Benzie County Democrats

08/31/2026

THIS SATURDAY!!!

08/31/2026

COOL FACTS ABOUT CANVASSING: The are actually people in our party who believe that canvassing doesn't do diddly when it comes to getting out the vote.

We asked our Data Queen, Chris Kitzman, about that. She keeps her finger on the pulse of our data operation. Here's what she wrote back:

"In 2024, we knocked on 47 doors of 18- to 35-year-olds who had not voted either in 2020 or 2022 general elections, and 31 of them voted in 2024. We had actual conversations with 9 of them. All 9 did vote (but there may have been other campaigns talking to those same people).

"Also in 2024, we had a list of 577 people--all ages--who had not voted in 2016 and/or 2020. We (or someone) canvassed (spoke to) 201 of them, and 104 of those voted in 2024. Good numbers."

So yeah, gang, it makes a BIG difference! We accomplished that with a small but dedicated band of canvassers--we have about six teams that we can count on.

Think what we could do if we had even more teams!

So, we're trying to send teams out every Tuesday at 3 p.m. and every Saturday at 11 a.m. The responses they're getting are encouraging: Folks appreciate the nudge, the voting information, and reminders about how crucial voting is in close elections. (For instance, that county millage lost by only 9 votes--every vote counts!!!)

Mike Ross, our indefatigable Canvassing Chief, would really appreciate a call from y'all to sign up to help. He spends a lot of time phoning folks, fielding teams; save him some sweat by reaching out and contacting him. He's at [email protected] or 231-651-0604.

Then, grab your walkin' shoes and join us at our Headquarters in Honor.

You'll make a difference--promise!

08/30/2026

To the Editor of the Traverse City Record-Eagle:

Forty-trillion dollars in national debt, and what did we get for it?

Very little of what we needed, and a whole lot that we did not want or need.

Did we benefit from cheaper healthcare? Affordable and accessible housing and childcare? College or trade school tuition coverage? Safe and healthy food? More environment protections?

Nope, none of the above.

What we got instead is an illegal, unprovoked war that has already cost us more than $100 billion and driven gas prices sky high. We got demolition of the East Wing to build a gold-infested ballroom. We got a paved-over Rose Garden and a destroyed reflecting pool. We got masked pseudo-soldiers in the streets assaulting, kidnapping, and murdering citizens and law-abiding immigrants alike.

We got a tainted food supply, the largest outbreak in 35 years, and the gutting of federal agencies that existed to protect us from poisoned food, preventable diseases, and extreme weather events. We had to make our already stretched budgets stretch even further.

And, on top of all of this, we have lost the respect of countries all over the world, including our longtime allies.

Please vote on November 3 to help turn this travesty around.

Greta Bolger
Thompsonville

08/30/2026

To the Editors of the Traverse City Record-Eagle:

"We have been under no illusions. We recognized from the start that America had changed," said Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in August.

No kidding. Indeed it has.

The American Dream has been disappearing into the dust of war, tariffs, broken promises, greedy corporations, and nasty politics.

Winter is coming... and so is Election Day.

Years ago, my wise and patient riding instructor told me:

"Look where you want to go, not where you are afraid you'll fall."

Where we direct our energy matters.

As voters, we can direct our energy into helping to elect those who will serve our communities to breathe life back into the American Dream.

Our American Dream depends on your vote, not on your fears. Your vote matters. Your own version of this dream matters and makes our country even stronger.

So vote like your life depends on it--it does.

Mary Jamison Rupert
Lake Ann

08/30/2026

To the Editor of the Traverse City Record-Eagle:

Recently, in a room full of Northwest Michigan Democrats, a political candidate, standing at the front of the room, was sharing a list of things he believes in fighting for:

Affordable housing, clean water, clean air...

After each listed item, We The People--the elderly Democrats--cheered loudly.

When he got to "Medicare for All," we practically raised the roof with our overwhelming noises of approval.

Please sit with our loud cheering for a moment.

We The People--the cheering oldsters--weren't cheering for the opportunity to enrich ourselves. We already receive Medicare. We know it works, and we care about others, so we want it for everyone.

We are all "The People"--the Oldsters, the U.S. Constitution framers who listed "promote general welfare" as a list of reasons to establish our country, and You.

November 3 is almost here.

Please vote for candidates who will support Medicare For All.

Vote for Callie Barr for Congress and Abdul El-Sayed for Senate.

Ask your friends to do the same.

Remember: Taking care of one another is not radical.

Diane Miller
Honor

08/30/2026

Make sure to "like," "comment," and "share" this post to get more eyes on it!

(This is modified from an ad that we recently ran on the front page of the Benzie County Record Patriot.)

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Contact the offices of our elected officials to let them know what you think about this.

Rep. Jack Bergman (R) 202-225-4735
Senator Elissa Slotkin (D) 202-224-4822
Senator Gary Peters (D) 202-224-6221
State Representative Betsy Coffia (D) 517-373-3817
State Representative John Roth (R) 517-373-1766
Senator Jon Bumstead(R) (517) 373-1635
White House Comment Line 202-456-1111

08/28/2026

Did you miss the Monthly Meeting in August?

Not to fear; you can watch it on our Youtube page here: https://bit.ly/4gzDmdY .

There was quite a bit of info on our upcoming events, and we also heard from the following guest speakers:

1. Rebecca Amidon for State Senate (begins speaking at about 15 minutes in);

2. Re-Elect Chief Justice Megan Cavanagh of the Michigan Supreme Court (begins speaking at about 17 minutes in);

3. Chandler "C.J." Williams, who is running for a seat on the Benzie County Central Schools Board of Education (starts at about 27 minutes in);

4. Mitch for Michigan (starts at about 34 minuted in);

5. Callie Barr for Congress (starts at about 42 minutes in).

This was our 8th meeting of 2026, and we had a great turnout!

It was standing room only at Headquarters on Aug. 15 as we welcomed...

08/28/2026

To the Editor of the Benzie County Record Patriot:

What path to a successful future might we all be able to take together?

The phrase “the American way” comes to mind. Although that means different things to different people, we probably all agree that we all want ourselves and our neighbors to be able to thrive in peace and allow their hard work to keep their families safe and healthy.

For this to happen, we need corporations to pay their fair share, so that working families can afford housing and access healthcare.

And for that to happen, we need representatives in Washington, D.C., who are working for working families.

And for that to happen, we need to pay more attention to what candidates are saying — and whether it makes sense — rather than what is being said about them, that might be coming from fear or hate.

This November, we can vote for Callie Barr for Congress and Abdul El-Sayed for U.S. Senate. Callie and Abdul are promising to put people over politics. That’s the American way.

Diane Miller
Honor
https://bit.ly/45Un4HT

08/28/2026

To the Editor of the Benzie County Record Patriot:

A big thank you to the Benzie County clerks and election workers who got up early and stayed late on August 4 to ensure that voters were able to cast their votes safely and securely.

It was lovely to see first-time voters — and election workers — along with those who have been doing this for decades.

Democracy only works if we show up, and Benzie County did.

Jana Goldman
Chair, Democratic Party of Benzie County
https://bit.ly/4y7DZmm

08/27/2026

Make sure to "like," "comment," and "share" this post to get more eyes on it!

(This is modified from an ad that we recently ran on the front page of the Benzie County Record Patriot.)

---------------------

Contact the offices of our elected officials to let them know what you think about this.

Rep. Jack Bergman(R) 202-225-4735
Senator Elissa Slotkin (D) 202-224-4822
Senator Gary Peters (D) 202-224-6221
State Representative Betsy Coffia (D) 517-373-3817
State Representative John Roth (R) 517-373-1766
Senator Jon Bumstead(R) (517) 373-1635
White House Comment Line 202-456-1111