After President Donald Trump won the state in 2024, Michigan Democrats chose former state senator Curtis Hertel Jr. (D-East Lansing) to head their party as reconstruction efforts get underway.
At the party’s convention in Detroit on Saturday, Hertel was chosen by voice vote after his sole opponent, Al Williams, decided to withdraw. Hertel takes over as chair after Lavora Barnes declined to run for reelection. A few blocks away, the MIGOP conducted its convention, electing state senator Jim Runestad (R-White Lake) in a surprising win over Meshawn Maddock, who was sponsored by Trump.
The crowded audience of Democrats was urged to recall how they felt following Trump’s victory in 2016 and how that resulted in significant victories for Democrats in 2018 and 2022 by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who is seeking to replace term-limited Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2026.
According to Benson, “we fought back and we won, and we’ve expanded rights and freedoms in our state.”
The idea of starting a campaign was hinted at by Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, who has apparently also been thinking about running for the state’s top job. He said that engineers don’t wait to solve problems; they just get to work.
I’ve previously been instructed to wait. “I detest it,” Gilchrist remarked. I was advised by several to hold off on running for office. Right now, some people want me to wait.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was cited by Gilchrist as noting that waiting has nearly always meant never.
Benson spoke about her improvements to Secretary of State offices around the state, saying she would concentrate on lowering wasted expenditure, getting rid of red tape, and making government more efficient for everyone—things that, by the way, Elon Musk, you can accomplish without ruining everything.
Although she carried a district that Trump won by a larger percentage than he did, U.S. Representative Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) urged Democrats not to unnecessarily romanticize the situation.
People want me to tell them that everything will be well, and here’s why. “It won’t be alright,” McDonald Rivet stated. It isn’t. We will see people we love and know suffer.
However, speakers stressed Saturday that the party is already trying to counter acts by the Trump administration.
According to U.S. Representative Shri Thanedar (D-Detroit), Democrats are suing the crap out of the Trump administration, citing the more than 80 lawsuits that have been filed nationwide.
According to U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor), Democrats should focus on five areas over the coming months: advocacy, education, legislation, litigation, and communication.
Dingell replied, her voice cracking, “I haven’t stopped raising my voice since he became president, and I’m losing it.”
Above all, Democrats must win elections, McDonald Rivet stated.
The party is preparing for a pivotal midterm election cycle, where all seats in both houses of the Michigan Legislature will be up for grabs, along with open seats for the U.S. Senate, governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.
McDonald Rivet claimed that her campaign’s unwavering emphasis on the things that bring us all together allowed her to win a district that votes for Trump.
According to McDonald Rivet, we want more affordable, well-paying employment, a path to the middle class for all those who are prepared to work for it, and top-notch education for all of our children. Donald Trump might have won our district by two votes, but we won by seven when we did that and concentrated on that.
According to Hertel, decent wages, affordable housing, affordable water, and ballot access would be the main priorities for Democrats.
“That party will not exist in this country if we are not that party,” Hertel stated.
Curtis Hertel, a former state senator from East Lansing who was elected as the party’s chair, speaks during the Michigan Democratic Party convention in Detroit on February 22, 2025. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)
Curtis Hertel, a former state senator from East Lansing who was elected as the party’s chair, speaks during the Michigan Democratic Party convention in Detroit on February 22, 2025. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)
State Senate members support Michigan Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids, as she speaks during the Michigan Democratic Party convention in Detroit on February 22, 2025. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)
Members of the state House of Representatives stand behind Michigan House Minority Leader Ranjeev Puri, D-Canton, as he speaks during the Michigan Democratic Party convention in Detroit on February 22, 2025. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)
Curtis Hertel, a former state senator from East Lansing who was elected as the party’s chair, speaks during the Michigan Democratic Party convention in Detroit on February 22, 2025. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)
On February 22, 2025, U.S. Representative Shri Thanedar, a Democrat from Detroit, speaks at the Michigan Democratic Party convention in Detroit. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)
State Senate members support Michigan Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids, as she speaks during the Michigan Democratic Party convention in Detroit on February 22, 2025. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)
Garlin Gilchrist, the lieutenant governor of Michigan, speaks during the February 22, 2025, Michigan Democratic Party convention in Detroit. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)
On February 22, 2025, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a gubernatorial candidate, speaks at the Michigan Democratic Party convention in Detroit. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)
Garlin Gilchrist, the lieutenant governor of Michigan, speaks during the February 22, 2025, Michigan Democratic Party convention in Detroit. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)
On February 22, 2025, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a gubernatorial candidate, takes the stage at the Michigan Democratic Party convention in Detroit. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)
On February 22, 2025, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a gubernatorial candidate, speaks at the Michigan Democratic Party convention in Detroit. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)
On February 22, 2025, Al Williams gives a speech at the Michigan Democratic Party convention in Detroit. Former state senator Curtis Hertel was the only contender after Williams withdrew from the bid to lead the party. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)
On February 22, 2025, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a gubernatorial candidate, takes the stage at the Michigan Democratic Party convention in Detroit. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)
On February 22, 2025, Al Williams gives a speech at the Michigan Democratic Party convention in Detroit. Former state senator Curtis Hertel was the only contender after Williams withdrew from the bid to lead the party. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)
On February 22, 2025, Ann Arbor, Michigan state representative Jason Morgan, a Democrat, speaks at the Michigan Democratic Party convention in Detroit. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)
Lavora Barnes, chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, speaks during the party’s convention on February 22, 2025, in Detroit. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)
Lavora Barnes, chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, at the party’s convention in Detroit on February 22, 2025. (Image courtesy of Michigan Advance/Andrew Roth)
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.