The is a reminder to all members, please make sure your party membership is current by Friday, March 19. You MUST be a current member (must renew yearly) if you want to be able to vote in the MDP's Endorsement Convention (other than precinct delegates, candidates and elected officials) on Saturday, April 17th at Cobo Hall in Detroit.

The purpose of the Convention will be to endorse candidates for Secretary of State and Attorney General. Information on current candidates can be found on our 2010 Candidates page. The Endorsement Convention will be held the same day and at the same location as the Jeff-Jack Dinner.

The Endorsement Convention Agenda is attached below.
Endorsement Convention Agenda
File Size: 478 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
 
 
This year, as required by the Constitution, the federal government will count every resident of the United States. Held once every 10 years, the U.S. Census is critical to determining how much federal money Michigan gets, and how strong our voice will be in the U.S. House of Representatives. For that reason, it is absolutely essential that everyone return their census forms to ensure that everyone gets counted.

However, there are some unscrupulous individuals who are looking to profit off of the confusion surrounding the census. There will be two phases of the census – a 10-question form mailed sometime in March, and if that form is not returned, a census taker will appear at your home sometime between April and July to collect the information. Be wary of giving out your personal information, especially to anyone without proper census identification. Here are some tips to help you make sure that you are actually dealing with the U.S. Census Bureau, and not a scammer:
 
 
This year's Bay County Democratic Party Chicken Dinner was a great success. The room was full of committed Democrats in Bay County ready to fight for a Democratic victory in 2010!

Party members and elected officials were joined by a host of speakers including:
  • U.S. Senator Carl Levin
  • U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow
  • U.S. Congressman Dale Kildee
  • U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak
  • State Senator Jim Barcia
  • State Representative Jeff Mayes
  • Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer
  • Gubernatorial candidate Virg Bernero
  • Attorney General candidate David Leyton
Attendees to the event were reminded and thanked for the great democratic success in the 2008 election and were told not give up and keep fighting for another great victory in 2010. State Senator, Jim Barica, was this year's recipient of the Tony Bielawski Award, because of his year's of unwavering service and commitment to the county party.

This was a great event and a big "thank you" goes out to all the people who helped organize this event! The next BCDP event will be the Spring Fling, which will take place on May 7, 2010.
 
 
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Dan Kildee
GENESEE COUNTY, Michigan — Dan Kildee officially dropped out of the race for Michigan governor this morning.

The former county treasurer and chairman of the county's Land Bank Authority told The Flint Journal Thursday he planned leaving the race to avoid splitting the support of organized labor and the votes of progressives in the Democratic primary.

"It is now clear that the effort to unite progressive organizations and organized labor around a single candidate will not occur," Kildee wrote in a statement released this morning. "With me in this race, that support will be splintered."

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The Justice Caucus will hold their annual Millie Jeffrey Awards Dinner on Sunday, March 21, 2010, with a reception starting at 6pm and dinner at 7pm. The dinner will take place at the Courtyard by Marriott, in Ann Arbor.

According to their website the theme of the dinner will be, "Celebrating Progressive Women in Politics." The keynote speaker will be Madeleine M. Kunin, former three-term Vermont Governor and Ambassador to Switzerland, and friend of Millie Jeffrey.

For more information about this event email Mary Shindell or visit http://www.justice4michigan.org/.
 
 
 
 
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Andy Dillon
Speaker of the House Andy Dillon today announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Governor.

"My vision for Michigan's future is based on creating good jobs in growing sectors of the economy and in making sure the people of Michigan are prepared for those jobs," said Dillon.

Dillon's announcement kick-off in Redford was the first of several stops around the state, including Lansing Community College - West Campus in Lansing and Hangar42 Studios in Grand Rapids. The two-day tour will culminate with a special event at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit.

Andy Dillon is currently serving his third term in the Michigan House of Representatives and his second term as Speaker of the House.

Other Democratic candidates include state Rep. Alma Wheeler-Smith, former Genesee County Treasurer Dan Kildee and current Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero.

More information on Andy Dillon can be found on his website.
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The Michigan Democratic State Central Committee approved the Endorsement Convention for April 17th. This Convention is the first of its kind in Michigan and should give our Democratic candidates an advantage in the upcoming election.

At the Endorsement Convention, we will endorse a candidate for Attorney General and for Secretary of State - months ahead of when they will be officially nominated in August. This will help our candidates in their campaign efforts by giving them more time to meet voters, travel throughout the state, and raise more money to defeat Republicans in the general election in November.

Join us on April 17th to endorse our candidates at what is sure to be an exciting weekend for Democrats.
 
 
Former county treasurer and Land Bank Authority chairman Dan Kildee says he will file paperwork in Lansing today to run for governor. Kildee told The Flint Journal that he will focus his campaign on creating jobs in the state and restructuring Michigan's tax system.

"The field is opening up to the point that I feel like I am the only Democrat who can win who is true to the principles of this party," Kildee said.

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