Cville Dems

The Charlottesville Democratic Committee

Meetings

How Can I Become a Charlottesville Delegate at the Caucus? April 15th Deadline!

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[4/15/2024— 5pm today is the deadline to apply to be a Delegate!]

Every Presidential election year, Democrats in each city and county must meet in a Caucus to elect Delegates to attend both the Congressional District Convention(s) and the State Convention and help elect Virginia’s delegation to the National Democratic Convention in August. The Charlottesville Democratic Committee (Cville Dems) calls and runs the Caucus, which is open to every Democrat registered to vote in the City of Charlottesville.

This year, Charlottesville Democrats need to elect 14 Delegates and 3 alternates to the 5th Congressional District Democratic Convention and to the DPVA State Convention.

Some frequently asked questions about this process are answered here… check it out!

Would You Like to be a Democratic Party Delegate?

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Image of the painting by Benjamin Robert Haydon of the 1840 Anti-Slavery Society Convention with one speaker standing to address all the other men.We’re looking for Cville Dems who’d like to be delegates. We need to elect 14 delegates plus five alternates – yes, we need 19 people to volunteer for this important Democratic representation of Charlottesville at both the Fifth District convention in Fluvanna on May 18 and the DPVA (state) convention in Richmond on June 22. It’s satisfying and enjoyable to be part of this political process, which goes all the way to determining the next President and Vice President.

At both conventions, the Cville delegates will vote on National Convention Delegates to represent Virginia in Chicago. The Fifth District convention will also elect the Democratic Electoral College member who will cast a vote for President Biden and Vice-President Harris after they win Virginia this November! The DPVA convention will also elect two Democratic Electoral College members and five Virginia members of the Democratic National Committee.

Our First Democracy on Tap was a Big Success; Come out for the next one on April 7!

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We had a great turnout on March 10 for our first “Democracy on Tap” event, the new Cville and Albemarle Democrats monthly speaker series get together (held at Kardinal Hall on the first Sunday of each month at 3:30pm).

Miles Coleman from Sabato’s Crystal Ball provided lots of helpful insights about past and upcoming elections and answered many great questions. The energy in the room was palpable among the roughly 75 people who attended. Photos below. A big shout out to Kardinal for their generosity hosting the event! And before the event, a large group of 25 excited volunteers showed up for the voter registration orientation led by Suzanne Michels. Watch out Bob Good and Donald Trump, Charlottesville and Albemarle are getting ready for you!

Our April speaker (Sunday 4/7 at 3:30) will be Sterling Howell, Programs Manager of the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society. Sterling will describe the changing role of the society since its founding in 1940, and discuss the value of local history and why it should be supported in our time when history, books, and other institutions are under attack. Please join us!

Petitions for candidates who want to be in this year's Senate and House races are open for signing and surrounded by seated attendees at the Mar. 10. 2024, Democracy on Tap event.    Seated and standing attendees at the March 10, 2024 "Democracy on Tap" Cville Dems / Albemarle Dems event.    Miles Coleman speaking to seated attendees at the March 10, 2024 "Democracy on Tap" Cville Dems / Albemarle Dems event.    Seated and standing attendees at the March 10, 2024 "Democracy on Tap" Cville Dems / Albemarle Dems event.

News from the Executive Committee Meeting (1/22/24)

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Six cartoonish (faceless) people sitting around a meeting tableThe first Executive Committee meeting of the year was a success. Much to do in this coming year!

Young people 22 and under – 76% vote Democratic. This has sparked some new ideas from our members, ranging from election stickers on scooters to using voter registration proof for entry to events. Two events suggested for free admission with a voter registration card were a women’s basketball tournament at Tonsler Park and/or possibly a play entitled It Can’t Happen Here (yes, the decades old Sinclair Lewis political play, updated with today’s urgency) if it were to be produced here.

Here’s a talking point for those who may lean for Republican Bob Good: “Did you know that he hasn’t gotten a single bill out of committee? He’s not being effective at working for his constituents.”