Cville Dems

The Charlottesville Democratic Committee

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“Hands Off UVA!!” Rally at the Rotunda on Friday July at 1pm

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Flyer for "Hands Off UVA" rally on Friday July 4 2025. Hand-drawn pen and ink drawing of the Rotunda is on the left, with an American flag upside down as a distress signal, with bullet points to the right reading "Stand up against the hostile takeover", "Demand UVA's independence!", "Learn what this means for UVA, and for our democracy", and "Open mic for public comments and expression". The poster has a light, orange background and letters are blue and white. Date/time/location are given at bottom.The public is invited to gather in urgent interdependence on the 4th of July at 1pm, at the University of Virginia Rotunda Jefferson statue (University Avenue side) for a peaceful rally demonstrating our collective dismay at the forced resignation of UVA President Jim Ryan.

His ousting was an attempted hostile takeover of the University by the federal government that flies in the face of historically struggled-for ideals, values, and civil rights that began 250 years ago.

A range of University and community stakeholders will speak briefly. The rally’s second part will feature an open mic for public expression (2-minute limit per person). The rally was organized by UPRISE! Creative Collective C’ville and co-sponsored by Indivisible Charlottesville.

 

If You See Something, Say Something

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We all have that adage engrained from terrorist attacks. Now many who have seen actions by the Trump administration that are contrary to the rule of law, to our traditions, and to judge’s rulings are saying something.

Hundreds turned out at the intersection of Preston Ave. and McIntire Rd., in front of the Albemarle County Office Building, to protest against the Trump administration on Monday, Feb. 24, from 5:00 – 6:30 pm. This protest was billed as family friendly and was organized, along with the successful Feb. 17 protest, by the Charlottesville Indivisible chapter.  Some brought their children to help them understand that democracy is participatory and if something is wrong, it’s important to step up and say something. Reasons for protesting included specific concerns, such as the massive, crushing cuts to the federal government, ranging from USAID to the NIH to virtually all agencies, including thousands of IRS workers fired at tax time!

Concerns also included the bullying by unelected but all-too-powerful Elon of Musk, the shameful betrayal of Ukraine, and Pres. Trump’s positive view of Putin, lying for him about who started the war. Signs ranged from ‘Save our Democracy’ to ‘Save the Rule of Law’ to ‘Corruption Pays.’ It’s more important than ever: if you see something, say something! – Judith Shatin, Cville Dem

Del. Katrina Callsen (left, along with Alb. Co. precinct chair Kathe Falzer), was at the Feb. 24 protest, holding poster that protests against the federal administration's rash activities. They are in Charlottesville, along a busy road at rush hour with many other protestors. The sign has an upside down American flag and message: Democracy not Oligarchy.Back-to-back Indivisible Charlottesville Monday protests (against the Trump Administration’s actions executed by Elon Musk) drew crowds to the Albemarle County Office Building in downtown Charlottesville on Feb. 17 and Feb. 24.

Del. Katrina Callsen (above left, with Albemarle County precinct chair Kathe Falzer) was spotted at the Feb. 24 protest, among the many who attended that protest.

Thanks to all who participated, organized, and honked!   A long line of protestors dot McIntire road during the Feb. 17 protest against the Trump administration and Elon Musk.

Two people hold signs up, protesting the current federal administration. One sign reads, Same shit, different hat, and shows headwear including a white KKK Hood, a gray confederate soldier's cap, a black Nazi officer's cap, and a red Maga cap. The other person holds a poster that says stop (with stop sign) Elon's Coup, and a fire at bottom.

A protestor holds an anti-bullying sign at a family friendly protest against the current administration's activities on Feb. 24.
A protestor holds an anti-bullying sign at a family friendly protest against the current administration’s activities on Feb. 24.

Big Changes in the Democratic Party Leadership, Statewide and Nationally!

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Formal portrait of Susan Swecker, retired Democratic Party of Virginia chair, wearing a pearl necklace, blue top, and dark suit jacket.Formal portrait of Ken Martin, 2025 Democratic National Committee chair, wearing a blue button down shirt, gray sweater, and dark suit jacket.

Susan Stecker is outgoing DPVA chair; Ken Martin is incoming DNC chair.

Virginia

Susan Swecker, chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia (DPVA) Central Committee, is resigning before her current term expires (after serving for 10 years), so there will be an election to fill out the rest of her term. There’s about a year left to go before the next reorganization of the DPVA Central Committee and election of DPVA’s officers.

The DPVA Steering Committee will be meeting soon to set the rules for electing the next chair. Cville Dems will not be voting in this state leadership election. Members of the DPVA Central Committee will vote to fill the chair’s seat at its March 22, 2025 regular quarterly meeting.

The proposed rules for this election indicate that candidates for chair will need to submit paperwork to DPVA by  March 8.  At this time, there are no “official” candidates to succeed Swecker as chair and finish the rest of her term — but that could change very soon. There are rumors about who may run, see this Blue Virginia article.

National

Ken Martin won election as the new Democratic National Committee (DNC) head, replacing current chair Jaime Harrison. Martin, currently the chair of the Minnesota Democratic Party, won the race with 112 more votes more than the second place candidate, Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Ben Wikler.

Martin offered little on his plans to confront President Donald Trump, saying his “war room” will combat misinformation and that the party will also conduct a review to learn why Democrats lost ground with Latino, female, young, working-class, and other voter demographics last November.

Dems Keep Control of VA Senate with Special Election Wins

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Headshots of JJ Singh and Kannan Srinivasan, winning Democratic candidates in Virginia's January 7, 2025 special electionsThree special elections were held on Jan. 7 for two VA Senate seats and one House of Delegates seat. In all three cases the party that previously held the seats retained them, so the Dems retained overall control of both chambers.

In Loudoun County, Democrat Kannan Srinivasan defeated Republican Tumay Harding in the VA-32 Senate race to succeed Suhas Subramanyam, the Dem elected to the U.S. House in November… and Democrat JJ Singh beat Republican Ram Venkatachalam to win Srinivasan’s vacated VA-26 House of Delegates seat.

In the 3rd race, to fill the VA-10 Senate seat that John McGuire vacated to primary Bob Good and then win the VA-05 House of Representatives race, Democrat Jack Trammell lost to Republican Luther Cifers.

Gov. Youngkin still presides as a Republican governor; more on the November 2025 gubernatorial race soon!

Our “Turn Out the Vote Thursdays” gets a National Shoutout!

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Screenshot of "Grassroots Connector" article by Dan Doernberg about Cville Dems and Rural GroundGame doing textbanking during Election 2024The Cville Dems and Rural GroundGame (RGG) are featured in a new text banking article that appeared in “Grassroots Connector” yesterday, a national newsletter for grassroots political group leaders (like Lynlee Thorne of Rural GroundGame) working to amplifying the power and the voice of grassroots citizen activists (people like you!).

The article, written by our own Dan Doernberg, was based on background information from Frances Summers and Mary Ann Harris and included perspectives from Thursday volunteers Mark Hall, Andi Goodman, and Annette Owens as well as tips from RGG’s Abby Garber. Check it out!