Meet the Delta College Democrats

By Andrew Hornbacher

Delta students are taking on many democratic initiatives. This is evidenced by two of Delta’s newest clubs: the Collegiate Democrats at Delta College and the Delta College Republican Chapter. These are just two new ways that Delta students can get involved in politics.

We spoke with the chairs of both clubs.

Joshua McTaggart and Giuseppe Pellerito, two politically involved students at Delta, co-preside over the Collegiate Democrats while Kyle Ceci advises the club. Here’s what the two co-presidents had to say:

Q: What does being a liberal/progressive mean to you?

Pellerito: It means to go along with the march of progress.

McTaggart: Fighting for civil and environmental justice [as well as] labor and education reform.

Q: How long have you been politically active?

Pellerito: I worked the 2024 general election. Later in 2024 and the beginning of 2025, I began Pioneers Rising here at Delta College, which is a nonpartisan civic engagement group.

McTaggart: I’ve been interested in politics since 2016 when Trump and Hillary first entered the stage. Then I went through Government and AP Government. This was the first presidential election that I could vote in . . . it took me about 45 minutes to get through the line and fill out my ballot, and I came back out and 300 yards from the building was a table for the Saginaw County Democratic Party, [I met] Kristen McDonald Rivet, and then I volunteered for her congressional team.

Q: How have your views and values shifted over the last five years?

Pellerito: I grew up in a very conservative environment. I was conservative through most of high school. After high school, my values shifted to the radical left. Not radical like a communist, but a democratic socialist.

McTaggart: I’ve become more open to leftist values and policy. I considered myself an independent up until last year.

Q: What beliefs do you feel strongest about?

Pellerito: Human rights and liberty. Everyone should be able to live how they want if they aren’t hurting anyone else. More egalitarian economic access and wealth redistribution.

McTaggart: Equity, inclusion, equality, and environment. The food we buy should be safe and nutritious. We need to combat systemic racism.

Q: Why start the Delta College Collegiate Democrats?

A: Why not? Having a Delta organization allows people from lower economic backgrounds and educational opportunities to participate, also people going into the trades. Helps put Delta on the map.

Q: What should people know about the group?

A: Our door is open. We are always willing to engage and talk with people. We are always here. We’re new, still getting set up and established. We’re looking for members and possibly some more [Executive] Board members.

Q: Do you guys plan to be active at local events?

A: Very much so! We’re looking to partner with WOMAN out of Midland, Bay City Resistance. We want to partner with some local candidates in races and potentially help with knocking [on] doors.

Q: On the Delta College website, the Collegiate Democrats mission statement is “to advance Democratic values and empower the voices of college students.” Can you expand on what ‘Democratic’ means in this context?

A: Means supporting the democratic process, the power of people, and taking out the power from the channeled executives and from, especially, money. We don’t want oligarchy, we don’t want authoritarianism; we want democracy, we want democratic power. A more utilitarian government, where the government works to serve the greatest amount of people, not the special interest groups, oligarchs, and people padding their pockets.

Q: By “empowering the voices of college students,” do you mean that you are open to debating groups or people that have opposing views on campus?

A: Yes, it’s an important part of the process. We can agree on a lot of the same issues, just not solutions. You’ll never change anyone’s mind by coming at them like an enemy.

Q: How frequently do you meet?

A: Bi-weekly. We’ll have flyers soon.

Q: Summarize what the Collegiate Democrats is in your own words.

Pellerito: A student-led organization of people who share democratic values.

McTaggart: Passionate students that care about our future and the future of higher education.

Q: Are you going to be reaching out to progressive groups for support?

A: Yeah, any of the ones we can.

Q: What does it mean to have a club for liberals/progressives at Delta College?

A: It means a lot. It’s about building and sustaining a safe space for people where they otherwise might not, a place for people to be seen and heard. It’s important for breaking the stigma around politics.

Q: 25 years from now, what legacy do you see the Collegiate Democrats having?

A: An ongoing legacy as an organization that creates statewide change and provides the skills and knowledge for people to run for office.

Q: What would you say to those who’ve rejected both parties and are searching for alternatives?

A: I don’t blame them, but looking elsewhere can often be misplaced. We have to act together. As long as you can identify what’s right and wrong, you are going in the right direction. You have to play the game in order to change it.

Q: Would the Delta Collegiate Democrats be willing to work with the Delta Republicans on projects for the betterment of our school, campuses and communities?

A: Yeah. Most of them are just people, people with concerns, people with fears and motivations and many of the same ones as you and I do. We address the same problems, but with different solutions.

Q: Are there any misconceptions about young Democrats that you’d like to dispel?

A: That we aren’t progressive enough. We are firmly in support of human rights. We are more aligned with the Progressive Caucus than the establishment.

Q: What are some changes the Collegiate Democrats would like to see around campus?

A: We’d love for clubs to have their own ‘.edu’ addresses. [We] like what our BEDI department has done with destigmatizing mental health. Actively break down the stigma when talking about politics.

Q: What would you say to someone on the fence about joining the Collegiate Democrats?

A: You don’t have to join but show up to a meeting and see what we are about. You will be safe with us. You’re aligning yourself with people willing to fight for you. It’s a great way to find like-minded people.