With just a few days until Tuesday’s Democratic presidential primary, Michigan Dems are reminding voters what’s at stake and holding Republicans accountable
LANSING — This week, Democrats came out in full force to build energy for next week’s primary by emphasizing the stakes of the coming election where the choice will be between Democrats defending democracy and MAGA Republicans tearing it down.
Dems at every level have been stumping for Biden in the past month, and this week, Vice President Kamala Harris came to Grand Rapids and slammed Donald Trump’s legacy of ripping away reproductive freedom during a roundtable discussion with Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Senator Debbie Stabenow, and Congresswoman Hillary Scholten. Michigan represents America – it’s why we are an early primary state, and it’s clear that everyone understands just how essential our state is going to be this November.
As Democrats promoted the major wins we’ve secured on abortion rights, gun safety reform, and jobs, we also kept the pressure on MIGOP “leader” MAGA Matt Hall with our continued calls for him to denounce Rep. Josh Schriver for his racist comments and promise not to fund any campaigns that spout hateful rhetoric. Midweek, Michigan Dems released an ad campaign and petition targeting Michiganders in Hall’s district and slamming him for remaining silent about his extremist MIGOP member’s bigotry.
Take a look at this week’s events as we count down the days until Tuesday’s primary:
A week from the primary, Michigan Democrats lifted up all of the hard work Dems have been putting in, highlighting in-state leaders, like Senator Debbie Stabenow and UAW Region 1 Director LaShawn English, and out-of-state leaders, like California Representative Sara Jacobs. Below is a glimpse of just a few clips of their support for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, with the rest to be found here:
“People in Michigan know that we have manufacturing jobs coming back home because of [Joe Biden], and wages up, and the middle class growing — that’s all very real…In Michigan, we see that any way you turn – whether it’s here in Detroit…or whether it’s any part of Michigan, you see the handprint of what this President has done.” – Senator Debbie Stabenow on CNN
“We got a clear candidate who has stood with us every step of the way, at every turn. On the picket line, Joe Biden was there with us, on national television, on our core issues, and in the White House…We’re going to re-elect Joe Biden this fall and keep delivering historic wins for UAW members and all working-class people.” – UAW Region 1 Director LaShawn English on MDP Press Call
“Donald Trump wants an America where we are not the ones who get to decide and be trusted about our most fundamental rights, whether that is the right to make decisions about our own bodies and our own health care, or the right to marry who we love, or the right to vote.” – Representative Sara Jacobs in The Washington Post during a trip to Michigan
Then, Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party Lavora Barnes joined Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Speaker Joe Tate, and college students from across the state to kick off a phone banking event. Each speaker highlighted how President Biden has delivered for young people on key issues like abortion and gun safety:
Next, Michigan Dems released the ad campaign to push MAGA Matt Hall to promise not to financially support any Republican campaigns that are spreading hate, like Rep. Josh Schriver who has repeatedly espoused racist conspiracy theories. These ads are targeting thousands of voters in Rep. Hall’s district to sign the petition to show him that Michiganders will not stand for hate:
MIRS: Dems Run Ad Campaign Against Hall For ‘Silence’ On ‘Schriver’s Racism
- The Michigan Democratic Party is running social media ads against House Republican Leader Matt HALL (R-Kalamazoo) for not “denouncing hate speech,” which they said was clear from Rep. Josh SCHRIVER (R-Oxford)’s reposting of the Great Replacement theory post.
- They’re also running an anti-Hall petition on Hall to “denounce and defend hate.” The Democrats are urging Hall to not use his political action committee money to “elect those who spread dangerous hate.”
Gongwer: Campaign Notes: MDP Targets Hall On Schriver
- The Michigan Democratic Party launched an ad campaign Wednesday criticizing House Minority Leader Matt Hall for his continued silence on Rep. Josh Schriver‘s racist posts to social media…
- It encourages voters to sign a petition demanding Hall “denounce Great Replacement Theory and those who spread it and commit to the people of Michigan that your political action committees will not contribute to candidates who spread hate.”
You can find the petition here and the ad below:
On Thursday, Vice President Kamala Harris visited Michigan and had a roundtable with Governor Whitmer, Senator Stabenow, and other champions of reproductive rights. She highlighted how crucial this election will be in protecting abortion access, as Trump’s support of a national abortion ban threatens to erase all the progress Democrats have made in Michigan:
New York Times: Kamala Harris Pushes Abortion Rights in Michigan, With Gaza Anger as Backdrop
- During a stop in Grand Rapids, Ms. Harris assailed Republicans who support a national abortion ban as “extremists,” and said state bans that do not contain exceptions for sexual assault or incest were “immoral…”
- Lavora Barnes, the chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, said that Ms. Harris was a “terrific messenger” on abortion. “On this particular issue, she’s a woman, the first woman vice president,” Ms. Barnes said. “It’s the perfect conversation for her to be having with voters.”
And as an end-of-the-week surprise, in the MIGOP Battle Royale that has seen Donald Trump, the RNC, and the courts get involved, the judge adjourned the trial until Tuesday!
On the same day as the primary, the judge will hear final evidence and potentially give the final verdict on the true, for-real, actual, legitimate, now-undisputed MIGOP Chair.
And then there were three… as Friday wraps up, we are almost to the presidential primary and eager to see what next week brings us in MIGOP chaos. Democrats are pounding the pavement to get out the vote — however you want to vote: early in person, via mail-in ballot, or in-person the day of! We’ll see you then – Til next week.
Signing off,
Michigan Dems
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