CHICAGO (Michigan News Source) – The Democratic National Convention kicked off in Chicago, Illinois on Monday at the United Center, a large indoor arena known for hosting various major events, including sports games and concerts. It’s also the home arena for the NBA’s Chicago Bulls and the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks.

Despite Vice President Kamala Harris officially securing the Democratic presidential nomination through an early August online voice vote, the “show” still goes on, highlighting speakers like President Biden, former President and first lady Barack and Michelle Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, UAW President Shawn Fain and many more.

Roll call redux: Democrats work to ignite the Harris hype with a symbolic encore performance.

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In what PBS News cheekily dubs a convention with “less suspense but more pizzazz” the Democrats decided to roll out their in-person symbolic gathering, giving them a prime opportunity, many say, to rebrand Harris and to project Democratic enthusiasm for their new presidential nominee.

PBS News refers to this as a “re-staging” of the official presidential nomination vote that initially took place with Democratic delegates on August 5th. The delegates cast their “ceremonial” votes for Harris on Tuesday.

The media outlet goes on to say that the Democratic National Committee calls the re-staging a “celebratory roll call” and they also said in a statement that the event would give delegates the opportunity to “celebrate the nomination” of Harris, who is the first woman of color to lead a major party presidential ticket. And celebrate they did with what the Associated Press has called a “dance party” with music specific to each state.

Motown momentum: Michigan delegation hits the right notes with Harris endorsement.

As the roll call votes echoed throughout the room, Michigan’s delegation had their moment, underscored by the beats of Detroit native Eminem’s “Lose Yourself.” Lavora Barnes, the Michigan DNC Party chair, proudly declared, “Michigan has an incredible story. We put the world on wheels and we built the middle class.”

With outgoing Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (rocking her trademark “Barbie” pink as the DNC Vice Chair), the duo also took center stage, proudly touting their record of tax cuts, defending freedoms, and reviving Michigan’s manufacturing sector. Amidst the fanfare, the trio announced 125 Michigan delegate votes for Harris – though they initially fumbled the number despite trying to read it together in unison.

The ceremonial votes for Harris were cast on Tuesday night in what was the first in-person roll call since the 2016 convention in the state Philadelphia. In 2020, the roll call was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the tradition continued until this year.

Michigan’s political heavyweights have descended on the Windy City.

The Democratic Party lined up Michigan politicians all week to rally for Harris including many from Michigan. Elected officials attending the convention in addition to Gov. Whitmer and Senator Stabenow include Lieutenant Gov. Garlin Gilcrest, AG Dana Nessel, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, and Senator Gary Peters.

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Governor Whitmer kicked off the week by posting a cheerful video from the DNC in Chicago on X. She was wearing a jean jacket and a flag pin and said she went to Chicago very “cutesy” and “demure” to take care of business. The word “demure” is an adjective used to describe someone, typically a woman, who is reserved, modest, and shy in behavior or appearance – something that critics would probably say is not at all the description of the often swearing and in-your-face governor of Michigan.

The governor spoke to North Carolinians in Chicago in a hotel ballroom on Tuesday and was a “rock star” according to the Detroit Free Press. Gov. Whitmer urged them to work hard to elect Harris. On Thursday, Gov. Whitmer will be a featured speaker at the convention.

Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, who’s typically the one holding down the fort when Whitmer is out of state was also living it up in the Windy City. On Sunday, he posted on X, “I couldn’t be more excited to be in Chicago for the @DemConvention! Be sure to follow me on Instagram to get a behind-the-scenes look at everything happening this week.”

The state empties out to join the party in Chicago.

Michigan’s Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Attorney General Dana Nessel couldn’t resist the allure of Chicago either. A photo of Benson at the convention was posted with the words “keeping elections free and fair” and once again using the word “demure.”

AG Nessel’s X account posted about her visit to Chicago, saying that she “participated in a panel discussion today with the Attorneys General of New York, Illinois & California to compare their states’ approaches on issues like organized retail crime, data breaches, artificial intelligence & more.”

On Tuesday night, Senator Gary Peters was also at the convention, rallying support for Harris. In his speech, he said, “Kamala Harris and Tim Walz grew up just like me. I know they will fight for all of us. They will make it easier to raise our families and to retire with dignity.”

Peters’ presence, according to USA Today and others, was meant to appeal to union workers and working-class families. He told the crowd, “In Michigan, we believe we have to build an economy that grows the middle class. And we know that when unions succeed, all workers win.”

When the cat’s away, who’s the governor anyway?

The Michigan Constitution has a handy succession plan for when the governor is out of state or otherwise incapacitated. Typically, that means the Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General take turns playing “acting governor.” But with all three of them mingling with the political elite in Chicago, things get a little murky, leaving the state with a bit of a leadership vacuum.

Even Mark Brewer, former Michigan Democratic Party Chair, asked on X, “If Michigan’s top 4 elected executive officials are in Chicago who’s the acting governor?

Succession shuffle: who’s minding the store when everyone’s out of state?

With the top Michigan Democrats out of the state, the line of succession extends to other officials, such as Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks and Speaker of the House Joe Tate, who can step up to the plate if need be. But guess what? They’re in Chicago, too according to photos from the Detroit News.

In addition to the “succession to governorship” in the state Constitution, there is also the Emergency Interim Executive Succession Act to deal with such circumstances.

In the state Constitution it says, “If the governor or the person in line of succession to serve as governor is absent from the state, or suffering under an inability, the powers and duties of the office of the governor shall devolve in order of precedence until the absence or inability giving rise to the devolution of powers ceases.”

In the Emergency Interim Executive Succession Act, it says that the governor chooses five interim successors to the governor’s powers and duties and specifies their order of succession. This list is not publicly available, however, and when asked who will be in charge of the state during the absence of the multitude of elected Democrats this week, it has been reported that Lt. Gilchrist told Rep. Jennifer M. Hill (D-Marquette) that it would be unelected Michigan State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks.

Maybe it’s better that the politicians are gone and Michiganders are left alone?

So while Democrats cheer and strategize in Chicago, Michigan residents might be continuing to wonder who exactly is minding the store back home with no public statement coming from the Whitmer administration. Then again, some might argue that a government on pause isn’t the worst thing in the world.