Throughout multiple guest speakers at the Michigan State University College Democrats’ first meeting of the semester, one message came through: Democrats need young voters now more than ever.
In a room of about 70 people, MSU College Democrats welcomed three candidates for Michigan’s upcoming November elections: Secretary of State candidate Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, State Senate District 28 candidate Rashida Harrison and Attorney General candidate Eli Savit. All were joined by Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum.
“We all need all of you to show up like you've never shown up before," Gilchrist said.
“Donald Trump is trying to hijack your ability to vote and hijack our ability to run elections,” Gilchrist said. “The U.S. Constitution says that is our power and our responsibility, not a corrupt president, not the federal government."
Just last month, the U.S. Department of Justice sent federal election monitors to polling locations in East Lansing, Lansing and Detroit for the primary election on Aug. 4. Federal election monitors were deployed to five other states as part of the Trump administration's attempts to quell election fraud amid debunked claims that the 2020 election was stolen.
"When they try to come at your votes or your voting rights, they gotta go through this 6-foot-8 guy," Gilchrist joked, drawing laughs from the crowd.
Gilchrist told The State News that holding the Trump administration accountable is paramount to protecting Michigan voters.
“We are suing them in court to block them when they take legal action and we are setting clear rules about what they can do when they come to Michigan," Gilchrist said.
Gilchrist previously ran in the Michigan gubernatorial race against current Michigan Democratic nominee Jocelyn Benson, who is currently Secretary of State, before dropping out in January.
The room was filled with a heavy sense of momentum following Dr. Abdul El-Sayed’s victory in the Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate primary. Students donned El-Sayed campaign pins, and mentions of the left-wing political outsider were sprinkled throughout the speakers’ remarks. El-Sayed will now face Trump-endorsed candidate Mike Rogers, a former U.S. Representative, in November.
