Dear friends,

Whooah! What a week – a month – six months. I really can’t believe 45 has been in office for six months. He’s done a ton of damage but his legislative achievements are mostly nil. The resistance is working, we just need to keep it up.

Here at VAYD, we are organizing and raising the needed resources to fight back. Thank you to everyone who came out for our house party with DNC Chairman Tom Perez! It was a great event and will allow us to make major investments in electing Democrats this November.

Also, this weekend, our Executive Board came together for a planning and organizing meeting. Look for some big announcements in the coming weeks!!

Fight Back (your advocacy portal)

Ok – so Republicans are trying to undo the net neutrality rules established by President Obama’s Administration. Send a comment to the FCC via your BattleForTheNet.

The Battlefield
Now that the dust has settled from the primary and all the right cards have been exchange, we know of at least 20 young Democrats running for office. I’m not sure if that’s the record but I’m pretty damn proud of it. When I ran for president, I pledged a 60 by 2020 program to elect 60 YDs by 2020 – this is a huge step in the right direction. Stay tuned for our upcoming young candidate fundraiser(s)!

We know of YDs running in 20 House Districts: 1, 7-9, 11-13,18, 28-30, 50, 55, 58, 63, 72, 83, 89, 93 & 97.Four of these districts were won by Sec. Clinton: 12, 13, 50 & 72. We’re already organized a campaign invasion for Chris Hurst in District 12. Please join us our Gun Violence Prevention Policy Summit on October 7th on the Virginia Tech campus.

BTW - just for good measure….in Q2, Democrats outraised Republicans in 21 HOD seats that THEY control– districts 7-10, 12, 13, 17, 30-33, 42, 50, 51, 55, 67, 72, 85, 96, 98 & 100. Nine of these are YD candidates!

Non-Virginia Battle Field

A bright spot in Oklahoma
The scandal-ridden OK Republican caucus just lost two seats. Democrats won an urban Senate (OKC) & House (Tulsa) seat and Democrats have more opportunities in Oklahoma. There are two more state Senate (Tulsa & OKC) and two more House (Norman & Tulsa) special elections to come – that makes THREE elections for the Tulsa party this year. Also, shout out to the new Oklahoma Democratic Party Chairwoman,Anna Langthorn (24) – another YD stepping up and getting things done!

Innovators (your new idea portal)
The idea: Engage your community (and recruit members) by publicly making a paper chain to send to your Congressperson.

The residents of Scott County are fighting back to protect their healthcare. A coalition of groups is publicly making a paper chair to engage their community about the number of kids and seniors who will lose their health insurance under TrumpCare. The paper chain will be sent to Rep. Morgan Griffith (VA-09) who votedto take healthcare away from 23 million Americans. This idea could be easily adapted for any issue, and it’s a great way to engage a high school or college campus around an issue. Young professional chapters could partner with the local party and other progressive groups to promote an issue, recruitment members and shame Republicans for their bad behavior. It also makes a great news story to pitch to your local TV station:

http://wjhl.com/2017/07/10/scott-co-va-residents-make-paper-chain-link-to-send-to-cong-griffith/

A Few Shout-outs/Announcements

Congratulations to Paul Rice, the new president of the Hampton Roads YDs President. Outgoing president, Tasina Gary, also deserves congratulations on her acceptance to law school.

Belated congratulations to our dear friend, Chris Bolling on his appointment as DPVA Executive Director!

Cheers to Ricardo Alfaro, Technology Director and Alexandria Young Democrats president on his Washington Post letter to the editor.

Subscribe to the new newsletter of one of our newest chapters, the Young Democrats of Clarke, Frederick, and Winchester!

Thank you to Elizabeth Childress, UR law student and Metro Richmond Area YD, who will serve as my appointment to DPVA’s Voter Protection Council. Shout out to Chairman & DNC Member Frank Leone.

We are excited to announce the organization of a future Roanoke Young Democrats! Please help them get started by liking their Facebook page; if you know any young people in the area who might interested, please have them contact me. Thank you to Cain Turner for leading up the effort.

Our man, Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam killed it at the first debate. Find other debates and joint appearances near you and show your strong support for Ralph!

Here is the current list of offices open by the coordinated campaign:

  • Charlottesville, 156 Carlton Road - Suite 104
  • Hampton, 1026 Settlers Landing Road
  • Manassas, 9548 Surveyor Court - Suite A
  • Norfolk, 350 West 22nd Street - Suite 113
  • Petersburg, 3277 S. Crater Road - Downstairs #1   
  • Henrico, 6034 Brook Road
  • Richmond, 504 West Broad Street
  • Springfield, 6452 Landsdowne Centre
  • Virginia Beach, 5606B Virginia Beach Boulevard

Social Media Fodder

Democrats Get It Done

https://medium.com/@RalphNortham/my-plan-for-economic-growth-in-rural-virginia-3b37b6fb8780 (Theman with a plan to create jobs in rural communities!)

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/07/11/americas-top-states-for-business-2017-overall-ranking.html (Virginia’s a Top 10 State for Business - Thanks Governor McAuliffe!)

Young Gets It Done
Young People Step to the Front

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/13/opinion/millennial-labor-movement.html (The next generation of labor leaders.)

We agree! Country before party. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/why-the-president-of-the-uva-college-republicans-opposes_us_5956641be4b0326c0a8d0fa0 (The most common sense Republican leader might be chair of the UVA College Republicans.)

Great moments in bipartisanship from young people.

http://www.newsleader.com/story/news/local/2017/07/08/young-dems-republicans-unite-over-trash/461766001/ (Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro YDs and Young Republicans of the Shenandoah Valley team up for a clean up)

Mark your calendar

Join the 9th CD Democrats for Acres of Democrats in Abingdon at 2p.

Our Gun Safety Policy Summit will be October 7th on the campus of Virginia Tech. Stay tuned for more details in early September.

Democratically yours,

James Lewis
President, Virginia Young Democrats
@JimmyCLewis