Newsletter - Keeping Up With Callie 12/22/2025 |
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Hi John,
As we head into the holiday season, we want to extend our deepest thanks to our incredible volunteers, generous donors, and loyal readers for all the time, support, and encouragement you’ve given to this campaign. We hope you’re able to enjoy a joyful and restful holiday with your loved ones.
When the new year begins, we’ll be right back at it — kicking off January with door-knocking and phone-banking as we continue building momentum and connecting with voters across the district. This movement is strong, the people are behind us, and I’m confident we’re going to defeat Jack Bergman and finally deliver real results for Upper and Northern Michigan. |
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We have new and exciting content coming out on social media. Take a moment to follow our campaign by clicking the icons below! |
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Issue Spotlight: Spread Joy |
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The holiday season is a powerful reminder of how much small acts of kindness and joy can mean. Take a moment to spread warmth, check in on one another, and lead with compassion. It makes a difference — especially for those who may be feeling overwhelmed or alone during this time of year.
Recent stories highlight how loneliness, hate, and greed hurt us: Just this month, we had a shooting at Brown University, the attack at a Hanukkah celebration meant to terrorize our Jewish community, the loss of Veteran Affairs jobs, which support our veterans, and the ongoing affordability crisis impacting everyone, but particularly our farmers struggling quietly with stress and isolation as funding for mental health support has been reduced.
In Northern and Upper Michigan, we are reminded every day that compassion is stronger than fear and community is stronger than division. Neighbors step up for neighbors — whether through Yoopers United, which makes it easier for people to volunteer and meet real needs close to home; hunters sharing their harvest through programs like Hunters for Hope to stock local food pantries; organizations like Project Feed the Kids, ensuring families have access to healthy meals; or local news stations connecting veterans with the support they’ve earned. These acts of kindness may not always make headlines, but they define who we are. They demonstrate that when challenges arise, our response is to care more deeply, give more generously, and ensure that no one is left behind.
While hardship or division wears us down, fighting for what we love - our land, families, and communities will always be our greatest source of strength. Click these additional resources below to find information on mental health awareness, rejecting antisemitism, and supporting our veterans, as well as to learn more about how we can build the affordable life we all deserve.
Mental health Veterans' mental health
Veterans navigating the holidays Fighting anti-semitism
Building an affordable L.I.F.E |
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I recently spent time in Houghton Lake and Roscommon, and I’m so grateful for the warm welcome and meaningful conversations I had with people across the community. I visited the Houghton Lake Senior Center, stopped by the Roscommon County Veterans Affairs office, and hosted a meet and greet where I was able to listen directly to what’s on folks’ minds. No matter where I went, I heard the same message: people are feeling the squeeze of rising costs and want leaders who will fight for affordability.
This is why I am running on the affordable L.I.F.E platform, because it’s focused on ensuring seniors, veterans, and working families can thrive. |
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Listen to our interview with Mike Grisdale, where we talk about the importance of having representation that truly listens — and how our L.I.F.E. platform is focused on delivering an affordable life and real results for the people of our district. |
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Listen to our recent interview with Nick Rhudy here |
Read about our affordable L.I.F.E. platform in the Daily Press here |
Watch this MSNBC video with our volunteer and veteran, Paul Kratochwill |
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| This week, we’re celebrating our incredible Field Captain, Brian Hoduski of Houghton County.
Brian has been working to recruit volunteers and build a strong Callie Barr team in Houghton. Thanks to his leadership and dedication, he has already recruited 17 volunteers, and the team continues to grow every day. Brian’s commitment is helping us connect with more voters and strengthen our campaign across the district. Thank you, Brian, and thank you to the entire Houghton team for your hard work and enthusiasm! |
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Take five minutes to share your incredible story with us by filling out your story submission form. We want to know what YOU are passionate about. What’s an important issue in your community that we should know about?
Reach out to [email protected] if you want to join our communications team. We want to hear from everyone, and we can do that with your support. |
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People like you power this campaign: |
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Donate: Campaign contributions directly impact our campaign's success, and we need your help. Donations are used to power the essentials of reaching voters - like printing literature, running ads, supporting staff, and keeping events and outreach efforts strong across the district. |
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Volunteer: Volunteering supports our campaign by building people-centered change. Expanding outreach, strengthening community connections, and showing voters that this movement is driven by neighbors, not corporations. |
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Host an Event: We are currently looking for supporters who are willing to host an event for me. We need to set up more fundraisers and meet-and-greets across the state, and we cannot do it without you! |
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Campaign Store: Want some Callie Barr swag? Go to our campaign store and buy our merch! Your purchase helps fund our campaign, and you get some great apparel. |
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Thank you for believing in this campaign and the future we’re building together. I'll see you on the road! |
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