When you vote to put Democrats in the majority, you get results for the American people. But is the word getting out about big Dem wins? Try our one-question-quiz and see if you are in the know! Find the answer at the end of the newsletter.
OneCampaign Kickoff – Saturday, March 30
Come meet the 2024 OneCampaign staffers and Dem leaders, including Congresswoman Debbie Dingell and MDP Chair Lavora Barnes at their local headquarters – our office at 418 Michigan Avenue, Ypsilanti, 2-4 pm. Please let us know you’re coming. Snacks, drinks, and Democratic camaraderie will be on offer.
WCDP April Monthly Meeting
Panel of Democratic Candidates for the Office of Washtenaw County Sheriff
Save the Date! Saturday, April 6 @ 9:15 am – 12:00 pm
Candidate forums are a huge part of what we do, and we hope you’ll be able to join us at our first of 2024. Choosing our public servants at the ballot box is how democracy works. Come get to know the candidates & ask them the hard questions.
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Meeting schedule
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
10:30 – noon: Panel of Democratic Candidates for the Office of Washtenaw County Sheriff
- Alyshia Dyer, Former Police Officer, now Therapist and Social Worker.
- Derrick Jackson, Police officer, Social worker, Director of Community Engagement at the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office.
- Ken Magee, Law Enforcement Veteran, Executive, and Criminal Justice Consultant.
- Moderator: Eli Nathans
Washtenaw County residents are invited to send questions for the panel before the meeting to enathans48103@gmail.com The subject heading should be “Questions for WCDP Democratic Sheriff candidates’ panel.” Those who attend the meeting will also have a chance to ask questions.
In person:
Washtenaw Learning Resource Center, 4135 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Join Young Dems Washtenaw to hear from our superstar progressive prosecutors
Forward Together: Uniting Young Dems for Washtenaw’s Future
Join the YDW at our spring kick-off meeting on Sunday, April 7th at the Westgate Ann Arbor Library in the Side Branch Room from 2:00-4:00pm
We’ll discuss criminal justice reform with Washtenaw County’s progressive prosecutors, Eli Savit and Victoria Burton-Harris!
Learn about their efforts to create a fairer justice system and explore ways to get involved locally, from becoming a precinct delegate to joining township boards, as we outline our 2024 plans.
Snacks and beverages will be provided!
Eli Savit, a lifelong public servant and Washtenaw County native, has built his career on fighting for justice—from teaching in public schools to clerking for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, leading criminal justice reform in Detroit, and taking on big adversaries as a public-interest lawyer. Now serving as Washtenaw County Prosecutor, Eli is committed to equitable justice for all. A respected advocate for children and families, he also teaches at the University of Michigan Law School, focusing on educational equity and environmental law.
Victoria Burton-Harris is a Flint native and University of Michigan-Ann Arbor alumna with a deep commitment to criminal law and social justice. With a career beginning in family law and criminal defense, she has become a prominent advocate for fair and equitable justice, emphasizing community investment over incarceration. Victoria’s work focuses on transformative justice, education, and her role in community organizations aiming to break cycles of incarceration and support vulnerable populations.
April 14 Fundraising Concert 🎹
Join fellow Democrats on Sunday, April 14 at 4pm for a benefit performance for the Washtenaw County Democratic Party by Louis Nagel in a reprise of previous years’ performances!
As before the event will be held at the First Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 4001 Ann Arbor-Saline Road, Ann Arbor 48103. and streamed online. Two ways to attend!
Ticket Levels – Get yours now on ActBlue
Partner $500 – Sponsor $300 – Donor $200 – Guest $50
MI election administration ranked 2d in the nation by MIT
Just saying – we have a powerhouse Secretary of State in Jocelyn Benson: MIT ranks MI 2d in election administration. Never hurts to say thank you! secretary@michigan.gov
Call for creatives!
The One Dem Minute Film Festival “believes that original videos, from a variety of voices and styles, can inspire ‘squishy’ Democrats, Undecideds, and Independents to vote for Democratic candidates in 2024. This content can also arm Democrats with helpful talking points to counteract the barrage of right-wing lies and propaganda we all encounter daily.” Seems like a fun way to save American democracy! Submissions open April 1 thru July 31.
Michigan Dems Rural Caucus Summit
The MDP Rural Caucus would cordially invite and welcome you to attend their 2nd Annual Rural Summit. The Summit will be held April 12-13, 2024 at Shanty Creek in Bellaire, Michigan. The theme is “How Democratic Candidates Can Win Anywhere and Everywhere?”
The Summit is not just for Democrats, but rather for all Michigan citizens who want to fight for progressive rural issues. We are hoping to have over 300 Democratic rural activists attend the 2-day event.
Speakers include: Lieutenant Governor, Garlin Gilchrist, Senator Debbie Stabenow, Mark Brewer, Celinda Lake, and Lavora Barnes.
The cost for the three-day Summit is $100 and includes meals. If the registration or hotel reservations are a burden, there are scholarships available. Just indicate on the Registration Form and someone will be in contact with you.
Check out the full schedule and register at https://mdpruralcaucus.com/rural-summit/
Become a Precinct Delegate!
Precinct Delegates (PDs) are on-the-ground connectors between the WCDP and neighbors. We’ll teach you how to be a great one! Basic PD duties will require around 15 hours between now and November 5.
Why to file – How to file – Find your precinct
One-stop filing: At our April 6 monthly meeting (9:15 – noon, Washtenaw County Learning Resource Center) we’ll have printed affidavits and a notary public who will even deliver your affidavits to the County Clerk’s office!
Run for a seat on your township board!
Or recruit a friend to run! The Webster, Lodi, and Lima township boards are dominated by Republicans even though Democrats cast the most votes for one simple reason: Democrats don’t run for the seats. Dexter Township trustee Lonnie Scott and Lodi Township clerk candidate Eric Roberts shared data, and instructions for running, at our March meeting. At our April 6 meeting, we can help you file to fill these important seats.
What have Dems done for you lately 💙
How about medical debt relief?
Michigan’s 2024 budget includes $4.5 million to reduce or expunge medical debt of approximately 180,000 Michigan residents. A partnership with RIP Medical Debt, a national nonprofit, will turn that $4.5 million appropriation into an estimated $450 million that will go directly to local governments to relieve citizens of crushing debt. Now, we prefer a more humane system that doesn’t create all this debt in the first place – something like that proposed by Rep. Carrie Rheingans (HD47) late last year in HB4893, which would create a publicly funded health care system for all Michigan residents. (Did you see that Michigan set a new record for Obamacare enrollment?) But until we can fix the system entirely, we’ll take debt erasure.And doubling down on green technology.
As reported by Heather Cox Richardson, on March 25, “the U.S. Department of Energy announced it has selected 33 projects from more than 20 states that will be awarded up to $6 billion to jump-start the elimination of carbon dioxide emissions from industries that are hard to adapt to green technologies. The projects will match federal monies to invest more than $20 billion toward commercial-scale decarbonization solutions for cement and concrete, chemicals and refining, metals including iron and steel, pulp and paper mills, and so on.” The projects will create tens of thousands of jobs and, the DoE estimates, will cut carbon emissions by an average of 77%.
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.
MDP Legacy Dinner June 8
The Michigan Democratic Party, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Chair Lavora Barnes invite you to join us for the 2024 Legacy Dinner on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at Huntington Place, Detroit, MI
Tickets available now! https://secure.actblue.com/donate/mdplegacy2024
Find Your Voting Districts
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