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Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Brandon Dillon is not expected to face a significant challenge in his bid for re-election on Saturday, but new activists and current leaders will compete for a series of caucus, congressional district and central committee seats.(Photo: Detroit News file)

Detroit Michigan Democrats are gathering Saturday at the Cobo Center in Detroit, where theyll look to regroup after a series of stinging election losses and choose new officials who will lead the party into the 2018 cycle.

State party chairman Brandon Dillon is not expected to face a significant challenge in his bid for re-election, but new activists and current leaders will compete for a series of caucus, congressional district and central committee seats.

Two separate groups inspired by Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a 2016 presidential candidate and democratic socialist, are hoping to breathe new life into the party by engaging the grassroots. The two organizations are at odds, however, and are promoting separate candidates for various party positions.

Leaders of Michigan for Revolution have blasted "establishment" Democrats and say they want to "revolutionize" the state party. Michigan to Believe in, meanwhile, has worked with labor leaders to deveop a joint "progressive unity slate" of convention candidates.

Just months after President Donald Trump became the first Republican to win Michigan since 1988, Democrats are plotting to return the state to the "blue" column in 2018. Voters next year will pick a new governor, attorney general, secretary of state and decide races for the Michigan Legislature and Congress.

Dillon has spent months traveling Michigan and talking to activists about his plan to refocus on local parties and candidates, retrain local leaders and activists and rebuild the Democratic brand. He's promised to organize and rebuild the party as he and other Democrats "resist" Trump.

East Lansing Democrat Gretchen Whitmer, who was the first high-profile candidate to announce her 2018 campaign for governor, is expected to make the rounds at Saturday's convention, dropping by various caucus meetings to discuss her plans for the state.

U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, who is also considering a run for governor, is expected to speak at the convention and have a large presence at Cobo, where his supporters plan to wear t-shirts declaring the Flint Township Democrat "fits Michigan like a glove.

In Detroit's 13th Congressional District, Chairman Jonathan Kinloch is attempting to hold off a challenge from precinct delegate Theo Broughton, who is backed by former mayoral candidate Tom Barrow.

The race has turned negative in recent weeks, with Barrow accusing Kinloch of trying to bend the rules to allow additional voters at the convention. Kinloch has responded by comparing Barrow to Trump and calling him "Detroit's own alternative facts author."

The convention is exepcted to run through Saturday evening.

joosting@detroitnews.com

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Michigan Democrats plot new course at Cobo - The Detroit News