After the Senate adjourned for the summer, Senate Democrats went to work in their districts, knocking on doors and listening to constituents
After securing the Majority for the first time in forty years, Senate Democrats immediately went to work in Lansing and passed a historic slate of legislation to lower costs for Michiganders, restore workers’ rights, keep our communities safe from gun violence and more. After a busy six months of delivering real results for Michigan residents, the Senate adjourned for the summer recess and Senate Democrats returned to their districts to connect with constituents.
Over the past three months, Senators and their teams have knocked on thousands of doors, hosted coffee hours and town halls and attended community events. Each of these activities allowed Senate Democrats to hear from their constituents about what issues matter most to them and receive feedback about the legislation passed at the beginning of the year.
Knocking on Doors
On the left, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids), Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) and volunteers join Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) to canvass in Midland. On the right, Sen. Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores) is joined by Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids), Sen. Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia) and volunteers for a canvass in Macomb County.
Taking advantage of Michigan’s beautiful summer weather, Senate Democrats spent time in their districts meeting with members of the community who they may not have been connected with before. This provided Senators with the opportunity to share information about the services their offices are able to provide — such as help filing unemployment claims or navigating state departments — and talk about the legislative work the Senate Majority for the People is doing to improve lives across Michigan.
Sen. Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia), Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak), Sen. Sean McCann (D-Kalamazoo) and Sen. Sue Shink (D-Northfield Twp.) are accompanied by their staff and dedicated volunteers to knock on doors throughout their respective districts.
Throughout the summer, Senate Democrats knocked on tens of thousands of doors, having thoughtful conversations with residents. Joining the Senators and their teams were volunteers from the Michigan League of Conservation Voters and Senate interns who traveled across the state to help Legislators engage members of their communities and receive feedback on the work being done in Lansing.
A highlight of the summer was when a member of Sen. Veronica Klinefelt’s (D-Eastpointe) staff spoke with a constituent who was worried about affording health care coverage after having their Medicare benefits halted. After working with the resident and the Department of Health & Human Services, the staff member discovered the constituent’s removal had been in error, and their coverage was resumed.
Another memorable moment was when a summer intern with the Senate Democrats was canvassing in Sen. Sue Shink’s (D- Northfield Twp.) district and was able to speak with a young college student who was concerned about affording tuition costs. The two were able to connect over shared experiences as students of color, and the intern was then able to relay the constituent’s concerns to Sen. Shink, who plans to take the lessons learned back with her to Lansing. Moments like these are what public service is truly about, and the connections made on doorsteps are meaningful for both the Senators and their constituents alike.
Having Conversations Over Coffee
On the left, Sen. Veronica Klinefelt (D-Eastpointe) hosts a coffee hour at the Eastpointe Fire Department. On the right, Sen. Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores) is joined by local leaders and community organizations at a town hall for small business owners.
Senate Democrats also took time this summer to host coffee hours and town halls to chat with local residents. From creative coffee shops and senior centers to local parks and fire stations — these events allowed community members to have an open dialogue with their Senator, sharing their thoughts and concerns while asking questions.
Town halls also provided residents with the unique opportunity to hear from community leaders and subject experts on a given topic. For example, Sen. Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores) hosted a town hall to pair budding entrepreneurs and current small business owners with resources to grow or begin their ventures. Here, residents were able to meet with representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to learn how to leverage the resources available to them through state and corporate partners. Sen. Sylvia Santana (D-Detroit) also hosted a town hall with colleagues from the Michigan House to break down the historic 2024 state budget and talk about the positive impact it will have on Michiganders’ daily lives.
Making Community Connections
On the top left, Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield) hands out bottled water to attendees at the Peacenic event at O’Hair Park in Detroit. On the top right, Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) presents a tribute to the organizers of the Hamtramck Active Living Festival. On the bottom, Majority Floor Leader Sam Singh (D-East Lansing) discusses internet access in rural communities with the Lennon Telephone Company and local leaders.
Michigan has no end of lively events during the summer months, and Senate Democrats had fun attending community gatherings and getting to know constituents in a casual setting.
In Detroit, Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak) joined Rep. Helena Scott (D-Detroit) to host a community resource fair and ice cream social at Detroit’s Palmer Park. Sen. John Cherry (D-Flint) spent time with community members celebrating the funding secured in the 2024 budget to support the Flint Latinx Technology and Community Center’s work to boost the educational outcomes of local children. In Ann Arbor, Sen. Shink joined the Michigan League of Conservation Voters and the Huron River Watershed Council for a river cleanup event. Also, Senators Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton) and Erika Geiss (D-Taylor) showed their support for the Taylor North Little League team at the Junior League World Series Championship at Heritage Park in Taylor.
This summer, Senate Democrats gathered at community events and kept busy during the legislative break.
Even with the summer rapidly coming to a close and legislators heading back to Lansing for the fall session, Senate Democrats will remain active in their districts — hosting coffee hours and town halls, sending out newsletters and more. Senators are always eager to hear from constituents, so please do not hesitate to call their office or reach out through email. If you’re not sure who your Senator is or what their contact information is, click here to find out.
Read more from the Michigan Senate Democrats at SenateDems.com/press.