(Source: MIRS.news, Published 12/16/2024) Former Sen. Curtis Hertel announced Monday his bid to be the next Michigan Democratic Party (MDP) Chair and that he has support from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and numerous other Democratic leaders.

Hertel, who ran for the 7th congressional district seat this fall, has been in Democratic politics for much of his adult life, in either staff or elected positions.

"The stakes for our state have never been higher," he said. "With Donald TRUMP coming back to the White House, I'm committed to doing everything we can to stand up to his extremist agenda, win back our Democratic trifecta, and defend the progress we have made here in Michigan.

"Re-energizing our party is going to take a fighter and that's exactly what I plan to be, because I know when Michigan Democrats give it everything we have for working people, we can win and win everywhere." 

Upon launching his bid for party chair, Hertel was endorsed by dozens of Michigan elected officials and Democratic leaders including: Whitmer, U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham), U.S. Rep.-elect Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City), 13th Congressional District Chair Jonathan Kinloch and 13 other party leaders, and 28 state legislators.

Other candidates actively running to succeed three-term MDP Chair Lavora Barnes include MDP Rural Caucus Chair Mark Ludwig and activist Al Williams, according to former chair Mark Brewer on his podcast, "A Republic, If You Can Keep It."