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Michigan Democratic State Central Committee

08/09/2024 | Press release | Archived content

Weekly Roundup: Three Months Until Election Day, Michigan Dems Energy is Soaring

With the Harris-Walz visit J.D. Vance's so-called event, and the August primary, Michigan Dems were going full-force this week

LANSING - Everywhere you looked this week in Michigan, Democrats were turning out and turning up the enthusiasm.

On Monday, Vice President Harris chose Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota as her running mate. Tuesday was primary day, with voters choosing a slate of candidates that are ready to take on MAGA Republicans up and down the ballot. By Wednesday, Harris came to a 15,000 person rally in Detroit with her new running mate while J.D. Vance held a paltry event in Shelby Township where he couldn't even answer the question "What makes you happy?" On Thursday, Vice President Harris and Governor Walz hit a UAW hall to show Michiganders what it means to fight for the working class.

Michigan Democrats were hard at work, getting out the vote for the primary, energizing voters at the Harris-Walz rally, and highlighting the stakes of this election. Michiganders deserve better than MAGA extremists like Donald Trump who will sell them down the river for a quick buck - that's why we are working to turn out voters and deliver Michigan for Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz this November.

Check out highlights from this jam-packed week below:

First, Michigan Democrats at every level celebrated Vice President Harris choosing Gov. Walz to be her running mate to beat Donald Trump this November. Walz is a fellow Midwesterner, a father of two, and a champion for workers' rights, abortion rights, and our democracy. Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party Lavora Barnes congratulated Gov. Walz for his candidacy and his strong record of delivering for Minnesotans:

Center Square : Midwestern lawmakers react with vigor to Harris VP pick

  • "As a son of the Midwest, veteran, and former teacher, Gov. Walz understands that at the end of the day, we all want the same things," Chairwoman Lavora Barnes said in a statement.
  • "Here in Michigan, we take great pride in supporting Democrats who know how to deliver results for Americans. Vice President Harris and Gov. Walz's records speak for themselves, and they are more than ready to take on Donald Trump and J.D. Vance this November."

The next day was primary day as Michigan Democrats made their voices heard and chose candidates to take on MAGA Republicans at every level of the ballot this November. As the polls opened, Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party Lavora Barnes celebrated the democratic process:

Detroit News: Metro Detroiters, Michiganians deciding elections Tuesday

  • Polls have opened and voters in Metro Detroit and Michigan communities Tuesday will decide primary elections for U.S. Senate, congressional, state House, county and other local races…
  • "Today, as voters head to the polls, Michiganders are putting into practice the values of our democracy and making their voices heard," Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes said in a statement Tuesday.

By Wednesday, it was a double presidential election header as both Vice President Harris and J.D. Vance held rallies in Michigan. Vance picked Shelby Township to spread lies and misinformation, and the energy difference in the two events proved exactly how uninterested Michiganders are in what the Trump campaign has to offer:

Bridge Michigan: Vance says he would deport 'violent criminals' first in Michigan speech

  • During his speech outside of the Shelby Township Police Department, Vance blamed Vice President Kamala Harris for recent crimes linked to immigrants who had entered the country illegally and for border crossings that surged under Biden…
  • Lavora Barnes, chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, said his visit "will highlight the stark contrast not only between these campaigns, but between the vice presidential nominees - while Harris' running mate delivered school lunch to millions of kids … Trump's running mate has done nothing except making weird comments about people without children while constantly voting against reproductive care like birth control or IVF."

On the other hand, over 15,000 people attended Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Walz's rally in Detroit on Wednesday. The energy was electric as Michigan Dems like Governor Whitmer, Senator Stabenow, and leaders up and down the ballot spoke to the cheering crowd between chants of "We won't go back" and "Kamala":

Chair Barnes talked about the incredible energy from the crowd with MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell later that night. She highlighted that we are 90 days out from the election, and that rally proved that Michigan Dems are putting in the work every day to beat Donald Trump and send Vice President Harris to the Oval Office:

MSNBC's The Last Word: Harris Calls on Supporters to Help Turn Out the Vote

And of course, here are some of our favorite tweets from the week:

Thanks for reading, we'll see you next week as Michigan Dems continue to work hard for Michiganders. Til then.

Signing off,

Michigan Dems

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