Hertel Wins MDP Chair, Dems Express Frustrations Toward The Party Itself

(DETROIT) – Democrats waited in line for as long as two hours to attend their state convention Saturday, where former state Sen. Curtis Hertel Jr. won an uncontested race for chair. But throughout the congested hallways of the Renaissance Center, many Democrats made their frustrations and demands towards the party known.

Besides the long line to get voting credentials, some Democrats were irritated by the legislators who blocked the full impact of the Michigan Supreme Court’s adopt-and-amend ruling, which would have enacted 2018 ballot proposals on Friday, completely phasing out the sub-minimum wage for tipped employees.

Dressed in a hoodie, United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain said to Democrats’ labor caucus that “Trump is president because we have candidates in this party who can’t decide who the [expletive] they want to represent,” receiving standing ovations. Detroit One Million documented the moment.

Shawn Fain: “Trump is president because we have candidates in this party who can’t decide who the [expletive] they want to represent.” pic.twitter.com/ARY1Joh65z — Sam Robinson (@samueljrob) February 22, 2025

Others were vexed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s absence. The Governor was not present at this weekend’s convention due to the National Governors Association’s winter meeting in Washington, D.C. However, some of Saturday’s party members talked about wishing Whitmer was more aggressive and vocal against President Donald Trump and his strides to draw back federal grants and programs.

One of the women waiting more than two hours in line for convention credentials was Dona Pennington, the 74-year-old chair of the Progressive Democratic Women’s Caucus in Muskegon County.

When personnel with the Michigan Democratic Party (MDP) shouted for attendees to download a cell phone app for voting, Pennington yelled back “I have it, but I can’t log in” due to limited Wi-FI connectivity inside the RenCen.

“I’m just a little disappointed . . . and I’m a big fan of Governor Whitmer, but she has not really been out there like the governor of Illinois and the governor of New York,” Pennington said. “Like, where’s Governor Whitmer? Because we need people to speak for us.”

Mentioning Whitmer’s possible presidential aspirations, Pennington said with the next presidential election cycle in 2028, “she could have maybe come out right now.”

She said she wants Whitmer “just to pick any of the issues and just have a press conference, state her position and entertain questions . . . meet with the people.”

Pennington said she’s been involved with the Democratic Party since she was in high school, and has attended quite a few conventions. But she noted “there’s never been any line like this,” where attendees were waiting more than 15 minutes.

She described people as reacting to Trump with anger, fear and worries, with membership at her Muskegon Heights-based women’s group growing from around 35 participants to more than 100. In the past, Pennington said the group was mostly made up of retired educators, concerned about their pension benefits.

Now, she said, people are showing up in their 20s and 40s. Her friends in line expressed how the new members want to talk about housing and job needs that don’t require costly college degrees.

Also in the crowd was Wayne State University student Nuzmeya Abdrabboh, a 20-year-old who voted for the Green Party in November instead of Democrat Kamala Harris. She wants the MDP to push back against the Attorney General for charging student protesters, as well as to speak out against university leaders who penalize demonstrators who call for universities to terminate financial ties with Israel.

“A lot of people in Dearborn are either from these countries or have families who are still in them, and so (Trump) was using it to his own benefit to just come in and try to get anyone to vote,” Abdrabboh said. “We even see (students) at the University of Michigan being charged with felonies as per the Attorney General Dana Nessel.”

Nessel charged University of Michigan protesters with two-year resisting and obstructing police charges, which are felonies, for countering law enforcement trying to clear them from encampments.

Abdrabboh would like to see the latest MDP chair be more involved in “protecting students and their rights to free speech.”

MIRS also spoke with Sharon Bell, an autoworker of nearly 50 years who’s part of the UAW. She lives near the Belle Isle state park in Detroit, and sees politics as becoming “too extreme” on both sides. She recognized that some UAW members voted for Trump in November ultimately because “they believed that it was going to be better” under him.

She wants to see Democrats this election cycle prioritize an “equal share of the wealth,” building up middle-class opportunities and improving neighborhoods in their policy.

“I’m not impressed with being a speaker. What I am concerned about is that I’m a stand-up individual, (which) is why I’ve been a precinct delegate for over 30 years, and I know what the suffering has meant for the people in my neighborhood,” Bell said.

Bell said she wishes she would see more road fixes during Whitmer’s administration, but right now she is looking forward to seeing who can be Michigan’s next governor or mayor of Detroit.

Saturday’s convention featured more than 2,000 members prepared to vote. Bell explained that despite the 30-degree temperatures and lengthy lines, people stayed.

“The Democratic Party is fired up and ready to go . . . why? Because the people, the constituents need us, and we are in this game forever,” Bell said. “There are issues that have been on the table all this time, and those same issues are being threatened for everyone.”

Unlike the February convention in 2023, this year’s convention did not feature the same colorful festivities of statewide office hopefuls. There were no totem poles of posters being carried around by supporters, nor picture walls for Democrats to have photos taken with their favorite political figures.

Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II – a potential 2026 gubernatorial candidate – greeted individuals as they entered a labor caucus meeting, and Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak) – who’s considering a U.S. Senate run – traveled through the convention space with her chief of staff, instead of a large entourage of followers. There also weren’t any clear or obvious signs of the past U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who’s additionally contemplating a U.S. Senate or gubernatorial run.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson – the first Democrat to officially launch her campaign for governor – spoke on stage to convention delegates. Meanwhile, Gilchrist seemingly alluded to a possible announcement in the works, saying he’s being told to “wait right now” and that “real Democrats don’t wait for progress.”

“This is our time. Let’s be strong. Let’s move forward, do not shrink in this morning,” he said. “Let’s all stand tall for Michigan.”

Genesee County Sheriff Christopher Swanson, another gubernatorial candidate, was seen out and about, as well.

Most clusters of signs and chants were linked to this year’s Detroit mayoral race, with City Council President Mary Sheffield and Detroit pastor Solomon Kinloch having energetic camps present, and Detroit City Council member Fred Durhal III having signs and a table as well.

As for other potential candidates, Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum had a dozen or so people wearing yellow shirts with her name on them. She’s a potential Secretary of State candidate. Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit and former U.S. Attorney Mark Totten also asked to speak to the various caucuses. They are potential attorney general candidates. Former U.S. Senate candidate Hill Harper was seen at the 13th Congressional Caucus.

U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham) held a noon meet and greet at an off-site location called The Social Brews.

And Rep. Helena Scott (D-Detroit) had a table promoting her candidacy for the Detroit City Council. At least four Detroit Democratic state legislators are now running for Detroit city positions. Reps. Karen Whitsett (D-Detroit)  and Tyrone Carter (D-Detroit) are both running for the city council. Rep. Joe Tate (D-Detroit) is running for mayor. Detroit City Council pays $106,231 a year this July. State legislators make $71,685 a year.

As for the lines, Hertel said “no offense to the location, we probably won’t be coming back here.”

Right now, corporate leaders in Detroit are looking to significantly redevelop Downtown’s Renaissance Center – where the convention was held – including demolishing its two towers closest to the Detroit River and removing the five-story “podium” structure each of the towers is attached to.

“I think the Governor is in a challenging position because there are some specific things that have to happen policy wise,” Hertel said. “I’m planning on being loud at the end of the day. My responsibility is to the people of this party and the people of this state (on how) to fight back.”

Hertel was slated to go up against Detroit-based activist Al Williams. Although Williams had walking billboards traveling throughout the convention center to promote his chair candidacy, MIRS learned that he did not meet the 1,270-signature threshold to be voted on Saturday. A third candidate, Mark Ludwig, also ended up not making the final ballot.

The new first and second vice chairs of the MDP will be Detroit-based nonprofit leader Portia Roberson and Shahin Hassan, the Bangladeshi American community leader, respectively.

Article courtesy MIRS News for SBAM’s Lansing Watchdog newsletter

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