Harris, Biden, Castro and more: Where round 2 debate candidates have been in Michigan

By: Susan J. Demas - July 31, 2019 2:53 pm

The chaotic spin room after the first Detroit debate | Andrew Roth

Updated, 9:23 p.m. with new events Thursday from Harris and Biden

It’s round two of the Democratic presidential debates in Detroit, so the Advance has rounded up all the contenders’ previous trips to Michigan.

The second round of Democratic presidential debates is July 30 and 31 in Detroit | Andrew Roth

The lineup Wednesday night is: Vice President Joe Biden, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, entrepreneur Andrew Yang, and former U.S. Housing Secretary Julián Castro.

Only DeBlasio, Gabbard and Bennet hadn’t stumped in Michigan before coming in for the debate.

We already took a look at campaign stops for the contenders debating Tuesday.

Warren, Buttigieg, Sanders and more: A look back at tonight’s debate hopefuls’ Michigan stops

Please to enjoy part two of our compilation of candidates’ Mitten State love:

Kamala Harris

Harris has practically moved into Detroit since appearing at the July 24 national NAACP forum along with 10 other candidates. Afterward, she spoke at a rally for Detroit security officers, which South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg did on Wednesday, as well.

The California U.S. senator visited two Detroit businesses – the Narrow Way Café and Good Cakes & Bakes – on Monday afternoon, just before picking up the endorsement of the Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus. The Advance also reported that Harris has been spotted at non-campaign events in the D, including a music concert on Saturday.

She is scheduled at 2:15 p.m. Thursday to “walk a day in the shoes” of Detroit security officer, Delores McDaniel.*

Harris also keynoted the May Detroit NAACP dinner and did several Wayne County campaign stops the next day.

Harris lauds teachers as ‘superheroes’ in 2-day Wayne County campaign swing

Julián Castro

Castro held a fundraiser Monday evening in Detroit. He became the first 2020 presidential candidate to visit Flint in June, when he toured the Flint Farmers’ Market and held a town hall.

Private prison wins federal contract to house immigrants in Michigan

Jay Inslee

After unveiling his Community Climate Justice Plan in Detroit and touring the Flint Development Center on Monday – including shooting some hoops with Flint kids – Inslee went to a Detroit mosque and held a roundtable with Muslim leaders Tuesday morning.

Inslee made his first visit to Michigan in June, touring the state’s most polluted ZIP code and holding an environmental justice roundtable.

Inslee talks climate change, water shutoffs during Detroit visit

Cory Booker

The New Jersey U.S. senator often touts his Detroit roots and spoke to a conference of African American local officials in Detroit in May.

Booker came back to the city last week for the NAACP forum. Following the event, he met with local officials, including Mayor Karen Weaver and state Rep. Sheldon Neeley (D-Flint) – who is challenging her in this year’s mayoral race.

On Thursday after the debate, Booker will host another event in Detroit. Doors open at 5 p.m. for the event at Saint Andrew’s Hall.

Booker’s upbeat message resonates with Black officials in Detroit

Joe Biden

The former veep took awhile to make it to the Mitten (although he did start his campaign late).

And as backer Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan has noted, Biden has put in plenty of time in Michigan over the years, most recently headlining a 2018 Lansing campaign rally for now-U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) and speaking at former U.S. Rep. John Dingell’s funeral in February.

Last week, Biden did the NAACP forum, had lunch at a Dearborn restaurant with Duggan and others and then held a fundraiser in Detroit. On Thursday, Biden is slated to do an event in Detroit.*

Biden touts African American support during SE Michigan swing

Kirsten Gillibrand

Gillibrand first campaigned in Michigan in March, with an MSNBC town hall and a Fems for Dems event attended by both Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel — both in Oakland County.

The New York U.S. senator took a bus tour through Michigan on July 12, doing a gun control event in Birmingham, stopping in Flint and meeting with Mayor Karen Weaver, and holding a Lansing meet and greet.

Gillibrand says water is a human right, touts Green New Deal

Michael Bennet

The Colorado U.S. senator arrived in Michigan on Tuesday before his debate and talked about workforce development and health care with union apprentices in Troy on Tuesday afternoon.

Andrew Yang

Yang was the first candidate to visit Michigan in the 2020 cycle, holding a rally in November 2018. The entrepreneur also did an event in Detroit in May pitching his signature universal basic income idea.

He held fundraiser at TechTown Detroit on Tuesday evening.

Andrew Yang pitches universal basic income in downtown Detroit

Tulsi Gabbard

After the debate Wednesday night, Gabbard — who ran a commercial during Tuesday’s debate — will visit her official debate watch party at Bookie’s Bar and Grill.

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Susan J. Demas

Susan J. Demas is a 21-year journalism veteran and one of the state’s foremost experts on Michigan politics, appearing on MSNBC, CNN, NPR and WKAR-TV’s “Off the Record.” In addition to serving as Editor-in-Chief, she is the Advance’s chief columnist, writing on women, LGBTQs, the state budget, the economy and more. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Farough & Associates, Michigan’s premier political communications firm. For almost five years, Susan was the Editor and Publisher of Inside Michigan Politics, the most-cited political newsletter in the state. Susan’s award-winning political analysis has run in more than 80 national, international and regional media outlets, including the Guardian U.K., NBC News, the New York Times, the Detroit News and MLive. She is the only Michigan journalist to be named to the Washington Post’s list of “Best Political Reporters,” the Huffington Post’s list of “Best Political Tweeters” and the Washington Post’s list of “Best Political Bloggers.” Susan was the recipient of a prestigious Knight Foundation fellowship in nonprofits and politics. She served as Deputy Editor for MIRS News and helped launch the Michigan Truth Squad, the Center for Michigan’s fact-checking project. She started her journalism career reporting on the Iowa caucuses for The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette. Susan has hiked over 4,000 solo miles across four continents and climbed more than 70 mountains. She also enjoys dragging her husband and two teenagers along, even if no one else wants to sleep in a tent anymore.