’re looking for designers who can create eye-catching, inviting, and accessible event announcements, sign-up sheets, and invitations that can be used across multiple platforms. Knowledge of 508 compliance requirements a plus.
We also need occasional paralegal assistance to help us chase down permissions for graphics, quotes, and other content.
Let us know you’re interested!
Become a WCDP Candidate Partner!
WCDP fundraising committee now seeking candidate partners!
Democratic campaigns can get linked on our website, benefit from our email blasts, join us on social media, and place an ad in our website ‘ad book’ reaching over 3,000 Washtenaw County Democrats. This opportunity is open to all Democratic candidates and does not constitute an endorsement from the WCDP.
To sign up, visit our Candidate Partners ActBlue page.
Meet your representatives
State Rep Carrie Rheinghans (HD47) will host constituent coffee hour at the Dexter Senior Center (7720 Ann Arbor St. in Dexter), on Friday, March 15, from 10-11 a.m. with special guest State Rep Jennifer Conlin (HD48).
WCDP Statement on Preventing Further Humanitarian Catastrophe in Gaza
The Washtenaw County Democratic Party (WCDP) is invested in all aspects of the government we work to elect. At the federal level, foreign policy is a critical expression of our nation’s values. With this statement, we inform our President, Senators, and Congresswoman that we support their stated intention to protect civilian life in war, consistent with international law. We recognize that this statement will disturb and even offend members and allies whom we hold dear. The Board has engaged in a serious deliberative process to find consensus.
Statement on Preventing Further Humanitarian Catastrophe in Gaza by Placing Conditions on U.S. Military Aid to the Netanyahu Government
March 1, 2024The Executive Board of the Washtenaw County Democratic Party strongly supports the Biden Administration’s National Security Memorandum on Safeguards and Accountability With Respect to Transferred Defense Articles and Defense Services, issued on February 8, 2024. We urge immediate application of its intent in relation to military actions in Gaza taken by the government of Benjamin Netanyahu.
This official memorandum requires that countries receiving military aid give credible and reliable assurances that they are adhering to international law respecting protection of civilians during war, including that they will facilitate the transport and delivery of humanitarian assistance to civilians. The president’s order directs that if countries receiving military aid do not give such assurances, or if their assurances are not credible, the United States will take appropriate measures, up to and including suspension of military aid.
The Netanyahu government’s military actions in Gaza to date have resulted in at least 30,000 deaths, well over half of them women and children; the destruction of critical infrastructure that has left hundreds of thousands of civilians without water, electricity, food, and medical care; and the demolition of an estimated 45% of residential buildings, leaving hundreds of thousands of civilians without shelter. These numbers are rising every day. Using publicly available data, Oxfam International has found that the daily death toll in Gaza – at 250 – is far higher than in any other twenty-first century conflict, including those in Syria, Sudan, Iraq, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Yemen.
We believe that Hamas is a terrorist organization, whose deadly rampage against Israeli civilians on October 7 justifies its destruction. The safe release of all hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 is of utmost moral importance. We support current efforts to negotiate a ceasefire to permit their release. Further, we affirm the rights of Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace with their neighbors, and condemn all acts of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Arab, anti-Palestinian, and anti-Israeli bigotry.
We call on the Biden Administration to demand that the Netanyahu government immediately
- permit the supply to Gaza of sufficient food and water for the civilian population.
- provide protection for medical personnel and facilitate the delivery of medical supplies and equipment to meet civilian needs.
- facilitate the safe exit from Gaza of American citizens and their relatives.
- issue and enforce orders maximizing the protection of civilians, including journalists.
- suspend any offensive against Rafah until it is possible for all civilians to reach safe shelter.
We further call on the Biden Administration to enforce these demands by immediately pausing the supply of offensive weapons to Israel if these demands are not met.
Washtenaw County Democratic Party
Theresa Reid, Chair
Chair@WashtenawDems.org
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