Meet the MI-01 Candidates
Hello CRAGgys,
Meet the candidates forum
Wednesday, March 11, 7 pm at the Hancock Community Hub, 417 Quincy Street
Five candidates vying to replace Congressman Jack Bergman to represent MI-10 constituents will answer questions. Candidates across the political spectrum will be present: Independents, Working Class Party, Republicans, and Democrats.
The Hancock event is the fifth in a series of 11 forums scheduled across the district.
All Candidates for the MI-01 seat have been invited to attend.
To date, the following candidates have pledged to participate in all 11 events -
Kyle Blomquist - Democrat (Iron Mountain)
Justin Michal - Republican (Grayling)
Zebulon Featherley - Independent (Traverse City)
Wayne Stiles - Democrat (Traverse City)
The group is hopeful that we will also receive commitments to participate from the other two candidates, Callie Barr - Democrat (Traverse City) and Jack Bergman - Republican (Watersmeet).
Events have been scheduled during congressional recess periods to maximize candidate participation.
February:
Friday February 13th (evening): Gaylord
Friday February 27th (evening) : Sault Ste. Marie
March:
Monday March 9th (evening) : Menominee
Tuesday March 10th (evening): Ironwood
Wednesday March 11th (evening) : Houghton
Thursday March 19th (evening): Escanaba
Saturday March 21st (day): Marquette
April:
Wednesday April 1 (evening): Traverse City
Thursday April 2nd (evening): Bellaire
Monday April 6th: (evening) Sterling
Tuesday April 7th (evening): Petoskey
Several of these are being live-streamed. See Mobilize for details.
Bergman Accepts Donation from Corrupt Californian
Following his long tradition of avoiding constituents, Rep Bergman has declined to appear at these forums. If he were to show up, I'd want to ask him why his campaign has accepted nearly $300K from Californian, Elliott Broidy. Broidy pleaded guilty to lobbying the Department of Justice on behalf of Chinese and Malaysian officials. He was asking to have charges dropped in a case of embezzlement of billions of dollars.
FBI uncovered and thwarted Elliott Broidy's scheme to engage in illegal lobbying in exchange for millions of dollars. This case should stand as an example to all those who engage in international corruption schemes. Assistant Director Calvin Shivers of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. October 2020.
Oh, and Broidy was pardoned by President DJT in 2021 with support of... Jack Bergman.
Over 800 Habeas Corpus claims in Michigan
Hundreds of habeas petitions have been filed by people illegally detained in ICE concentration camps in Michigan since January 2025. Federal judges in Michigan have granted over 90% of these petitions, meaning people should be released on bond, not locked up, as their cases proceed.
Eastern District Judge Brandy R. McMillion wrote “the recent shift to use the mandatory detention framework … is not only wrong but also fundamentally unfair. In a nation of laws vetted and implemented by Congress, we don’t get to arbitrarily choose which laws we feel like following when they best suit our interests.” Judges rule hundreds of immigrants “unlawfully detained” at ICE center in Northern Michigan
Michigan Public, By Adam Yahya Rayes, Michelle Jokisch Polo, Lindsey Smith
Unfortunately, many people are not being released even after judges orders; often the government arbitrarily labels a person a "flight risk" as an excuse to keep them locked up, away from home, family, and jobs. Thee cases are likely headed to the Supreme Court eventually.
UP Environmental Coalition turns 50
On Saturday I spoke at UPEC's 50th anniversary event in Marquette. Jon Saari, who has been with the organization from its inception, was presented with the Sisu Award for his lifetime of service.
I spoke about international climate negotiations (mostly taken from my CRAG report on COP30). And I said the top priority to protect the climate is to remove our authoritarian government. We need to stop opposing the powerful from outside and take control of our democracy to become the change we need.
Update on protecting Houghton County residents from ICE
Tuesday, April 14, 6 pm. The Houghton County Commission has agreed to discuss "A Resolution Protecting Equal Access to Public Services, Ensuring the Security of K-12 and Michigan Technological University Students, and Governing the use of County Property for Civil Immigration Enforcement." prepared and presented by Keweenaw Indivisible.
Provisions include:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Houghton County Board of Commissioners hereby prohibits the use of county-owned, leased, or managed property, including airports, administrative buildings, parking lots, and parks, for the purpose of staging or conducting civil immigration enforcement operations without a valid judicial warrant signed by a state or federal judge
Full text below.
There will be a public comments period during the meeting. Call your commissioner if you can't attend.
The City of Southfield Michigan has passed a similar resolution. In Jackson, Michigan 100s of people came out to oppose partnerships with ICE. Marquette County is also considering a resolution to limit ICE.
When and Where to Speak UP
Check the calendar for details.
Here's the list view of Elected Official Meetings: https://calendar.online/electedofficialmeetings.
If you want company, I will go with you. Drop me a line.
On Friday I spoke at the Michigan Technological University Board of Trustees meeting, then at Calumet Township. Notes are here.
Some public body meets somewhere every single week; take 30 minutes to show up and express your opinion. (Sample statements.) And let me know if you go and what you learn.
Why and how to attend local meetings
Events
- March 11, 7 pm Hancock Community Hub, 417 Quincy Street, Hancock. Meet the Candidates, who are asking to replace Rep Jack Bergman in Mi-01.
- Community organizations across Michigan’s First Congressional District have launched the MI-01 Meet the Candidates Project, a coordinated, non-partisan series of public forums that will bring congressional primary candidates directly to communities across the district in early 2026.
- March 14-15. Keweenaw Youth for Climate Action (KYCA) and Campus Climate Network (CCN) are offering FREE training sessions! These trainings are focused to help students and activists learn how to run effective organizations and how to make a meaningful impact in your campaigns. More info and register here.
- March 21, 2-4 pm, Marquette, MI-01 Meet the candidates forum in Marquette.
- Mark your calendar: NO KINGS 3.0, March 28, 2026, 12-2 pm Houghton Waterfront to the Bridge.
- Contact Keweenaw Indivisible if you'd like to help organize.
Emma's March Community Calendar
Organizational Meetings
Details are on the CALENDAR. (Organizers: Please send updates when times, dates, locations change!) These groups are all very welcoming. Drop by a meeting to connect with friendly faces. Any level of engagement contributes to making our world better.
Houghton/Hancock
- Yoopers for Ukraine 🇺🇦 Rally at the bridge Sundays at 3 pm.
- Keweenaw Indivisible meets 3rd Tuesdays, 6-8 pm (work groups at 6, general membership at 7) at the KUUF. (Join KI). [Note meeting has been shifted to accommodate the HoCo Commission, which meets on the 2nd Tuesdays.]
- Houghton County Dems meet every 1st Wednesday, 7 pm at the Super 8.
- 4th Wednesdays AWAVE, 6 pm. Gathering at KUU Fellowship Houghton.
- 3rd Sundays, 7-8:45 pm, Keweenaw Against the Oligarchy Monthly Action Committee (KATO). Please register at the link to help with the headcount.
Baraga
- Baraga County Democrats, 3rd Tuesdays at 6 pm, L'Anse Township Hall
Marquette
- Every Tuesday evening at 7pm, Yoopers Unite, a gathering of local pro-democracy groups, at LoveMarq Church, 728 W. Kaye Ave, Marquette.
- Visibility Brigade Demonstrations take place regularly in Marquette and Ishpeming. Click here for information and to register through Mobilize.
- Saturday Morning Demonstrations at the Post Office in Marquette: Members of Citizens for Peace and Justice, Lake Superior Region Indivisible, Yoopers Unite, area community members, friends and neighbors gather for a peaceful demonstration at the Marquette Post Office every Saturday from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm.
- Subscribe for free to the Lake Superior Region Indivisible newsletter here. Contact LSRI at lsrindivisible@gmail.com
Michigan
- Statewide Indivisible Michigan (SWIM). This page lists various virtual events for statewide connections.
Leaving MAGA resource
- Leaving maga resources by former MAGA folks that might help people speaking with friends and relatives.
Help wanted
Any potential guest posters out there? I will be away for a month from mid-March to mid-April. Let me know if you'd like to do a guest CRAG post during that window (or anytime).
Fox
Sadly, the OwlCam is off-line because of construction in the building. We hope this is temporary. So, here's a fox outside our window last week.
Thanks for all your support and all your efforts to promote and expand freedom, justice and democracy!
Stay safe,
Sarah
This FAQ page answers common questions about CRAG.