MI2CD Friends:
Plan now to join us for our April meeting on Saturday April 11, 2026, at 10am via ZOOM!
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82577407163?pwd=xetgNf9fyfgtcMW7bpAcaKA36JFWpi.1&jst=2
We will be hearing from several state-wide candidates vying for endorsement at the April 19th convention as well as updates from our three active MI2CD candidates who are in the final stages of collecting the voter signatures they need to get on
the ballot before the April 21st deadline. We will also be highlighting the activities and annual fundraisers that many of our county parties have planned for this spring.
Join us in congratulating the 2026 MI2CD Legacy Awardees
At our in-person meeting on March 14th we selected Janet Schultz from Oceana County and Dallas Dean from Newaygo County as the 2026 Legacy Honorees from the MI2CD. We received nominations honoring dedicated hard-working individuals from the Chairpersons
of many of the county Democratic Party organizations. Our awardees will be honored guests at the Michigan Democratic Party Legacy Dinner in Detroit on Saturday April 18, 2026. The keynote speaker at the MDP dinner will be Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. Outgoing
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer will receive special honors at this event.
WE NEED YOUR HELP!!
The MI2CD has a unique way to add to our funding to help our MI2CD candidate as well as those running for down ballot offices and to also help our county parties pay the rent or put up billboards. We host “Texas Holdem” card games a couple of times per year. We
typically can clear about $1000 per day of these games! We need volunteers to help the card players convert chips to cash to tip the dealer. Volunteers work a six-hour shift and do not touch the cards or participate in the games.
County parties that provide volunteers for these fundraising dates will receive priority when requesting funds from the MI2CD treasury.
Our next series will be held at the Westgate Bowl
4486
Alpine Ave NW, Comstock Park, MI 49321 Monday April 13 through Thursday April 16. Let Dallas Dean
dall...@yahoo.com know if you can help!
The MI2CD Communications Committee, under the leadership of Michelle VanSlambrouck, wanted to upgrade the MI2CD website to improve our social media branding presence and become more of a valued tool for the grassroots movement we are building in this rural
US Congressional District. With special thanks to Trish Hadley, a true media and marketing professional, they were able to build a site we can all be proud to share with the residents of MI2CD as they contemplate who deserves their vote in November. We
will provide you with the links to explore this website in this month’s newsletter.
If you are ever asked about what Democrats in the MI2CD stand for you can go to the website and show this values statement:
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HERE ARE THE CANDIDATES PROVIDING THE ALTERNATIVE TO THE INCOMPETENT INCUMBENT!
We need someone willing to communicate, collaborate, and compromise instead of refusing to do the job we elected them to do! Every resident of the 2nd CD deserves better representation in Washington! These three are working hard to earn your trust
and support! Tell your friends to be looking for them when they are in your area.
You will find a rotating picture and short blurb about each of our candidates featured on the landing page of the MI2CD website using this link:
You can see more detailed information on each candidate using these dedicated links that will also provide you with links directly to their campaign websites!
If you are ever wondering who are the Democrat candidates running for state-wide or regional offices (state house or state senate) you can find that information on our website using this link:
REGIONAL
CANDIDATES | Michigan Dems 2nd Congressional
District
We want to help each of the 20 county Democratic Party organizations in the MI2CD grow their active membership and become strong, sustainable community groups that will help elect Democrats up and down the ballot. The MI2CD website will provide people who
are searching for a way to get involved or engaged with contact information and links to each county party leadership and websites using this link:
COUNTY
PARTIES | Michigan Dems 2nd Congressional District
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We also have a page that folks can use to easily sign up to get involved with the MI2CD with the click of the “Contact Us” button.
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You can also sign up to receive this monthly newsletter and other notifications from the MI2CD Committee.
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This website also makes it very easy, safe, and secure to donate to the MI2CD treasury! When you use this link, it takes you right to the ACTBLUE site!
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MI2CD Political Organizing Committee
We are prioritizing DATA! Data for all candidates, for county parties, and for all members. Data includes Membership, Voter Election Results via Precinct, and pertinent information on People, Profit, and Politics for each of our 20 counties. We will provide
information to connect you to the sources you will need as you populate candidates at all levels for November.
Our Key Issues Survey remains open, and we invite you to share this survey link with your social media network, your family, friends and neighbors inviting them to participate as residents and voters in the MI2CD.
https://freeonlinesurveys.com/s/j9euinPe
Here are the results so far that show us what issues are most important to MI2CD residents:
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FOCUSED ISSUE FORUMS!
We will continue to challenge all twenty county Democratic party organizations to plan and execute at least one “FOCUSED ISSUE FORUM” meeting every 90 days between now and November of 2026.
The MI2CD candidates all indicated that they believe these “kitchen table issue” forums will have a better chance of attracting the independent and Democrat-curious voters that we will need to win in 2026.
Thanks to the MI2CD county parties that hosted these candidate forums in March and are planning to continue the work to educate voters and get out the vote in November.
Finally, I want to share with you the Letter to the Editor that was published in the Manistee News Advocate following the March 28th NO KINGS rally:
A solitary counterprotester trudged up and down the east side of US31 on Saturday morning carrying a flag. The flag was emblazoned with “TRUMP 2024! (expletive deleted) Your Feelings!”
Over 600 people gathered on the west side of that same road to peacefully demonstrate to the wanna-be dictator whose name was on that flag that they preferred democracy, the constitution, and the rule of law to his version of 21st century
authoritarian fascism. Their signs did not contain profanity.
Their signs showed their concern for the future of the country we love!
Their signs clearly stated that they do not want war with Iran. They know the billions of taxpayer dollars being used to kill civilians and blow stuff up would not make us safer and could be better used to reduce healthcare or childcare costs. They do not
want to pay $4+for a gallon of gas. They are dismayed that the ill-conceived tariffs in conjunction with stagnant wages have made it more difficult to make ends meet.
America is finding out daily that the words on that flag truly represent exactly how little this regime of chaos, corruption, and cruelty cares about the American people who voted them into power. That vulgar statement was originally intended to be used
to “own the libs” by his cultish followers who have been propagandized by right wing media to believe that he can do no wrong. That profane statement is now a response to us all as he demands his name on public buildings, government programs, and even our
currency!
Everyone I talked to on the west side of the road was frustrated that they could not do more to stop this takeover. They were especially frustrated with the cowardice and complicity of our current US Congressman John Moolenaar who refuses to advocate for
anything that would bring relief to his constituents. Voters told me that they would readily vote for change in November. They also said that they would reach out, welcome, and listen to family, friends, and neighbors who may never have voted for the alternative
candidate in the past.
Thanks for reading this monthly newsletter. Please share it with your social media network, your family, friends, and neighbors. They all deserve to know that we are working hard to provide them with a better choice when they vote in November!
John Helge
MI2CD Chairperson johnm...@gmail.com
Here are some important events and fundraisers that will be happening in the MI2CD in the coming weeks:
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AGENDA FOR MDP 2ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT COMMITTEE
MONTHLY MEETING
Saturday April 11, 2026, 10:00am Via ZOOM
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82577407163?pwd=xetgNf9fyfgtcMW7bpAcaKA36JFWpi.1&jst=2
Pledge to the Flag
Indigenous Land Acknowledgement:
“The State of Michigan occupies the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Anishinabek – Three Fires Confederacy, the Odawa (Ottawa), Ojibwe (Chippewa), and Bodewadmi (Potawatomi). The Michigan Democratic Party recognizes historic Indigenous
communities in Michigan and those forcibly removed from their homelands. We further recognize the ongoing relationship of dependence upon, and respect for, all living beings of earth, sky, and water. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Indigenous
sovereignty, history, and experiences.”
Speaker and/or Program:
-
Updates from candidates running to defeat Moolenaar in 2026
-
Update from candidates running for statewide offices.
-
Update from candidates running for Michigan House and Senate
Roll call of officers:
Roll Call of District Committee Members:
Roll call of Counties:
Determination of quorum:
Approval of agenda:
Approval of minutes:
Officer reports:
Chairperson John Helge
Vice Chairperson Haley Wingard
Treasurer Dallas Dean
Secretary Peggy Raddatz
Committee Reports:
● Rules and Bylaws Committee:
1). Dallas Dean (Chair)
● Finance and Fundraising Committee:
1). Dallas Dean (Chair)
● Candidate Recruitment and Support (for candidate) Committee:
1). Mark Yonkman (Chair)
● Political and 2nd CD Party Organizing Committee:
1). Karen Turnbull - Chair
-
1). Michelle VanSlambrouck (Chair)
● Policy and Resolution Committee:
1). John Helge (Chair)
● Audit Committee:
1). Robin (Alexson) Aslakson (Chair)
Unfinished Business:
New Business:
County Reports:
Good and Welfare:
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