MDP WEEKLY MESSAGING

1/31/2026

Hello Michigan Democrats, 

This week, Michigan Dems are calling out dark money Republican groups for meddling in the Democratic primary for Michigan’s 35th state Senate district special election by sending out deceptive ads and mailers.  This shady group, ProgressiveMI, is being funded by  Majority Strategies LLC, a national Republican consulting firm that has worked for Trump, Michigan House Republicans, and the MIGOP. Michigan Democrats know that the voters deserve to make their choice without meddling from Trump-connected Republican groups. 

While Michigan Democrats were calling out Republicans, MAGA puppet and so-called independent Mike Duggan was running from his history of mismanagement, involving hundreds of demolition sites filled with dirt with harmful contaminants that could make Detroiters sick. Because of his disastrous leadership, countless neighborhoods and communities are left wondering if the very ground they walk on is going to hurt them. One expert said that the gaps in dirt testing from Duggan show “total ignorance” of proper testing protocol—and fixing his egregious mistakes will cost taxpayers millions of dollars. 

On top of Duggan’s dirt scandal, out-of-touch multi-millionaire Perry Johnson joined the Republican gubernatorial race this week, just to add even more chaos and mud-slinging to the already ugly Republican primary. Johnson has made it clear that he has no idea what working Michiganders need, from standing by Trump’s disastrous cost-raising agenda to declining to rule out banning abortion for sexual assault survivors. He is just another Republican who will sell Michiganders out to appease Trump’s ego, and Michiganders deserve better. 

For anyone interested, we have MIvoter.org, a resource volunteers put together to connect you with your county party and protests happening in your area, and michigandems.com/mystory to share your story and encourage those you know to do the same. 

We’d love to hear from you! If there’s anything you would like to see in these emails or resources we might be able to offer, please respond to this email and let us know. 

In solidarity, 

Chair Curtis Hertel

Americans Can’t Afford Food and Rent Amid Trump’s Sinking Economy

• As families struggle to afford rent, groceries, and monthly bills, two-thirds of voters said they think a middle-class lifestyle is out of reach for most people, and 77 percent say it has gotten harder to achieve than a generation ago.
  • Trump is 18 points underwater on the economy and 29 points underwater on the cost of living.
    • 51 percent of Americans believe Trump’s policies have made life less affordable for them.
  • Families lost $1,625 due to Trump’s inflation during his first year back in office, including $310 on grocery costs alone.
  • A new report revealed that American consumers and importers — not foreign exporters — are bearing 96% of the costs of Trump’s tariffs.
• Americans want the government to focus on affordability — yet Trump and congressional Republicans are instead focused on propping up an out-of-control ICE crackdown and picking fights abroad.

Because of Republicans, Americans Are Paying More for Health Care Than Housing 

• In a recent poll, a majority of voters said they don’t feel confident in their ability to pay for health care — and costs are continuing to rise after Republicans failed to extend ACA premium tax credits for more than 20 million Americans.
  • Soaring costs are especially squeezing Americans who aren’t eligible for Medicaid or Medicare.
    • As an example, a middle-income couple in West Virginia saw their monthly premiums increase from $255 a month to $2,155 a month — more than three times their mortgage payment of $760.
  • Because of these increases, 800,000 fewer Americans have enrolled in health coverage and are at risk of going uninsured entirely. 
• Because of premium increases, more Americans are signing up for cheaper, lower-tier insurance, lowering their monthly payments but leaving them on the hook for higher costs if they need care.
  • After premiums increased by $300 a month, a couple in Arizona lowered their bill by more than half with a cheaper plan, but their annual deductible is now $18,000.

Trump and Republicans Slandered Innocent Americans Killed by Federal Agents, Enabled ICE’s Deadly Abuses of Power, and Undermined Local Law Enforcement

• ICE’s reckless abuses of power have made communities less safe, not more—which we have seen clearly in the tragic killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
• Real public safety means building trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Under Trump, ICE has been allowed to do the opposite—terrorizing communities, violating constitutional rights, and undermining the relationships that local law enforcement has worked hard to build.
• Instead of accountability for these deadly abuses of power, Trump immediately went on the airwaves to slander the victims and spread lies. 
• Michiganders are disgusted by the Trump administration’s smears of innocent Americans killed by federal agents, and they’re demanding ICE to be reined in and for order to return to our streets. Enough is enough.

Dark Money Group Connected to Trump Meddles in Michigan’s SD-35 Special Election Primary

• This weekend, the Detroit News exposed how a new group with ties to Trump and Republicans has been working to influence the Democratic primary in the upcoming special election for Senate District 35
• This interference is a clear sign that Republicans, in state and across the country, are working to meddle in the primaries and disrupt the democratic process here in Michigan. 
• On Tuesday, Michigan Democrats condemned these shady Republican tactics, demanding an end to all election interference
  • Read more – MLive: Republican-tied group accused of meddling in state Senate Democratic primary

Mike Rogers Resumed Campaigning in Florida, Took His Multimillion- Dollar Mansion Off the Market, Said He Would Rather Be “On the Beach in Florida” Than in Michigan

• The Detroit Metro Times reported this week on how Mike Rogers has resumed campaign activities from Florida and has taken his Cape Coral mansion off the market, resurfacing accusations that Rogers is “more of a Florida resident than a Michigan one.”
• While campaigning from his Cape Coral mansion, Rogers even told an interviewer that his “entire life” is in Michigan, despite being in Florida at the time.
• Ahead of the winter storm, Rogers told a right-wing radio host this month that he would rather be “on the beach in Florida” than in Michigan. 
• Bottom line: Mike Rogers abandoned Michigan more than a decade ago, moved to Florida, and enriched himself at Michiganders’ expense. Now, he’s literally campaigning from his Florida mansion, pushing for more handouts for millionaires like himself while working families in Michigan pay the price. Since Rogers wants to go back to Florida so badly, he shouldn’t book a return ticket – Michiganders don’t want him back.
  • Read more – Detroit Metro Times: Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers campaigns from Florida as carpetbagger questions return; Raw Story: Michigan Republican accused of carpetbagging as he campaigns from Florida mansion