Curtis Hertel Jr. ascends to Michigan Democratic Party chair

Curtis Hertel Jr. ran uncontested for the Michigan Democratic Party chair race at the party’s convention Saturday
Hertel will serve in the role for the next two years when Democrats will try to win key races in 2026

Former state Sen. Curtis Hertel Jr., of East Lansing, took the helm of the Michigan Democratic Party as its chair during the party’s convention Saturday where politicians and party activists descended on downtown Detroit to chart the path forward for a party that suffered bruising defeats in November.

Hertel called for party unity Saturday evening in a previously packed ballroom that had significantly emptied out by the time he took the stage. “A party divided will never stand,” he said. “We’re not going to wait for an election year to knock doors.”

“I’m a Democrat because I believe that we are a force for good in the world. This is not a social club,” Hertel said. “You’re here because it matters.”

Like the Renaissance Center where the gathering took place, Michigan Democrats also face an uncertain future as they debate the path forward to rebuild the party after President Donald Trump won the battleground state. That journey had a slow start for some with reports of hourslong lines in the morning to obtain credentials to participate in the convention. Toward the end of day, fatigue set in.

“How many want to go home?” asked U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor, prompting some of the loudest cheers of the convention program. Too bad, she said, Democrats have work to do. Democratic elected leaders echoed her call, telling Democrats to pick themselves up after 2024 and fight back against Trump and win again.

Hertel replaces Lavora Barnes as Michigan Democratic Party chair. Barnes — who was tapped to lead the party in 2019 and served as its first Black chair — chose not to seek another term after the 2024 election.

Hertel was set to face Detroit political organizer Al Williams in the chair race Saturday, but Williams did not meet the 1,270-signature threshold required to qualify for the party’s ballot, according to Michigan Democratic Party spokesperson Tommy Kubitschek.

Hertel’s ascent to Democratic Party leadership comes on the heels of his own defeat in the last election.

In November, he ran to represent Michigan’s 7th Congressional District left open when then-U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, of Holly, launched her U.S. Senate campaign. Hertel lost his race to U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte, in one of the most competitive races in the country.

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Hertel served two terms in the Michigan Senate from 2015 through 2022. After leaving the chamber due to term limits, he joined Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration as Director of Legislative Affairs and led legislative negotiations on behalf of Whitmer during the first six months of the Michigan Democrats’ first governing trifecta in 40 years.

Hertel hails from a Michigan political dynasty. His father — Curtis Hertel — served as Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives. His uncles also served in the Michigan Legislature, and one — Dennis Hertel — also served six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Hertel’s wife is Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Elizabeth Hertel. His younger brother is state Sen. Kevin Hertel, D-St. Clair Shores.

Joining Hertel in party leadership posts, Portia Roberson will serve as First Vice Chair and Dr. Shahin Nazmul Hassan as its Second Vice Chair

In addition to Trump’s victory, Republicans in Michigan also gained control of the Michigan House of Representatives in the November election. But the election featured some races that gave Democrats something to celebrate. Slotkin won her U.S. Senate race. U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, won her competitive congressional race. And Michigan Democrats expanded their majority on the Michigan Supreme Court.

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