Michigan takes center stage at DNC

As the 2024 presidential election draws closer, Democrats are turning to a small set of crucial swing states to ensure they keep the presidency and control of the Senate, and assume the majority in the House of Representatives. These seven swing states — Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan — were at the forefront of Democratic leadership’s minds this week at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

At a breakfast for Michigan delegates and politicians held during the convention, state leaders encouraged delegates to keep working to get Democrats elected to local, state and national positions.

Shawn Fain, president of the United Auto Workers, highlighted Democrats’ work to reframe themselves as the party of the American workforce. After the UAW went on strike in September 2023 against the Big Three Detroit automakers — General Motors, Ford and Stellantis — Fain and the UAW endorsed President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign and went on to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris after Biden ended his bid. Fain praised the Democratic Party for listening to workers and union members going into the election.

“It’s been amazing to watch and help our party find our way back to the moral clarity of standing with the working class,” Fain said. “There’s a billionaire class on one side that serves themselves, and there’s a working class on the other side. Those representatives that serve the working class and look out for the people, those are people that are going to get elected.”

At the convention, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called on delegates to be leaders in getting out the vote in November and spoke about Michigan’s importance in the election.

“We are going to roll up our sleeves and make the phone calls and make the contributions and pull people into this moment, get them registered, get them flushed out for Election Day,” Whitmer said. “We hold the key to winning this race in the state of Michigan, and we are going to show the world how to do it, because that’s who we are and what we do.”

Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., also highlighted the need for Michigan residents to vote in anticipation of the state’s upcoming Senate election, where Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, will face off against former Republican congressman Mike Rogers for the seat currently held by Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., who is not seeking reelection.  

“We are going into the campaign season now,” Peters said. “Let’s face it everybody: Michigan is the center of the political universe. You cannot be president if you do not win Michigan. I will also say, as chair of the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, we will not be in the majority in the Senate unless we elect Elissa Slotkin to the United States Senate. She has to win.”

In addition to Michigan politicians, nationally recognized political figures attended the Michigan Delegation breakfast. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, a Traverse City resident, told delegates that most Americans already agree with Democrats on most important policy positions.

“We are going to win for so many reasons, and one of the most important is the fact that it turns out Americans already agree with us on the issues that matter most,” Buttigieg said. “We can’t forget that, especially those of us who live in more conservative or rural or swing communities. Sometimes we Democrats fool ourselves into thinking that we don’t have the most popular positions. The reverse is true.”

Beyond speaking at delegation, caucus and council meetings throughout the convention, Michigan leaders were prominently featured in the DNC’s main programming at the United Center. Slotkin primarily spoke about national security, highlighting her background with the CIA. 

“I want to talk tonight about national security because the choice in November is stark,” Slotkin said. “Trump wants to take us backwards. He admires dictators a lot. He treats our friends as adversaries and our adversaries as friends. But our vision is based on our values. The values that took us to the shores of Normandy and helped us win the Cold War. We believe America should inspire and lead at home and abroad.”

Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, who came into the public eye after marching with Black Lives Matter protesters in 2020, called for unity across the country’s political divide and said he felt Harris was a president who could deliver.

“We need a leader who will embody what’s affixed to all three sides of my sheriff patrol cars — protect, serve and unify,” Swanson said. “Kamala Harris is that leader.”

In a speech closely preceding Harris’ acceptance of her nomination, Whitmer painted Harris as someone who understands the issues faced by everyday Americans, in direct contrast with former President Donald Trump.

“She’s lived a life like ours, she knows us,” Whitmer said. “Donald Trump doesn’t know you at all. You think he understands that when your car breaks down, you can’t get to work? No — his first word was probably ‘chauffeur’.”

Daily News Editor Mary Corey can be reached at mcorey@umich.edu.

The post Michigan takes center stage at DNC appeared first on The Michigan Daily.


Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *