Democratic candidates for national, state and local office gathered on Sunday, Sept. 30 in Ann Arbor, Michigan at the home of Ned and Ann Staebler, to stress the historic importance of the upcoming midterm elections. Donors in attendance heard brief speeches from several candidates, including U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, democratic candidate for lieutenant governor Garlin Gilchrist II, Secretary of State nominee Jocelyn Benson and Attorney General nominee Dana Nessel.
“This is the first election since the abomination of an election that was 2016. It is a chance where our movement gets to make a strong statement,” Gilchrist said.
Since 2011, Republicans have held the Executive Offices and the State Legislature in Michigan, but the democratic party is optimistic that this election will change the tides of state politics. While political experts across the country are predicting a big blue wave to come crashing down this November, Congresswoman Dingell points out that this is not the time for Democratic candidates to sit back and relax.
“We can’t just feel good for the next 38 days,” Dingell said. “It’s not enough to just talk to each other. We have to go out and talk to everybody else. We cannot take this election for granted.”
During the gathering, each candidate advertised their individual agenda for office. However, none strayed far from the party’s unified mission statement: “One Campaign for Michigan.” Across the democratic ticket, the nominees voiced their support of each other and three proposals that will find their place on the ballot this November.
The first proposal, known as Proposal One, legalises cannabis in the state of Michigan. The legalization of marijuana is up for vote in four states during the midterm election, and is consistently supported by the democratic party platform.
Proposal Two will transfer the power that the state holds to draw congressional district lines to an independent redistricting commission. If passed in November, this proposal will allow for unbiased lines to be drawn, bringing an end to Michigan’s long history of gerrymandering — the act of drawing uneven district lines to sway future elections.
The final proposal, and perhaps the most important, is Proposal Three. This seven-piece proposal is centered on voting reform and aims to remove barriers that can make it difficult for Michigan residents to vote. This proposal is projected to bring 400,000 more Michigan voters to the polls in the 2020 election, an astounding number considering that during the last presidential election Michigan went red by only 10,000 to 11,000 votes.
Under current voting laws, the first time a newly registered voter participates in an election they must vote in person; this regulation disenfranchises large amounts of voters, particularly those attending college. If Proposal Three is passed, all registered voters will have access to an absentee ballot for any reason, including if it is their first time voting.
“I think that it is more important than ever that we elect as many women to office and get as many women on the ticket as possible.”
With Gilchrist being the exception, the One Campaign boasts female nominees across the top of the ticket.
“I think that it is more important than ever that we elect as many women to office and get as many women on the ticket as possible,” Nessel said. “I think that America desperately needs that right now and we certainly need it in the state of Michigan.”
According to Brandon Dillon, Michigan Democratic Party Chair, the process of rebranding the party’s coordinated campaign goes beyond just changing the name. Their goal has been to shift the focus from electing individual candidates to electing the democratic party as a whole, no matter where they fall on the ballot.
“It’s really exciting that we are actually working together to win this election,” Gilchrist said. “We need a movement to win this election because we need a movement to lead in Michigan. Movements are what make change happen, and the One Campaign is that movement.”
Only time will tell if the Democrats will get their blue wave, or even a blue tsunami, on Nov. 6, but if not, it certainly will not be for lack of a coordinated effort.
Credits:
Isabel Espinosa