2nd Congressional District Issues Survey

Thank you for subscribing and supporting the Michigan Democratic Party Second Congressional District Committee (MI2CD).  With your dedicated help we can and WE WILL elect a strong Democrat to truly represent this rural district in Washington in November!

We want your help to get as many people as possible to view and respond to our key issues survey.  This is NOT an ask for money! The results of this survey will help every Democrat running for office in the MI2CD to focus on developing action plans that align with the issues and concerns that are most important to voters. We want MI2CD voters to have confidence that Democrats up and down the ballot are focused on helping alleviate their kitchen table issues.

Please share this email and the survey link with your social media network, your family, friends, and neighbors.  Please ask them to invest their time to respond.  The survey asks you to rank 13 issues/concerns from #1 (most important to you) to #13 (least important to you). We expect that when you take this survey you will also better understand how Democrats living in MI2CD actually care and want to do the hard work to address change and improve your quality of life.

We will share the results of this survey with you and all the Democrats running for office in the MI2CD.  We look forward to learning from the results and winning this election cycle!  

MI2CD Survey link:  https://freeonlinesurveys.com/s/j9euinPe

John M. Helge
[email protected]
616-915-2403

2nd CD - February 2026 Newsletter

MI2CD Friends:
Plan now to join us for our February meeting via ZOOM on Saturday February 14, 2026, at 10am. We will be hearing from active candidates for MI2CD and other state-wide and regional offices!
Here is the ZOOM link for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82577407163?pwd=xetgNf9fyfgtcMW7bpAcaKA36JFWpi.1&jst=2
Meeting ID: 825 7740 7163
Passcode: 391222

Join the meeting for a presentation by DirtRoad Organizing!
Hailing from rural Maine, Chloe Maxmin is the Co-Founder of DirtRoad Organizing alongside her best friend, Canyon Woodward. She also runs Begin Again Farm with her partner, Bill Pluecker, growing organic vegetables for her community. Chloe received an honors degree from Harvard College, where she co-founded Divest Harvard. Chloe served in the Maine House of Representatives in 2018 and the Maine State Senate in 2020. She was the youngest woman ever to serve in the Maine Senate. Chloe is also the Co-Founder/Advisor at JustME for JustUS--a Maine-based organization focused on rural youth civic engagement and climate justice--and the co-author (with Canyon) of Dirt Road Revival. 
Thanks to MI2CD’s new Vice Chairperson Hilary Wingard for arranging this speaker who provides us with the best practices we need to form a winning grassroots campaign to defeat the out-of-touch incumbent in November!
 
 
WE NEED YOUR HELP!!
The MI2CD has a unique way to add to our funding to help our MI2CD candidate as well as those running for down ballot offices and to also help our county parties pay the rent or put up billboards.  We host “Texas Holdem” card games a couple of times per year.  We typically can clear about $1000 per day of these games!  We need volunteers to help the card players convert chips to cash to tip the dealer.  Volunteers work a six-hour shift and do not touch the cards or participate in the games.
County parties that provide volunteers for these fundraising dates will receive priority when requesting funds from the MI2CD treasury.   
Our next series will be held at the Fremont Lanes 5885 S. Warner Ave in Fremont, MI Thursday Feb 19 through Sunday February 22, 2026.  Let Dallas Dean [email protected] know if you can help!
 
MAGA MOOLENAAR UPDATE:
Well, he officially warned the MI2CD voters that he intends to screw us over for another two years in Washington as an eager acolyte for the MAGA Cult.  Here is my statement to WCMU radio on this announcement:
John Helge is chair of Michigan's 2nd Congressional District Democratic Party. He told WCMU the party has a grassroots movement ready to win.
“I believe John Moolenaar is more vulnerable than he's ever been because of his support for the chaos, corruption and cruelty that's going on in Washington right now,” he said.
Helge touted the campaigns of physician assistant Jamie Hill and U.S. Marine Ben Ambrose. “They're working very hard to earn the trust and the support of the voters in the 2nd Congressional District,” Helge said.

HERE ARE THE CANDIDATES PROVIDING THE ALTERNATIVE!
We need someone willing to communicate, collaborate, and compromise instead of refusing to do the job we elected them to do! Every resident of the 2nd CD deserves better representation in Washington! These three are working hard to earn your trust and support!  Tell your friends to be looking for them when they are in your area.
 
Benjamin Ambrose:  phone: 231.740.1223  email:  [email protected]                      Website:  www.ambrose4congress.com
Jamie Hill:  email: [email protected] Website:  https://electjamie.net
We’ve completed over 8 months as the first candidate for CD2, and it has been an energizing, galvanizing and humbling whirlwind. Our vehicle has racked up 28k miles taking us to the far corners of the district and everything in between. We’ve attended over 60 individual face-to-face events since last June and taken every listening opportunity seriously and refined our message based on the leading concerns we have heard. We also have multiple exciting endorsements in the works.
What we hear is so encouraging. We strongly believe that speaking directly with people has been much more critical to speaking with donors. The consultants say to stop reaching out to voters and connect with donors, but we believe that grassroots change comes from real local people and isn’t bought with out-of-state donors. That’s why as people have got to know what Jamie stands for and who Jamie is, they share and spread that excitement. We’ve had multiple people reach out, volunteer their assistance in many ways, and ask how they can help the campaign aside from voting.
All of the time and work Jamie has poured into not only meeting face-to-face, but presenting opportunities for feedback and conversation on social media (they’ve personally made over 30 TikTok’s that have cross-posted to FB, IG and BlueSky and the FB page has had 42.5k+ views of the 105 posts in the past 90 days) has resulted in the continued call for us to keep going, because folks want the type of authentic relatability and connection that Jamie brings.
We have multiple events scheduled over the next couple of months. Right now, as we take our traction we’ve maintained through the early winter into 2026, now is everyone’s opportunity to take part in the grassroots representation we all want rather than the representation that is bought by far away donors and their special interests. What does that look like? It looks like ten bucks and two friends. To explain, if everyone who voted (D) in the 2024 race donated $10, we would have $1.3 million. Additionally, if those people found 2 people who either a) didn’t vote, or b) didn’t vote democrat, to show up and vote, we would win by a landslide.
And you don’t have to be on our campaign team to tell your friends about Jamie and tell them about “Ten Bucks and Two Friends”. We can all help get the word out organically and be an agent of change. Other things that voters are helping with are connecting us with the civic organizations they are involved in so we can show up and give them the opportunity to talk with Jamie, organizing meet & greets, and hosting house parties. If anyone relates to a few people who would like the chance to get the last few signatures to get Jamie’s name on the ballot, we are also setting them up with a circulator kit that has everything they need to gather some signatures so we can go ahead and file these. Buying signatures/paying circulators isn’t our style, so a handful of folks willing to gather a few signatures would be very helpful.

 
Clyde Welford: email: clydewelford01@gmailcom  Website:  Clyde Welford
In my quest seeking the 2nd Congressional District Nomination, I have kept myself busy procuring signatures for my petition. The frigid weather has hampered some essential door knocking. However, I’m in the process of printing mailers and business cards featuring a QR Code. When scanned the QR code will allow the scanner the ability to make contributions to my campaign. All contributions transfer directly to my ActBlue Account. If anyone is interested in helping me get on the ballot, I encourage them to either sign my petition, volunteer to collect signatures on my behalf, or contribute. Time is a factor.
I was invited to attend the Kent County Democratic Party Meet and Greet for Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed. On November 12, 2025, Abdul and I were introduced. We talked briefly before he took the mic. He engaged the audience of a couple hundred in attendance for about twenty-five minutes, before leaving for another speaking engagement in Holland.
On December 6. 2025, the Mecosta County Democratic Party met in big Rapids. I introduced myself and spoke about some of the issues facing the residents of Northern Michigan. Coming up this month (February), February 19th to be exact, I plan to attend Indivisible Central in Mt. Pleasant (Isabella County). The Lake County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to send me to the National Association of Counties (NaCo) in Washington DC. The conference will be held on February 21st and runs through the 25th.

I hope to bring back a wealth of information and experience that can help us move forward. On 26 February, I have accepted an invitation to attend the Barry County Democratic Party Meeting. I’m looking forward to that meeting as well. There is a Community Forum scheduled to meet in Manistee on the 28th. I plan to be there too.
What is paramount and on the minds of Northern Michigan Counties is the affordability crisis and the anemic response of lawmakers in Washington. John Moolenaar. He has failed all of us. He failed us when he voted against certifying the 2020 election. Moolenaar failed us most recently when he voted to take away our health insurance while supporting a $170 billion dollar Immigration Custom Enforcement Legislation.

We needed Moolenaar to stand up and fight for SNAP and Nutrition Supplemental benefits. Northwestern Michigan as well needed him to fight for the glory of our communities, (our seniors and children). Moolenaar wouldn’t even attend a single town hall meeting once Donald Trump ordered the GOP to stand down! Moolenaar consciously made the decision to forget about the people he swore an oath to serve and protect. Let’s not forget his stance on a woman’s right to choose, livable wages, human rights and Democracy itself. My friends, we have our work cut out for us. I’m all in. What do you say?
 
FOCUSED ISSUE FORUMS!
We will continue to challenge all twenty county Democratic party organizations to plan and execute at least one “FOCUSED ISSUE FORUM” meeting every 90 days between now and November of 2026.
The MI2CD candidates all indicated that they believe these “kitchen table issue” forums will have a better chance of attracting the independent and Democrat-curious voters that we will need to win in 2026.
Here are some forums that are already on the calendar!
 
Long-time MI2CD leader Michael Fields sent me what you see below.  He hits the nail right on the head!
Become a Democrat with Me
I was engaged in conversation with a friend of mine who believes in this country. He believes in its ideals. He considers himself to be a patriot.  He also believes that all politicians are corrupt. That they have an angle they are working and none of them, during his lifetime, have ever been looking out for him or others he knows like himself.  That is a growing and worrisome sentiment in this country.  He asked me why I am a democrat.
I have been giving this some thought for the past few days and here is my answer.  He may be right that no politician is looking out for him.  There may not be any politicians that are willing to stand behind their convictions when the pressure gets too much. If that is the case whose job is it to fix the status quo?
Whose job? It is the job of every citizen in this country to make certain that we are actively getting down in the dirt. That we are ready to get muddy to make sure that we have the representatives we deserve. For far too long Americans have been willing to let politicians run our country without speaking up when their actions do not reflect what is good for them or others like them.  Too many let someone else elect our representatives.  Many feel that they want to be left alone, “Let me and my family just live our lives, I mean is that too much to ask?” I have heard them say.
Yes, it is too much to ask because it is too much to give away.   This country was founded on the idea that the common citizens have the right to determine their own form of government. They have the right to be governed by a collective body of citizens of their choosing.  The right to have a just government that works for them, not corporations and the 1% of the wealthiest citizens. We have a duty to make our government work for us. 
No one man in this country has the right to say, “I alone can fix all our problems.” That statement is inherently unamerican. We do not have Kings.  When politicians and our government officials do not live up to our expectations it is the duty of those that are dissatisfied to peacefully express their displeasure, make their voice heard, and work for the change they seek.
With that said, why am I a democrat? Democrats are the party with whom I have the most in common.  Now more than ever, in my lifetime, we must become engaged citizens, speak our minds and fight peacefully for a better tomorrow for everyone. Just as the founding fathers intended for us to do. Become a Democrat with me.
 
Thanks for reading this monthly newsletter. Please share it with your social media network, your family, friends, and neighbors. They all deserve to know that we are working hard to provide them with a better choice when they vote in November!
John Helge
MI2CD Chairperson  [email protected] 

2nd CD - January 2026 Newsletter

 MI 2nd CD Friends 

Plan now to join us for our January meeting via ZOOM on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 10am. We will be hearing from active candidates for MI2CD and other state-wide and regional offices!

Here is the ZOOM link for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82577407163?pwd=xetgNf9fyfgtcMW7bpAcaKA36JFWpi.1&jst=2
Meeting ID: 825 7740 7163
Passcode: 391222

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!
In my professional career I was fortunate to work with many very smart, creative, and innovative people. They provided me with great ideas that I gladly plagiarized and successfully adapted them to my own operation. I am so pleased that I have found that same opportunity in the MI2CD! Here is a recent email that Wexford County Democratic Party (WCDP) Chairperson Bill Allen sent to his members: 

Ringing in the New Year

A Message from the Chair

As one who rarely makes New Year resolutions because I tend to make them too daunting, I came across a suggestion today that makes sense: a one-word resolution. Focused. Manageable. Powerful.  So, I thought I would pass mine along and encourage you to join. My one word for 2026 is COMMIT.

And, if you do not have any urgent need to commit elsewhere, let me suggest that we all can increase our commitment to the Wexford County Democratic Party.

Here are some specific things we each can do in 2026 to move forward together:
  • Join the Michigan Democratic Party;
  • Attend Wexford County Democratic Party monthly meetings;
  • Donate to help the WCDP Billboard Project;
  • Regularly open the Tuesday Action Newsletter;
  • Attend our scheduled political and/or social events;
  • Attend Friday morning coffee hour;
  • Join a WCDP committee;
  • Volunteer with our community service initiative;
  • March in the Mesick, Cadillac, Harrietta, and Manton community parades;
  • Join us this summer for our roadside pop-ups;
  • Volunteer in a political campaign;
  • Make a one-time or recurring donation to the WCDP;
  • Join the conversation on Facebook or Instagram;
  • VOTE as a registered MDP member at the state convention. VOTE in the primary election on Aug. 4. VOTE in the national election on Nov. 3. 
So, in 2026, let us END THE CHAOS, WORK TOGETHER, AND VOTE DEMOCRAT!
I hope you all can agree with me that this is an enormously powerful message that sums up perfectly how we can all be better focused on winning in 2026! 
 
MAGA MOOLENAAR UPDATE:
We are done sharing the stupid stuff that the incumbent is doing to waste our time and money! By now, those of you who read this monthly newsletter know just how ineffective he has been. It is time for change! It is time now to focus on our candidates and choose the one who is best aligned to defeat this poor excuse for a US Rep and get someone in Washington who will properly represent all the people in the Michigan Second Congressional District, not just those who contribute to his campaign!
HERE IS ONE OF THE CANDIDATES PROVIDING THE ALTERNATIVE!
Picture
We need someone willing to communicate, collaborate, and compromise instead of refusing to do the job we elected them to do! Every resident of the 2nd CD deserves better representation in Washington!

This month we are featuring an update on his campaign from Ben Ambrose. All officially filed candidates have been asked to provide regular updates on their campaigns to share in this monthly newsletter. 

Over the last several months, my campaign has become something rare in Michigan’s 2nd District: a serious, disciplined effort with a clear and credible path to victory. For the first time in over a decade, defeating John Moolenaar is truly possible.

Since launching this campaign, we have built a professional operation from the ground up. We are meeting voters across the district, expanding our volunteer base, and finalizing ballot access with petition signatures nearly complete. Our message is resonating.

Fundraising has been a major milestone. We have raised more than any other candidate in this race to date, and in recent decades, and are on track to close out the year strong by December 31st. This progress allows us to transition into the next phase of the campaign: scaling targeted voter outreach, strengthening communications, and preparing for aggressive advertising in 2026.

A series of major fundraising events begins January 31st, alongside smaller grassroots events designed to grow our coalition and expand participation.

Support for this campaign continues to grow across key constituencies. 
  • The Farmers Union — both statewide and nationally — is actively engaged in this race thanks in large part to the leadership and endorsement of Dennis Kellogg, Vice President of the Michigan Farmers Union, and a strong advocate for rural communities. 
  • The Center for Freethought PAC has formally endorsed our campaign, and we remain active with Honor PAC and Governor Whitmer’s Fight Like Hell PAC, both of whom are closely monitoring the race. 
  • National Democrats are paying attention as well now, with the DCCC signaling increased engagement as we move into Q2 of 2026 for the first time in Michigan's history.
We recently completed a Veterans Forum and have set a new standard for candidate engagement across the state. By moving away from traditional open-chair formats and toward focused, solutions-oriented forums marketed to undecided voters, we have created a model that other campaigns are now replicating.

This campaign has built momentum unlike anything this district has seen before. With a formidable team, experienced leadership, and growing national support, we are entering this next phase prepared, organized, and ready to win.

Benjamin Ambrose:  phone: 231.740.1223  
email:  [email protected]                      
Website:  www.ambrose4congress.com
                                                           ===================================================​
We want to wish all the best to Rich Carrizales who has decided to drop out of the 2026 race. Rich has some very progressive ideas about how to address affordability issues that make a lot of sense. We know that Rich will remain active in the MI2CD and will support our pick to win in November!

FOCUSED ISSUE FORUMS!
We will continue to challenge all twenty county Democratic party organizations to plan and execute at least one “FOCUSED ISSUE FORUM” meeting every 90 days between now and November of 2026.

The MI2CD candidates all indicated that they believe these “kitchen table issue” forums will have a better chance of attracting the independent and Democrat-curious voters that we will need to win in 2026. Your county forums could include but are not limited to discussions on these challenges:
  • Rural Healthcare where you could invite these subject matter experts.
  • Public Education where you could invite these subject matter experts.
  • Affordable Housing where you could invite these subject matter experts.
    • A local builder or realtor
    • A member of your regional or local public housing authority
    • A representative from MSHDA About MSHDA
    • A representative from your local Chamber of Commerce
  • Affordable Childcare where you could invite these subject matter experts.

FINAL WORDS:  Click on the 'Chair LTE' tab and review my letter to the editor I submitted and was published in the December 2025 newspapers in Cadillac, Ludington, and Manistee:
 
John Helge
MI2CD Chairperson
[email protected]
616-915-2403

2nd CD - December 2025 Newsletter

2nd CD - November 2025 Newsletter


Contact Information:
John Helge, Chairperson
[email protected]
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MI2Dems
Twitter: twitter.com/MI2CDDems?s=09
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