Committee and Affinity Group News
[See the Web Log for prior Committee News write-ups. All meeting Minutes are available on the Documents and Resources page.]
We are working on a messaging campaign for use in all media that ends with the tagline, “—you might be a Democrat,” Take a look at our current list of messages on this Google Sheet. If you have more catchy lines, please send them to secretary@bencodems.org.
- Go To Elections Committee
- Go To Platform and Resolutions
- Go To Organization Committee
- Go To Franklin County Democrats News
- Go To Ag and Rural Caucus Notes
- Go To 8th LD News
- Go To 16th LD News
- Go To Walla Walla County Democrats News
- Go To Yakima County Democrats News
- Go To 4th CD News
- Go To State Committee News
- Go To DNC News
- Go To Tri-City Democrats News
- Go To League of Women Voters News
- Go To Badger Club News
- Go To Fix Democracy First News
- Go to Faith Action Network
- Go to Indivisible
- Go to ACLU
- Go to National Democratic Training Center
- Go to Emerge
- Good of the Order
From the Chair
General Meeting – Thursday July 27
Delivering Results from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Elections Committee
Manka Dhingra is running for Washington Attorney General
Bob Ferguson is running for Washington Governor
Document on Partisan Endorsements in Nonpartisan Elections
Complete Guide to Political Fundraising
Campaign Kickoff — Tri Cities
Join us in Pasco for the second stop on Bob’s statewide campaign kickoff!
Saturday, September 9th
11:45am — doors open at 11:30am
Address upon RSVP
RSVP is free but space is limited! Please RSVP by August 24th to secure your spot.
Here is the RSVP link for the Tri Cities event.
Across the U.S., public education is under attack! The right-wing is building grass roots organizations to attack public schools, teachers, and school board members.
This extremism is underway right here in Washington. The Ron DeSantis manufactured “Moms for Liberty” are active in our state. They have stated two goals nationally: to get control of local school boards and to win the State Superintendency in the twelve states that elect this role. Our state is one of those twelve, and I am up for reelection in 2024.
I am running for reelection to support and uphold PUBLIC education, and I would be honored to have your personal endorsement and that of the county party and local LD organizations. I am honored to be endorsed once again by Governor Inslee, other statewide and local elected officials, more than 30 Democratic legislators already, and we’re just getting started!
The extremists are running candidates locally and against me that want schools run by religious institutions and corporations, but paid for by public funds, and they want vouchers that re-segregate our schools. It’s not just the obvious attacks on public education, don’t forget the more subtle forms of corporatization – they want kids and taxpayers to pay testing companies outrageous test fees to “prove” that children are worthy of college credit and other post-secondary options. The College Board runs the AP testing system; they generate over $1 billion in annual test revenue, and they sit on $1.6 billion in reserves, all generated off the backs of our students and taxpayers. They keep pushing their tests, nearly $100 per exam.
In Washington, we have expanded dual credit, while lowering or eliminating fees; we spend $250 million per year in basic education funds to support students taking college courses while in high school! We have near record graduation rates; assessment scores are rising; enrollments are rising; and we are closing equity gaps! We are one of the leading states now in offering true bilingual education and free school meals to nearly all children (we are so close to universal meal access following my proposal last year to the Legislature); and my office has partnered with the Washington Education Association to offer a first-in-the-nation teacher residency/apprenticeship program. The diversity of our new teachers is rapidly growing, and our students are getting the benefits of a more diverse and inclusive group of educators.
Washington’s kids are in great hands in local classrooms and they are re-accelerating following the pandemic. Our students now have multiple ways to demonstrate their knowledge and abilities, and they are accessing more diverse post-secondary pathways than ever before. Apprenticeships, college enrollments, and workforce training programs are rising once again! My emphasis on career and technical education pathways as a complement to traditional college pathways is giving every student a chance to take greater ownership over their education.
The pandemic was tough, complicated, and unknown, but the partnership between me and the Governor allowed our state to have one of the lowest mortality rates in the nation, while still focusing on the needs of children and our communities. We remain a top 15 state nationally based on NAEP assessment scores and we are only getting stronger!
So despite the ugliness coming from the far right, and attacks on public education from “reform” candidates at the state and local level, Washington’s education system is strong. We have much work ahead of us, however. We will keep building-out our regional mental health support system that my office helped create. We will add to the record levels of support we are providing our students with disabilities by finally removing the enrollment cap. And do not doubt for a second that under my leadership we will continue to prioritize the compensation, benefits, and working conditions of the talented professionals that work in our school system — teachers, para-educators, bus drivers, food support workers, building administrators, and so many more. This year, I am proposing to the Legislature a first-in-the nation living wage for para-educators who directly support our students. We have great schools because we have passionate educators; we will not go backwards in supporting them and supporting our public schools.
I’m a former Democratic PCO, YD President, three-term Democratic legislator, current and constant donor to Democrats, and a campaigner for Democrats. And I am a leader who will keep running through walls to ensure that our school system stays PUBLIC, that our students are taught by certificated teachers, and that student learning is evaluated and supported by professional educators in our public schools, not testing companies, not churches, not right-wing “think tanks”, or corporations. We must keep our school system public and provide the best possible education for all of our students and our local communities. By virtue of our State Constitution and laws, this office, and local school board races file as “non-partisan”. That means all kinds of candidates try to hide who they really are by not disclosing their party preference or core values. I am an unapologetic Democrat, and have been for life. My kids’ names are Carter and Kennedy! 🙂
Below is my cell phone, please call or text if you want to chat, set up a visit by me to the LD or county meeting, or to discuss anything else. I work 60+ hours a week being State Superintendent and campaigning for myself and others, so anything you can do to expedite the opportunity to earn local democratic organization endorsements would be greatly appreciated. I look forward to hearing from you and joining you in your community.
Chris Reykdal
State Superintendent
360-790-3151 (cell)
www.chrisreykdal.org (to see my priorities for the next four years, and to make a contribution within your means.)
Platform and Resolutions
The Platform and Resolutions Committee is starting resolutions work this year.
For those wishing to propose a resolution, below is a link to a template you can use to craft your resolution.
This is a link to a chart of our current resolutions plan and actions taken.
The Reforming SCOTUS resolution is ready to review
The following resolutions have been passed by the Central Committee and forwarded to the State party.
- Agrivoltaics Benefits to Eastern Washington
- Faith and Credit-Debt Ceiling
- Reinstate Restrictions on Stock Buybacks (final)
- Reinstate ban on naked credit default swaps
- Limit ratio of Executive v Employee pay
The following resolutions are available for comments as they are being worked on by the committee:
Link to our Rittenhouse Resolution:
This is a link to the current State Party resolutions.
Organization Committee
At the completion of filing for the 2023-2024 biennium, all 31 of our PCO candidates were unopposed. They will constitute our body of Elected PCO’s who will take office on December 1, 2022. Here’s the list of the 2023-2024 Elected PCO’s.
Benton County Elected Precinct Committee Officers for 2023-2024
Here’s a complete list of all our PCO’s, elected, appointed, and acting:
Benton County Democratic Precinct Committee Officers
Franklin County Call to Regular Meeting Sept 21
Call to Regular Meeting August 17
Call to Regular Meeting July 20
4th CD News
URGENT: Yakima and Walla Walla police protecting MAGA
The results of the poll are in
RAU update, how your dollars are being spent
This is the most valuable investment, May 25
This is the most valuable investment
Rural Americans United Has a Plan
Ag and Rural Caucus
ARC Policy Series
6:30 pm Thursday 21 September
Policy Series
Opioids in Rural Washington
Kris Shera, State Opioid Coordinator; Health Care Admiinistration
Dr. Steven Krager, Health Officer, Cowlitz, Skamania, Wahkiakum, Pacific counties
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83419676203?pwd=NUo0NVVYOHU4Ky91RTYxa1Q0cjdXQT09
Oxycodone v. Fentanyl: Just more of the Same?
The Washington Post last week had an interactive map showing the number of prescription pills distributed 2006-2019 per capita by county. The highest in Washington were at each of our four “poles”: Asotin, Pend Oreille, Clallam, and Pacific. All rural, sparsely populated counties.
It seems quaint to talk about prescription pain-killers. More dramatic headlines are about traces of fentanyl in recovered stolen cars, fentanyl and methamphetamine residues in transit cars, a child in day care succumbing to fentanyl…you read the same news.
Join us Thursday to talk about the numbers. Did the high per capita pain pill distribution to rural counties translate to overdose deaths? Did they put us on the road to disproportionate SUD (substance use disorder) in rural counties? What about meth and fentanyl? Are AP headlines descriptive of what we are seeing in our communities?
Don
18 September 2023
Fentanyl kills…but us?
“Fentanyl’s effects are fast and dangerous…It’s linked to more fatalities under age 50 in the country than any other cause of death, including heart disease, cancer and suicide” (Seattle Times, 4 Sept 2023).
We want to distance ourselves from headlines about drug deaths. We may try to discount dramatic reports of drug overdose deaths as scare tactics for political or commercial gain. Or, we stereotype substance users – they are not like us – so we can shake our head and move on to the article on cryptocurrency. Or, we use the story as one more hit on life on Seattle and Tacoma streets.
What may slow our distancing from drug overdose deaths is the comparison to “heart disease, cancer, and suicide.” Deaths from these factors are very real in our rural communities, and in our families. What makes us think that we in rural Washington are somehow insulated from drug fatalities?
Our policy briefing on the 21nd is drug use and overdose fatalities in rural Washington. Kris Shera from the Health Care Administration will give us an overview of drug overdose data across the state. Steven Krager is the health officer for much of the rural southwest of the state. He will drill down on drug use disorder in the communities where we live.
Come to listen and learn. And to share. Join your observations and your heart to make sure we don’t use dispassionate data to distance ourselves from the real life effects of drug use disorder.
Don
4 September 2023
Our Better Practices roundtable is on the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm.. Use the link above for 2023.
Our Policy Series is on the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm. Use the link above for 2023.
Copyright © 2023 Ag and Rural Caucus, All rights reserved. Ag and Rural Caucus of State Democratic Central Committee
Our mailing address is: Ag and Rural Caucus 2921 Mud Creek Rd Waitsburg, WA 99361
8th LD Democrats News
15th LD Democrats News
16th LD Democrats News
Call to Meeting for the 16th LD Democratic Party
Meeting Date: 01/26/2023
Meeting Time: 6:00p.m.- 7:30p.m.
Location: Held Over Zoom
How to Access the Meeting
Zoom Meeting Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82501143043?pwd=YUdhTjVxdm93Z3FqdEo0bUZNOXN1Zz09
To Join By Phone
Dial: 1 (253) 215-8782
Then Dial: 82501143043#
Then Dial: *019099#
Dear Democrats,
I hope you will join me in taking a moment to reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a man who’s fight for equity, racial justice, and the fulfillment of our constitution’s promise of a free and fair nation changed the world. Today we honor his sacrifice, we look beyond the inspirational quotes we often see, and reflect on the full legacy of this American icon.
It is with great excitement that I formally call the 16th Legislative District Democratic Central Committee (16th LD Dems) to meeting! With the 2022 elections over, it is clear that we have much work to do and the talent among our membership to get it done! Like a phoenix rising from ash, our central committee continues to grow in strength and move ever closer to realize its full potential. We CAN flip this district, and we WILL elect the leaders our district deserves!
To all who feel as we do that our district does not have to settle for the same tired policy ideas and excuses for a lack of progress on policy issues, we welcome you to our Democratic family. To those who need hope in these divisive times, we offer you a place at our table. And for those who have served our party and the many extraordinary people who have stepped up to run, I thank you for your sacrifices and devotion. In so many ways, we are standing on your shoulders. Your heart and experience will continue to be vital as we move this organization forward.
Please join us as our organization enters a new chapter!
The agenda for our meeting and all supporting documents can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hR7crWZpC52Xo8oKrRMDSoa_-JQduyTh/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=115388806204309237195&rtpof=true&sd=true
Democratically Yours,
Jeffrey A. Robinson, 16th LD Chair
Walla Walla County Democrats News
WinPower Strategies: Getting Our Local Democrats Elected, April 14 and 15
Yakima County Democrats News
Last call for fair volunteers!
Craft day, fair, shindig and more!
Community Service opportunities!
Meeting reminder and Zoom link
Some good news, and some bad news
Yakima Pride parade and festival tomorrow!
From the State Central Committee
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
Hello Democrats and Happy September!
I don’t know about you – but this time of year reminds me of new beginnings. Between the start of the school year and campaign season ramp-up there’s a sense of energy and purpose in the air and I can’t wait to get to work helping great candidates in the weeks to come!
Don’t forget, we have just 61 days until Election Day 2023 (and 425 days until Election Day 2024!!) and we can’t afford to let a single moment go to waste! I’ll be traveling across Washington between now and November 7th and I look forward to seeing many of you out in the field!
If you’re not already volunteering for your local Democratic candidates – now is a great time to get involved! Please don’t delay and reach out to your local Party organization as soon as you can to help us get out the Democratic vote statewide. Without everyone on board, we risk leaving valuable votes and victories on the table – I hope you will help us maximize our opportunities statewide!
WORKING FOR WASHINGTON
On Monday, I was proud to join the Snohomish and Island County Labor Council in celebrating our 129th Labor Day!
Here at the State Party, we firmly believe every worker deserves a union, and Democrats are fighting alongside our allies to guarantee that freedom is protected, and we can continue making meaningful progress, together, for workers across the country.
We are one of the longest-running unionized state parties in the country, having signed our first collective bargaining agreement in 2018. We are proud to nurture strong partnerships with so many allied organizations, so we can help fight for our shared, worker-forward, values every single day!
I was also thrilled to join Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and WA Senator Manka Dhingra as a speaker at the Seattle-SETU Conference hosted by Seattle University’s RoundGlass India Center.
It was an inspiring opportunity to come together with our allies from India and discuss how greater collaboration can benefit both of our countries – a powerful reminder that we are stronger together, as states and as individuals!
Last but not least – I was delighted to address a wide range of Democratic Partners and stakeholders last night via Zoom for a “6-Month Progress Report” detailing my accomplishments as Chair and roadmap for the work to come. If you weren’t able to make it and would like to view a recording – please let us know and we will be happy to send it over!
DEMOCRATS IN THE NEWS
Cantwell preps AI education bill
A key senator is preparing to field input on a bill that would replicate a transformative post-World War II education and training effort.
Senator Murray Announces Nearly $6 Million for Rural Business Owners, Farmers and Ranchers in WA to Lower Their Energy Costs, Generate New Revenue
New funding from the Inflation Reduction Act will help agriculture producers and rural small businesses lower their energy costs and generate new income by installing solar arrays and other renewable energy systems.
Leaders, first responders discuss Bolt Creek Fire impacts and recovery
Rep. Kim Schrier introduced a new bill to aid in reforestation of the burn scar, an important part to preventing landslides and protecting communities.
Keep in touch, stay engaged, and as always, thank you for all you do!
With gratitude,
Chair Shasti Conrad Washington State Democratic Party
The work we do today wins elections this November. If you’re ready to elect Democrats in every race and every place in Washington state, invest in our efforts and make a contribution now.
Want to support our work year round? Join Blue Washington, our monthly giving program! It is the most effective way to help candidates, volunteers, organizers, activists, and staff because it gives us the certainty we need to scale up our program with confidence. Your monthly investment ensures we can defend our strong legislative majorities, flip key congressional seats from red to blue, and fight for progressive values. Help us lead the way to victories at all levels of government today!
Washington State Democrats PO Box 4027 Seattle, WA 98194 United States
PCOs Can (and Should) Start Doorbelling – For PCOs, the time to walk or call the voters in your precincts is NOW so that we can get that data back into Votebuilder ASAP. The data PCOs collect in the first quarter of this year is essential to the voter targeting every Democratic candidate will be able to do in the primary election and for the rest of the year. If needed, our Coordinated Campaign staff can help set PCOs up with a phone or canvass list, an appropriate script for their precinct, and either a listening or ID canvass – just ask us at organizing@wa-democrats.org.
Democratic National Committee News
Voter Contact Scripts for the General Election
1 Day to Register: Build Your Digital Campaign Budget
Introducing Our New Campaign Budget Template
1 Week to Register: Create an Advertising Budget
Learn How to Create Your Advertising Budget
Last Chance to Register: Become a Pro in Polling
1 Week Away: Masterclass in Political Polling
Last Chance to Register: Grow Supporter Relationships
Learn How to Strengthen Supporter Relationships
DNC Best Practices Institute
Sign up for the 2023 T3 Training Program!
DNC Best Practices Institute April 2023
DNC Best Practices Institute March 2023
DNC Best Practices Institute January 2023
Tri-City Democrats
September 8, 2023
Let’s have a potluck picnic. Bring a dish to share. We’ll provide serving and eating utensils and a limited variety of beverages. We’ll have a firepit and patio heaters in case it gets cool and misters and a fan if it’s hot.
6pm, Friday, September 8
Warmrock Ranch
4501 W Lattin Rd · West Richland, WA
Thanks!– carl
Evergreen Voter | August Highlights
League of Women Voters Evergreen Voter 07-2023
LWV Legislative Newsletter for May 21, 2023
League of Women Voters Evergreen Voter 04-2023
Columbia Basin Badger Club
BADGER FORUM | October 19, Noon
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: Boon or Bane?
Braver Angels: Building a House United with Elizabeth Doll, Director of Braver Politics
WA Public Disclosure Commission with Sean Flynn, General Council
Join us TOMORROW for our Fix Democracy First for our 20th Anniversary Celebration in Seattle
The Forward Party: Reforms & Strategies with Kelly Wright & Darin Foster
Fix Democracy First 20th Anniversary Celebration on Sept 9th in Seattle – FREE Ticket Giveaway!
Upcoming Film Screenings & Panel Discussions…
Support Democracy! Please make a donation to support our programs and work for democracy. We can't do this without you!
Follow Us!
Fix Democracy First
1402 3rd Ave Ste 500
Seattle, Washington 98101
(206) 552-3287
info@fixdemocracyfirst.org
Join FAN at Unity in the Community this Saturday
Join FAN at Unity in the Community
Concern for Violence against Faith Communities
Celebrating Pride Month & More
Dear FAN friends throughout the Tri-Cities area,
Shalom United Church of Christ invites you to join the rescheduled FAN Tri-Cities cluster gathering on September 13. Please see the invitation below and rsvp so they know you’re coming! We at FAN appreciate your presence for justice in your area!
My name is Gretchen Hormel and I am the incoming Chair of Shalom’s Mission and Social Action Committee. One of our 2023-24 priorities is to start reconnecting with our local faith network and FAN. We tried to schedule a social in August, but not many were able to attend, so we have rescheduled for Wednesday, September 13. We look forward to seeing you then:
Event: Mission and Social Action Reception at Shalom UCC (United Church of Christ)
Address: 505 McMurray, Richland
Date: Wednesday, September 13, 2023
Time: 5:30 – 7 pm
Appetizers and lemonade will be provided. Please let us know if you have any dietary or other accommodations needs when you RSVP. If childcare would be helpful, please let us know when you RSVP and we will see what we might be able to do.
Time will be dedicated to introductions and getting reacquainted. We are also hoping to include a FAN update.
We plan to include a shared action during this reception and more news about that will follow. We will then solicit ideas for future shared actions at future get togethers.
Can you join us? Are there others who you can invite or recommend? Please do not hesitate to share this invitation.
RSVP by Sunday evening, September 10, please. Please email ghormel@outlook.com. This will help us at Shalom make sure that we have plenty of food and try to address any special needs that you may have.
If you have questions, do not hesitate to call me at 509.876.1235.
Shalom’s Mission and Social Action Committee looks forward to the prospect of seeing you on Wednesday evening, September 13th, at 5:30! We share the FAN vision that “Together, we are powerful voices of faith and conscience advocating for a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world.”
Gretchen Hormel
Incoming Committee Chair, Shalom UCC Mission and Social Action Committee
ghormel@outlook.com; 509.876.1235
Eric Don Anderson, M. Div.
South Central WA Regional Organizer, he/him/his
FAITH ACTION NETWORK
www.FANWA.org
509.492.2216
Faith Action Network 3720 Airport Way S Seattle, WA 98134 United States
Gearing up to prevent a shutdown and Monday updates
The weekly Newsletter returns, a false impeachment, government funding, and Monday updates
Announcing Indivisible’s Presidential endorsement
Check out Powering Progress’ action-backed August
Is your representative a champion for reproductive freedom?
Trump’s indictments, explained
Making the Inflation Reduction Act famous
Indivisible Rural Program [2021 WORKING DOC]
Join us for the August Rural Caucus Call!
Hello Rural Indivisibles,
As August wraps up we will take this “once in a blue moon” opportunity to invite several of our Indivisible colleagues to join our Rural Caucus call. Molly will give us some political updates, Amy will offer some best practices for fundraising for your group, and Leila will join to listen to your challenges around getting press in rural regions. We will also hear from group leaders who held successful Powering Progress August recess events. Come in from the sun and sit a spell with some of your favorite Indivisibles!
Registration link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEldemrrj8rE9FaYioUAoBp3Z4Ynav_Ui1y#/registration
Indivisible’s Rural Caucus (Natalie, Cameron, Molly, Scott and Rachelle)
Indivisible Project
PO Box 43884
Washington, DC 20010
United States
Hey there — It’s Nathalie from the Marketing team at NDTC.
If you’ve ever liked a tweet, shared an Instagram reel, or seen us on LinkedIn, that’s me behind the scenes!
In my work I get to tell the stories of people running for office, working on campaigns, or helping their local Democratic parties. Often, these folks are coming from underrepresented backgrounds, which I find inspiring.
One thing I’m especially passionate about is elevating Hispanic and Latino voices. As one of the fastest growing demographics in America, it’s more important than ever that Democrats learn from Hispanic and Latino leaders in their communities.
That’s why I am excited to join moderator Elise Shrock during our upcoming NDTC Expert Q&A: Hispanic Democrats Working Towards Change on Tuesday, September 26 at 1pm ET. Register now then keep reading to learn more!
I love our Expert Q&A events because they’re candid, real panels of experts and campaign veterans.
For this month’s event commemorating Hispanic Heritage Month, we’ll be joined by Latino leaders including GA State Senator Jason Esteves, FL State Senator Victor M. Torres, and AZ-based school board member Tamillia Valenzuela.
We welcome everyone to bring their questions and join this important panel to discuss the challenges facing Hispanic and Latino candidates and causes.
We want you here next week! Be sure to register for this important Q&A panel event next Tuesday.
I hope you’ll join the conversation (and bring your questions!)
Nathalie F.
NDTC Marketing Team
And it doesn’t stop there! You can always visit the Online Academy’s Course Catalog, set up a free account, and keep track of your progress while taking advantage of our extensive course offerings.
And it doesn’t stop there! You can always visit the Online Academy’s Course Catalog, set up a free account, and keep track of your progress while taking advantage of our extensive course offerings.
Welcome to the third edition of Build Blue Digest. This is your weekly, central source for all things Build Blue Week. Every Wednesday, look forward to hearing about new speakers, campaign insights, and resources to get you prepared for the various events taking place throughout the week.
Let’s recap our Build Blue Week schedule – which is just under two weeks away! Spots are filling up fast so don’t wait to RSVP.
Monday, October 2, 1-2pm EST:
Down Ballot Up Ticket: How Democrats Win in 2024
RSVP here.
Tuesday, October 3, 1-2pm EST:
Cultivating Local Donors for Long-Term Change
RSVP here.
Wednesday, October 4, 1-2pm EST:
Coalition Building for Community Change
RSVP here.
Thursday, October 4, 1-2pm EST:
Messages that Connect: Local Issues and National Narratives
RSVP here.
Day three of Build Blue Week concerns Coalition Building for Community Change . Organizing is one of the most powerful tools at our disposal as a party. Building local coalitions is an essential part of rallying behind candidates and causes. Let’s dive deeper into why effective organizing is truly the best path forward.
At a foundational level, organizing and coalition-building require persuasion. Sometimes “persuasion” can feel like an icky word, like something the advertisers in Mad Men. But in reality, real persuasion on the ground is about empathy. Maurice Mitchell, National Director for the Working Families Party, puts it best:
“Organizing one-on-one is meeting people where they’re at. You’re at their door. You’re interrupting their life. And it requires a level of empathy, compassion, a level of curiosity; to be completely devoid of cynicism, I think, if you want to be an effective organizer. And you have to listen, you have to listen a lot.”
Organizers for elections in 2020 and 2021 in particular faced the unique challenge of COVID-19. Conversations were still critical, but going door-to-door or even hosting events was simply not feasible. While COVID-19 continues to affect communities, the lingering lessons from this era of canvassing are still relevant. Digital or Zoom-based events, for example, are still a great way to lower the barrier of entry for organizing, as people can log on from anywhere.
These takeaways are a starting point for the conversations and more happening during Coalition Building for Community Change, happening Wednesday, October 4 at 1pm ET.
In the New Speaker Spotlight section, we’ll highlight new speakers added to events this week!
Safanya Searcy is joining us for Coalition Building for Community Change! Currently, Safanya oversees SEIU’s National Member Political Programs. In this role, she partners with SEIU Local Unions on the implementation of the union’s national political strategy in an effort to build long-term, sustainable political programs that connect issues important to members to the political fights necessary to win on the issues.
Then, say hi to Emily Zahn of ActBlue, joining for Cultivating Donors for Long Term Change! A fierce advocate for abortion access, Emily serves as the Assistant Director of Movement, Issue, and Charitable Organizations. Emily is an experienced organizer who has worked in the political and reproductive rights fields for over ten years.
Relevant Resources will be your hub for learning guides to supplement the week’s events! Learning guides include guiding questions, links to other relevant coursework, and more.
Highlights include:
- Local Power Mapping Worksheet: This resource will help you visualize various influencers and leaders in your community that can support your organizing efforts.
- Strategic Planning & Goal Setting Course: This course walks you through the planning process that goes behind the scenes in growing your organizing or campaign.
Build Blue Week brings together a diverse and representative lineup of elected officials, top campaign experts, and leaders of Democratic organizations to provide tools and insight to further Democratic values in your community. Learn more about the events coming your way October 2nd through 5th.
Connect with us on social media!
National Democratic Training Committee
910 17th Street NW, Suite 925 Washington, DC, 20006, US
ACLU Supporter –
It’s been a busy summer for the ACLU. From reacting to Supreme Court decisions to addressing ongoing attacks on the trans community, our lawyers have been working around the clock to continue leading the fight for all of our civil liberties.
Read on to learn more about our most recent critical work:
- In Alabama, we’re suing to protect access to abortion.
On July 31, we filed a lawsuit to prevent prosecutors from targeting providers seeking to support those in Alabama who need to access abortion care outside of their state in states where it is legal. We’re representing health care providers who have been forced to stop providing critical information, counseling, and practical support to individuals who simply want to exercise their constitutional right to cross state lines and obtain legal medical care following threats made by the Alabama Attorney General. - In Idaho, we filed a similar lawsuit to protect abortion providers.
The same day we filed in Alabama, we secured a win in a similar lawsuit in Idaho. A federal district judge barred the Idaho Attorney General from enforcing a legal opinion that claimed the state’s abortion ban allowed for prosecuting doctors who refer patients out of state for abortion care. This ruling sends a clear message to Idaho politicians and anti-abortion extremists across the country: Prosecuting doctors for helping their patients access out-of-state abortion care is a brazen constitutional overreach that will not be tolerated. - Meanwhile, in Tennessee, we’re suing to overturn a trans health care ban.
On behalf of parents and their transgender daughter, we’re suing the state of Tennessee over its trans health care ban. The law would ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth, threatening their well-being and the rights of their parents. This cruelly blocks access to care that’s recommended by every major medical association, which would have a profoundly negative impact on the over 3,000 trans youth in the state. We’ll be heading to court September 1. - Finally, in Chicago, we’re challenging discriminatory lending policies that disproportionately harm Black women.
In two historic filings, housing advocates are challenging policies of two large landlords in Cook County, Illinois, that automatically reject applicants who have any prior connection to an eviction case, alleging the policies discriminate against Black renters, especially Black women, in violation of the 1968 Fair Housing Act. “These blanket bans prolong the trauma of eviction and especially destabilize Black women and families by trapping them in poverty,” explains Sandra Park, senior staff attorney at the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project.
From defending systemic equity in housing to protecting the right to make decisions about our own bodies, the ACLU is uniquely prepared to defend all of our civil liberties. We’ve got the experience – over 100 years of it. And we’ve got the team for it – lawyers, organizers, and activists on the ground in all fifty states, D.C. and Puerto Rico.
With supporters like you by our side, we know we have the power to build a more perfect union. Thank you for being with us, and we’ll continue to keep you updated with more soon.
The ACLU Team
American Civil Liberties Union
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10004, USA
We’re living in a critical moment for our democracy. That’s why Emerge is ramping up our programs to empower bold Democratic women to lead. We just launched our second-ever Seated Together cohort – our program to empower trailblazing Black women in politics to rise to higher office!
Right now, there are no Black women in the U.S. Senate, there are no Black women governors, and only a handful of states have ever elected Black women to Congress or the mayor’s office. Emerge is changing that, and we’re glad you’re with us!
We put together a special photo album so you can get to know this incredible cohort of changemakers. It will only take a minute, so:
Thanks you for being part of our movement to transform politics,
Brianna Carmen, Political Director
Empowering Democratic women to run – and win!
www.emergeamerica.org
4 Embarcadero Center
Suite 1400
San Francisco, CA 94111
United States
Good of the Order
Days after the Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe, abortion rights are all everyone is talking about—friends, political leaders, journalists, and more. It’s crucial to make sure that continues. Abortion rights are on the ballot this November, and we can’t let anyone forget it.
Here’s one immediate way you can help: Print out these signs (or make your own!) to hang in your window, distribute in your local community, and proudly show that we are going to fight, vote, and win for abortion rights in our communities and on the national stage.
Here are a few of the signs you can print at home:
Whether you bring these to your local Fourth of July events, hold them outside your local Republican campaign offices to send a message, hang them on community bulletin boards and in shops and cafes, or proudly display them at your home or workplace or on your car or bicycle, you’ll be helping create a national visual display of what’s at stake this November. And it really will make a difference for folks from all walks of life to see these signs and these messages:
- Our neighbors and communities—the vast majority of whom agree abortion access should be protected and restored, who need to know they aren’t alone, and whose votes will be crucial in November.
- Democratic candidates who need to see that being outspoken champions for our health care and bodily autonomy are what voters are clamoring for in this hostile political moment.
- Republican candidates—who are praising the Supreme Court and planning more and more restrictions, including a nationwide abortion ban, if they take the majorities in the House and Senate—and need to know we will oppose them every step of the way.
- Local journalists—so media coverage won’t ever treat this unprecedented attack as business as usual and will accurately reflect the angry, motivated Americans who are about to become a driving force this political cycle.
Let’s be real: Telling people to vote on its own isn’t enough. We need to be honest about what we’re voting for and voting against.
Democrats in the House have already passed a bill that would restore and strengthen abortion rights. Republicans in the Senate stopped it from moving forward. If we can hold the House majority and expand the Democratic majority in the Senate by two votes—two who are committed to taking bold action to make progress—we can end the filibuster, pass the Women’s Health Protection Act, and immediately codify the protections of Roe into law.
We won’t stop there—a 52-seat majority of bold, committed Democrats will let the Senate act on a range of issues—including real accountability and reforms for the corrupt right-wing justices and the illegitimate Supreme Court.
It’s a tall order—but that’s what’s at stake this election. Over the weeks and months ahead, MoveOn members will be calling, texting, and knocking on the doors of voters. We’ll be supporting progressive candidates. And MoveOn will be using the best data, tools, and technology to deliver the sharpest messaging to key voters.
Thanks for all you do.
BCDCC Officers and Subcommittee Chairs for 2023-2024
The Benton County Democratic Central Committee is searching for a Newsletter editor, if you’re interested please check out information here: https://www.bencodems.org/newsletter-editor/