7.25.19 The Grease Is Still Hot in the Pan!

Why we need you to help us identify candidates—now! 

“In 2018, we won in places we had never won before,” says Chuck Alexander, political organizer with the Michigan Democratic Party. “2018 was a great year, and the grease is still hot in the pan! The way we keep the momentum going is to find good people to run in every county and township race.”   

MDP organizer Chuck Alexander helps support candidates for local races.

When local candidates are out in their communities early—talking to people, knocking doors, running grassroots campaigns—it builds excitement. Which boosts turnout. Which also generates votes for Democrats up the ticket. 

“People don’t realize that sometimes. Everyone knows about the coattail effect, when a popular national candidate delivers votes to races further down the ballot. We’ve got to help people understand that excitement bubbles up, too,” Alexander says. 

In 2018, Kalamazoo County Commissioner Meredith Place defeated her opponent by 9 points in district 11, where a Democrat had never won before.  

Do we want to take the 6th Congressional District from Fred Upon? You bet! Do we need to support his challenger, current State Representative Jon Hoadley? Absolutely! 

But we also need to run energetic campaigns for city, village, township and county commission seats historically held by Republicans. We need to engage Democratic-leaning citizens in parts of Kalamazoo County that have been ignored for decades. 

“In this state, Democrats have lost hundreds of state legislative, county, and township seats since 2008 because the focus has been on the big state and national races,” Alexander says. 

“That’s been a huge mistake for the Democratic Party nationwide. Meanwhile, the Republicans have been filling all those township and county seats. 

“We’re turning that trend back now in Michigan. But we have to keep going.”  

In 2018, County Commissioner Christine Morse was seen as a long shot in district 9, but she won by more than 3 points. And while Hillary Clinton barely carried the district in 2016, Gretchen Whitmer won by 10 points there. Morse is now running for election in the 61st district of the Michigan House of Representatives.

Part of Alexander’s job is to partner with KCDP to recruit candidates for local races. “Right now we’re looking for Democrats across Kalamazoo County, but particularly in Cooper, Richland, Schoolcraft, Texas, and Pavilion townships. 

”After we identify good candidates, the local party gives them financial support to run a successful campaign—and those funds are given early, so they can get out there and start talking to people to generate excitement,“ Alexander says. 

BTW, this is where your donation goes! KCDP will support county and township races in the next election cycle, thanks to your membership fees and other donations. That’s why we need your support early—like, now! Click here to join or donate. 

It’s t-shirt time!

We’re getting ready to place another t-shirt order! It’s fun to wear a KCDP shirt when you volunteer or just want to strut Dem spirit around town.

The shirts are heavy-weight, pre-shrunk 100% cotton, American-made, and printed in a union shop. We’re going with royal blue shirts again, with a white imprint of the KCDP name and logo on both front (upper left chest) and back (larger, centered, and with the word VOTE).  

• Sizes available: Small – 3X
• Cost: $20 per shirt
• Orders accepted only via credit card pre-payment donations through ActBlue: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/kcdpshirt
• Orders accepted through Sunday, August 11, 2019 
• It will take about a month after the order deadline for delivery (mid-September).
• When your shirt comes in, you’ll be notified to pick it up at the KDCP office during designated evening or weekend hours. 

We are not getting extra shirts to sell later, so order yours now! Questions? Email Jenny Snyder, newsletter@kzoodems.com.

What we’ve been up to

On July 13, KCDP recruited volunteers and registered voters at the Kalamazoo Black Arts Festival at LaCrone Park. This shady spot was perfect for our popular Vote Democrat! “boothless photo booth.” 

Sunday Fund Day was a huge success!  On July 14, a full crowd showed its enthusiastic support for KCDP both in funds raised and in new/renewed memberships. We send heartfelt thanks to all who attended, and extra thanks to the staff at Old Dog Tavern and to our featured speaker, State Representative Jon Hoadley. 

Finally, we extend extra-extra-special thank-yous to our fabulous Fund Day sponsors:

Nancy Falk

Sue Kovats-Bell

Christopher Burns

Joel Murr & Rob Oakleaf

Marcia Stucki

Nancy Acker

Michelle & Troy Zukowski-Serlin & Julia Serlin

David & Elizabeth McShane

Millie Lambert

Michelle Miller-Adams

Frederick Rutherford

Alan Hovestadt

Hon. Sean McCann

Didn’t make it? It’s never too late to make A Fund Day donation—or any kind of donation, of course. Your contribution will help Dems build strength for 2020.  

And on July 19, our KCDP “Third Thursday” meeting agenda included a presentation by Ben Moe, a representative from the Kalamazoo Anti Human Trafficking Coaliltion, as well as discussion of KCDP’s Candidate Endorsement Questionnaire. Join us for our next monthly meeting on August 15—details below. 

Coming soon

Phone-banking continues on Wednesday, July 31, from 5:30-7:30pm at the KCDP office, 3254 S. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo. Volunteers will be calling to ask MDP members to join the KCDP as a member. Come for as long as you can. Bring a charged cell phone and a friend! Questions? Email Margy Belchak, fundraising@kzoodems.com or just show up! 

The KCDP Candidate Recruitment Committee will meet on Saturday, August 3, noon – 1pm at the KCDP office, 3254 S. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo. Join us if you know someone who might be interested in running for elected office, or if you’re interested yourself! Questions? Email Chair Jake Andrews, kcdp-chair@kzoodems.com.

Our monthly KCDP “Third Thursday” meeting will be on Thursday, August 15, 5:30-6:30pm— speaker: Josh Hilgart, chief public defender for Kalamazoo County’s new Public Defender’s Office; 6:30-7:30pm—business meeting, No reservation necessary. We have the whole back room. You can order dinner, just a beverage, or nothing at all, but do join us! Questions? Email info@kzoodems.com.

It just takes a second…Boost our Google ratings! 

In a couple of clicks, you can give KCDP’s Google Business listing a five-star review. Leave a supportive comment, too, if you wish. This builds our visibility—and helps bury a couple of Trump troll reviews.  

Why I’m a Democrat – Beth Johnson

“Why am I a Democrat? It’s pretty darned simple: I believe in social and economic equality. Clean air and water, cage-free children and gun control are right up there too.”  

Hitting Reply? 

Replies to this email arrive in our general mailbox: info@kzoodems.com. 

Send newsletter content suggestions to Jennifer Snyder: newsletter@kzoodems.com. 

Did a friend forward this newsletter to you? Subscribe here. 

And remember to stay in touch on our website. 

Thanks for reading!