Traverse City and Sault Ste Marie, MI — Community organizations across Michigan’s First Congressional District have launched the MI-01 Meet the Candidates Project, a coordinated, non-partisan series of public forums that will bring congressional primary candidates directly to communities across the district in early 2026.

This is the first time a district-wide series of moderated candidate forums has been organized in Michigan’s First District. From February through April, local Indivisible groups and their community partners will host public forums in communities spanning the entire First District, from Ironwood in the western U.P to Sterling, just north of Bay City.

This project honors the size, character, and capacity of each participating community. The events will be in-person, with some of them also accessible on-line.

All events will be moderated and time will be allowed for some audience questions

• Non-partisan, with all primary candidates invited

• Moderated and structured

• Grounded in civility and respectful dialogue

• Open and accessible to the public