What’s at Stake at the MDP State Convention

Fellow Michigan Democrats,

We want to make sure everyone understands what is happening at the Aug 29, 2026 MDP State Convention—and why we need members there ready to defend the Convention’s authority.

The Convention will be held at the Lansing Center. Credentialing closes at 2:00 p.m., and the main Convention begins at 3:00 p.m.

This is not merely another Party meeting. Michigan’s Constitution and election laws give party conventions the power to nominate the Democratic candidates whose names will appear on the November ballot—including Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Supreme Court, and the statewide education and university boards.

Our rules are clear about who holds that power.

MDP Rule 10.1 says the State Convention “shall be the highest authority of the MDP.” Rule 6.0.1 gives the State Central Committee authority over Party affairs only between conventions—and makes it subject to the resolutions and other actions of the Convention.

In plain English: State Central runs the Party between conventions. When the Convention meets, the members in the room are the boss.

The Convention governs State Central.

State Central does not govern the Convention.

But the Call to Convention says that no resolutions may be considered and no business will be permitted unless it was approved in advance and included in the Call. That reverses the authority established by our rules. If State Central can decide what the Convention may discuss, amend, or vote on, then State Central is governing the Convention.

The Call is supposed to call the Convention. It does not become the Convention.

We saw the practical consequences of this problem in April. Members stood seeking recognition to amend the agenda and Rules Report. There were no floor microphones through which members could make motions. Members raising points of order were ignored. Voice votes were used even though MDP rules require weighted voting at State Conventions.

A voice vote cannot be weighted. “Which side sounded louder?” cannot measure how members from each county voted or apply the county weights required by our rules. That is arithmetic, not interpretation.

April’s meeting was an Endorsement Convention. Aug 29, 2026 is the legally required Nominating Convention. If thousands of members are brought together only to watch decisions made elsewhere, Republicans could argue that our nominees were not actually selected by the Convention Michigan law requires.

Maybe that argument would fail. But why give them the opening?

We need the Aug 29, 2026 Convention to take properly weighted, up-or-down votes on three things:

1. An amendment to the agenda.

2. An amendment to the Convention rules.

3. A resolution brought before the Convention.

The proposals can win or lose. We do not have to agree about what they should say or whether they should pass.

The point is that the Convention decides.

This is not about one faction, one issue, or one set of proposals. It is about whether members can speak, propose, debate, and vote—and whether our votes are counted as the rules require. Being outvoted is not being silenced. Being denied the opportunity to put a question before the body is.

Please join us in organizing before and during the Convention. We need enough members working together that no one has to stand alone.

Sign up here to defend democracy at the Convention.

We are the Convention.

We are the highest authority in the Michigan Democratic Party.

On Aug 29, 2026, we need to show up and use that authority.

Speak. Propose. Debate. Vote.

Relevant authorities: MDP Rules 6.0.1, 10.1, and 10.4; Rules for Voting and Elections 4.1; Michigan Constitution, Art. V §21; MCL 168.72.