Weekly Roundup: Michigan Dems Reject MAGA Extremism, Highlight Harris-Walz Coalition

LANSING — This week, Michigan Dems lifted up the stakes of this election and reminded voters of the truth about Donald Trump Trump and J.D. Vance. As if to highlight exactly how dangerous they would be in the White House, Trump and Vance both visited Michigan this week to spread their extremist, Project 2025 agenda on Wednesday and Friday. 

In between their MAGA mania events, Michigan Dems celebrated absentee ballots being sent out to voters across the state as we officially hit 40 days from the general election. As clerks send thousands of absentee ballots to voters, Michiganders will get to start to make their voices heard in the most important election of our lifetimes and elect Democrats up and down the ballot to protect our fundamental freedoms. 

As we get closer and closer to the election, Michigan Dems are continuing to show up in each and every community to show the stark contrast between the futures that Kamala Harris and Donald Trump offer. We are fired up and we will keep working hard to deliver Michigan for Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz. 

Check out more from the week below: 

First up on the positive side of the week, Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party Lavora Barnes spoke on MSNBC’s The Weekend about the stark contrast between Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump’s economic policies. With fellow Democratic state party Chairs from Arizona and Wisconsin, Chair Barnes highlighted how Harris prioritizes unions and working families while Donald Trump only ever prioritizes himself: 

MSNBC’s The Weekend: How Kamala Harris is rallying key states as voting begins: Dem Party leaders weigh in

On Wednesday, Chair Barnes was in POLITICO, hammering the importance of protecting the Michigan state House and Michigan Dems’ work on the ground to keep it. The MAGA MIGOP is trying hard to steal the majority, but no matter what far-right malarkey they push — Michiganders aren’t buying it: 

POLITICO: Democrats won complete power in Michigan. Republicans are trying to take it away.

  • Over the last few years, the MAGA movement fractured the Michigan Republican Party, leaving it saddled with more than half a million dollars in debt, lackluster candidate recruitment, leadership infighting — and physical violence. That dysfunction helped Democrats take complete statewide control in the 2022 midterms for the first time in 40 years…
  • Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes said down-ballot Democrats still have a strong top of the ticket via Vice President Kamala Harris, and candidates are seeing full campaign support from Whitmer. 

On Thursday, Dems highlighted absentee ballots being sent out to voters across the state just 40 days before the general election. As Michiganders start to make their voices heard, Chair Barnes uplifted all the hard work Michigan Dems have done to make our elections safer and more inclusive: 

“As ballots hit mailboxes and become available at clerks’ offices, Michiganders will finally have the chance to start making their voices heard in the most important election of our lifetime. Over the past two years, Michigan Democrats have worked hard to expand access to the ballot box so that everyone has the opportunity to partake in our great democracy — all while ensuring the security of our elections.

“Michigan Dems have built a world-class campaign and our volunteers are ready to turn out voters to reject MAGA extremism at every level. We know that Michiganders will elect Vice President Kamala Harris and Democrats up and down the ballot as we once again reject Donald Trump and his MAGA agenda.”

Michigan Dems and Chair Barnes also held Republicans accountable this week, calling out the Trump campaign’s many visits this week from the extremist-in-chief himself Donald Trump to his third party lapdog, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Michigan Dems are always ready to remind voters of the dangers of Trump and his dangerous Project 2025 agenda. 

First on Wednesday, J.D. Vance was peddling Trump’s lies to Michiganders in Traverse City, bringing their extremist nonsense to the Northwestern Michigan Fairgrounds. Thankfully, Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party Lavora Barnes made sure to remind voters of the truth: 

WWMT: JD Vance to address crowd in Traverse City shortly

Then, when RFK visited Michigan to try to rally voters around Trump, Chair Barnes was ready to remind voters of his bizarre history, his out of touch positions, and how eagerly he joined Trump’s extremist crusade: 

Detroit News: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urges Michigan crowd not to pick his name on presidential ballot

  • Lavora Barnes, chairwoman of the Michigan Democratic Party, said Michigan Republicans campaigning with Kennedy showed “just how far they’ve fallen as they use this dangerous, conspiracy theorist to spread lies that are deeply out of step with Michigan values.”
  • “Let’s be clear, Donald Trump owns all of RFK Jr.’s baggage whether it’s his dangerous positions on vaccines, his conspiracy theories, or his erratic behavior like staging a bike accident with a dead bear cub in Central Park,” Barnes said.

Finally, on Friday, Chair Barnes called out Trump ahead of his double header visits to Michigan today at Walker and Warren where he spoke about the economy and inflation. Somehow, Trump seemed to forget to mention his string of broken promises when he was in Warren as president that cost the town hundreds of jobs: 

“As President, Trump stood in Warren and promised that no more manufacturing plants would close under his watch, and yet Michiganders watched as the GM factory in Warren shuttered its doors and they lost hundreds of jobs. He has proven that we can’t trust a single thing he says – especially when it comes to putting Michigan jobs first. 

“At the end of the day, Trump will always serve himself and his interests, no matter how it affects anyone else. Thankfully, Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz are champions for the middle class who will take on bad actors gouging Michiganders and continue to bring back the jobs that Trump lost. Michiganders know the difference, and this November, I am confident that they will once again send Trump packing.”

Now, for everyone’s favorite, here are some of the best tweets from this week: 

We’re grateful for all of the hard work of Michigan Dems across the state! We’re excited to keep doing this work next week and through the election. Til then. 

Signing off, 

Michigan Dems

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