MI 2nd CD Friends
Plan now to join us for our January meeting via ZOOM on Saturday January 10, 2026, at 10am. We will be hearing from active candidates for MI2CD and other state-wide and regional offices!
Here is the ZOOM link for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82577407163?pwd=xetgNf9fyfgtcMW7bpAcaKA36JFWpi.1&jst=2
Meeting ID: 825 7740 7163
Passcode: 391222
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!
In my professional career I was fortunate to work with many very smart, creative, and innovative people. They provided me with great ideas that I gladly plagiarized and successfully adapted them to my own operation. I am so pleased that I have found
that same opportunity in the MI2CD! Here is a recent email that Wexford County Democratic Party (WCDP) Chairperson Bill Allen sent to his members:
Ringing in the New Year
A Message from the Chair
As one who rarely makes New Year resolutions because I tend to make them too daunting, I came across a suggestion today that makes sense: a one-word resolution. Focused. Manageable. Powerful.
So, I thought I would pass mine along and encourage you to join.
My one word for 2026 is COMMIT.
And, if you do not have any urgent need to commit elsewhere, let me suggest that we all can increase our commitment to the Wexford County Democratic Party.
Here are some specific things we each can do in 2026 to move forward together:
- Join the Michigan
Democratic Party;
- Attend Wexford County Democratic Party monthly
meetings;
- Donate to help the WCDP
Billboard Project;
- Regularly open the Tuesday Action Newsletter;
- Attend our scheduled political and/or social events;
- Attend Friday morning coffee hour;
- Join a WCDP committee;
- Volunteer with our community service initiative;
- March in the Mesick, Cadillac, Harrietta, and Manton community parades;
- Join us this summer for our roadside pop-ups;
- Volunteer in a political campaign;
- Make a one-time or recurring donation
to the WCDP;
- Join the conversation on Facebook or Instagram;
- VOTE as a registered MDP member at the state convention. VOTE in the primary election on Aug. 4. VOTE in the national election on Nov. 3.
So, in 2026, let us END THE CHAOS, WORK TOGETHER, AND VOTE DEMOCRAT!
I hope you all can agree with me that this is an enormously powerful message that sums up perfectly how we can all be better focused on winning in 2026!
MAGA MOOLENAAR UPDATE:
We are done sharing the stupid stuff that the incumbent is doing to waste our time and money! By now, those of you who read this monthly newsletter know just how ineffective he has been. It is time for change! It is time now to focus
on our candidates and choose the one who is best aligned to defeat this poor excuse for a US Rep and get someone in Washington who will properly represent all the people in the Michigan Second Congressional District, not just those who contribute to his campaign!
HERE IS ONE OF THE CANDIDATES PROVIDING THE ALTERNATIVE!
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!
This month we are featuring an update on his campaign from Ben Ambrose. All officially filed candidates have been asked to provide regular updates on their campaigns to share in this monthly newsletter.
Since launching this campaign, we have built a professional operation from the ground up. We are meeting voters across the district, expanding our volunteer base, and finalizing ballot access with petition signatures nearly complete. Our message is resonating.
Fundraising has been a major milestone. We have raised more than any other candidate in this race to date, and in recent decades, and are on track to close out the year strong by December 31st. This progress allows us to transition into the next phase of the
campaign: scaling targeted voter outreach, strengthening communications, and preparing for aggressive advertising in 2026.
A series of major fundraising events begins January 31st, alongside smaller grassroots events designed to grow our coalition and expand participation.
Support for this campaign continues to grow across key constituencies.
- The Farmers Union — both statewide and nationally — is actively engaged in this race thanks in large part to the leadership and endorsement of Dennis Kellogg, Vice President of the Michigan Farmers Union, and a strong
advocate for rural communities.
- The Center for Freethought PAC has formally endorsed our campaign, and we remain active with Honor PAC and Governor Whitmer’s Fight Like Hell PAC, both of whom are closely monitoring the race.
- National Democrats are paying attention as well now, with the DCCC signaling increased engagement as we move into Q2 of 2026 for the first time in Michigan's history.
We recently completed a Veterans Forum and have set a new standard for candidate engagement across the state. By moving away from traditional open-chair formats and toward focused, solutions-oriented forums marketed to undecided
voters, we have created a model that other campaigns are now replicating.
This campaign has built momentum unlike anything this district has seen before. With a formidable team, experienced leadership, and growing national support, we are entering this next phase prepared, organized, and ready to win.
Benjamin Ambrose: phone: 231.740.1223
email: bambr...@gmail.com
Website: www.ambrose4congress.com
We want to wish all the best to Rich Carrizales who has decided to drop out of the 2026 race. Rich has some very progressive ideas about how to address affordability issues that make a lot of sense. We know that Rich will remain active
in the MI2CD and will support our pick to win in November!
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. Your county forums could include but are not limited
to discussions on these challenges:
- Farmers where you could invite these subject matter experts.
- A local family farmer
- Representative from the local MSU Extension Service
- Representative from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
- Representative from the local Farm Bureau or Farmers Union organizations
- Rural Healthcare where you could invite these subject matter experts.
- A local doctor and/or registered nurse
- The chief administrator of a local/regional hospital
- Representative from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
- Representative from the Michigan Center for Rural Health
- Representative from the local Community Mental Health Service
- Public Education where you could invite these subject matter experts.
- A local teacher
- The superintendent of a local school district or ISD
- A member of a local school board
- A member of the Michigan School Board of Education
- A representative from the Michigan Education Association teachers’ union
- Affordable Housing where you could invite these subject matter experts.
- A local builder or realtor
- A member of your regional or local public housing authority
- A representative from MSHDA About
MSHDA
- A representative from your local Chamber of Commerce
- Affordable Childcare where you could invite these subject matter experts.
- A local childcare provider
- A representative from the Michigan Great Start program
- A representative from your regional or local Head Start program.
FINAL WORDS:
This is the letter to the editor I submitted and was published in December 2025 in newspapers in Cadillac, Ludington, and Manistee:
This is intended for those who are still supporting the Trump regime.
Last week a19-year-old female with a valid student visa and no criminal record was deported to Honduras when trying to visit her family in Texas for Thanksgiving. Was she one of the so-called “Worst of the worst hardened criminal gang members”? I do not think
so!
The US President pardons the former Honduran president who brought tons of cocaine into America. He also pardoned a man convicted of defrauding 10,000 investors of over $1 billion! Would it be possible that dirty money fuels these pardons?
The US military blows up a boat purportedly because it was smuggling drugs and then launches another missile to kill two survivors rather than rescuing and interrogating them. If the Venezuelan military had done that to Americans in the water, you would expect
it to be immediately labeled as a war crime. Right?
Have you seen any proof that these 21 boats and the more than 80 people who were killed were bringing drugs to America? No? Why not?
Secretary of “War” Hegseth demanded that the top admiral responsible for our military actions off Venezuela resign for questioning the legality of these boat strikes.
Epstein victims and American public want the files released and the FBI has paid over a million dollars in overtime to redact information in the files. Who are they protecting and why? How can we trust what is released?
Trump calls Somalis “garbage” and does not want them or any refugees suffering from war and famine in our country. Why no empathy for others less fortunate than us?
This is just the news from this week. Do not get me started on all the people, American citizens, and immigrants, being beaten and abducted off the streets by poorly trained, heavily armed masked men.
Please start paying attention to something other than Fox News. Our country is now controlled by an authoritative regime fast approaching fascism. Trump’s entire time in office has been a nonstop barrage of chaos, corruption, and cruelty.
Did you really vote for this?
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
616-915-2403
AGENDA FOR MDP 2ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT COMMITTEE
MONTHLY ZOOM MEETING
Saturday January 10, 10:00am
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82577407163?pwd=xetgNf9fyfgtcMW7bpAcaKA36JFWpi.1&jst=2
Meeting ID: 825 7740 7163
Passcode: 391222
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:
(Peggy) Roll Call of District Committee Members:
(Peggy) Roll call of Counties:
Determination of quorum:
Approval of agenda:
Approval of minutes:
Officer’s reports:
Chairperson John Helge
Vice Chairperson
Treasurer Dallas Dean
Secretary Peggy Raddatz
Committee Reports:
● Rules and Bylaws Committee:
1). Dallas Dean (Chair)
2). John Helge - Manistee County D.P.
● Finance and Fundraising Committee:
1). Dallas Dean (Chair)
2). Ken Mahoney - Muskegon C.D.P.
3). Jessica Iliff – Osceola C.D.P
4). Betsy-Anne Moskowitz –
5). K.P. Mahoney – Muskegon C.D.P.
● Candidate Recruitment and Support (for candidate) Committee:
1). Mark Yonkman (Chair) – Wexford County
2). David Austin – Gratiot County
3). Deborah Van Dyke – Kent County
4). Ed Miller – Mason County
● Political and 2nd CD Party Organizing Committee:
1). Cathy Willermet (Chair)
2). Karen Turnbull - Mecosta County
● Communications Committee:
1). Michelle VanSlambrouck (Chair)
2). Karen Greenbay – Mecosta County
3.) Deborah Van Dyke- Kent County
4). Brad Wade – Lake County
● Policy and Resolution Committee:
1). John Helge (Chair)
2). Michael Lynch - Gratiot C.D.P.
● Audit Committee:
1). Robin (Alexson) Aslakson (Chair)
2).
Unfinished Business:
Election of new Vice Chairperson of the MI2CD
New Business:
County Reports:
Good and Welfare:
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