Saturday, Feb. 22, was an eventfully long day for the Michigan Democratic Party (MDP), as thousands of Democrats convened at the downtown Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center for the 2025 MDP Spring State Convention. With the stakes now heightened by significant Republican victories last November – nationally and statewide – Michigan Democrats turned out with the focus to reboot, move forward, and win future political races beginning in 2026.
However, to move forward, Democrats at the Convention had to first elect a new leadership team. Lavora Barnes, Michigan Democratic Party Chair since 2019, chose not to run for re-election following last November’s election. Barnes was the first African American elected to chair the MDP.
Former State Sen. Curtis Hertel, who later served as director of Legislative Affairs for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, was successful in his Feb. 22 bid to chair the Michigan Democratic Party moving forward.
“I’m ready to roll up my sleeves to ensure Democrats can deliver at every level of the ballot in Michigan,” Hertel said after securing the victory as Party Chair. “As we face the fiercest test of our democracy in our lifetime, Michigan Democrats are stepping up to fight back and protect our communities all across the state. We are going to hold Republicans accountable for each and every time they’ve sold out middle-class Michiganders to pad the pockets of billionaires.”
Hertel will lead a multiracial leadership team that includes African American Portia L. Roberson (First-Vice Chair) and Bangladeshi American Dr. Shahin Nazmul Hassan (Second-Vice Chair).
“The day was long, but at the end of the day, we came out with people energized and eager to get to work on what’s going to happen in 2026 and then again in 2028,” said Roberson, the CEO of Focus: HOPE, and one of eight commissioners on the Michigan Civil Rights Commission. “We have had time to lick our wounds and in some ways, point fingers to whose fault it was in last year’s elections. However, now it’s time to get back to the work at hand, meaning how Democrats can do better and address the issues caused by this current administration.”
Roberson said the Hertel-led team will be doing a lot of listening to Democrats statewide, adding that it will be critical for the Party to present better and more effective messaging on broad issues impacting Michiganders, including civil and human/women rights, inflation, employment and workforce growth, and other kitchen table issues that matter to everyone.
Hertel’s pathway to victory took an interesting turn, as his opponent, Al Williams, despite campaigning vigorously for MDP Chair for months, chose to step aside on the day of the election after discussions with Hertel and key Democratic leaders.
“I wanted to step aside and promote unity for the Democratic Party,” Williams later told the Michigan Chronicle, adding that despite reports to the contrary, he met all requirements necessary to have remained in the voting process if he chose. “This was not about me dropping out or quitting; it really was about unifying, building, and strengthening our party. I am still fighting for Party values, fighting for our members, and fighting for improving the quality of life for all Michiganders.”
Hertel touted Williams’ decision and later spoke about him in front of thousands of Democrats packed into the convention hall.
“I want to thank my good friend Al Williams for his tenaciousness and fearlessness which are exactly the attributes this Democratic Party needs to move forward,” Hertel said of his opponent. “And I am excited to work with Al and his decades of political organizing, coalition building, and grassroots activism to move MDP forward to where it needs to be to win the elections ahead consistently.”
Earlier in the day, the Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus voted to return Keith Williams to its highest position as Chair. However, according to several sources in the Black Caucus, Williams’ opponent, Brandon Jessup, has mounted an appeal pertaining to the voting process/procedures conducted for Chair.
While Williams was victorious, he declined to comment on his win. Williams, however, promised the Michigan Chronicle that he would speak to the newspaper about the race and his new tenure as MDP Black Caucus Chair in the near future. The Chronicle also attempted to speak with Jessup about the race via phone and text. He responded through text messages that “his coalition was preparing a press release” about the election and he would send it to this writer on Sunday evening (Feb. 23). Jessup later communicated that he would not be commenting on the matter until Monday (Feb. 24).
In addition to the race for the MDP Black Caucus Chair, numerous other Constituency Caucus Meetings and Congressional District Caucus Meetings were held.
The daylong Convention featured motivational and rally-oriented speeches from many of Michigan’s top elected officials, including Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, Congressman Shri Thanedar, Congresswoman Debbie Dingle, former Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence, Congresswoman Haley Stevens, Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, and others.
Following her official announcement in January 2025 that she was running for Michigan governor in 2026, Benson delivered an electrifying speech about her bid for the governorship at the Convention.
“These are challenging times, but this is a moment to remember who we are and why we are here,” Benson said. “If you think this is the time to check out, give up, or stand on the sidelines, think again. This is our moment to define who we are. As your next governor, I will fight to make sure that everyone, regardless of where you come from, what you look like, and who you love, is safe and is welcome in this great state.”
As the Convention ended and Michigan Democrats were leaving, many appeared ready for the days, weeks, and months ahead leading to the 2026 and 2028 elections.
“We got our behinds kicked last November by the Republicans,” Metro Detroiter M. Joey Williamson said. “However, we are regrouping and rebranding ourselves to be stronger. We must continue to identify the issues that mean the most to all voters and have viable platforms of solutions to address those issues in impactful ways. Democrats have to get it right in 2026 – or get left.”
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