The first ads appeared as billboards along rural highways in northern Michigan in April 2020. Covid was in full swing but the roads in and out of Traverse City were busy. Grand Traverse County was solidly red, most of the surrounding counties redder, so we stuck with subjects everyone might agree on: clean water, affordable healthcare, and the power of the vote.

When the billboards caught the attention of the Michigan Democratic Party’s Rural Caucus, we added postcards, yard signs and social media to the mix – and the messages spread throughout the State. Together with Michigan’s grassroots and County Dem groups, we made a difference: in 2020 rural Michigan voted 3 points bluer than it had in 2018.

In 2022, we created more ads and built a website called VoteBlueMichigan. Democratic and unaffiliated groups and candidates downloaded thousands of digital files for free. Along with the work of many others, our messages once again helped: Democrats flipped the Michigan State House and Senate for the first all-blue legislature in 40 years.

We are three retired advertising creatives. We began our careers at Doner, in Southfield (Detroit) Michigan, in the early 80s. Ronald Reagan was President. We volunteered to create these ads because we love our country, and because making ads is fun.

Mike Ward, Shelley Cowan, Craig Piechura