2019 Year in Review

 

As we embark into the extraordinarily critical 2020 Presidential election year, it’s important to take a moment to reflect on 2019.

Orange County Democrats experienced explosive growth over the past few years, and 2019 was no different. This year we made great strides in all areas of growth. Accomplishments include:

  • Orange County voter registration flipped blue, and keeps getting bluer. Democrats have gained nearly a full point lead over Republican registration in just 4 months, since flipping registration in August of 2019. We had unprecedented press coverage throughout the nation of our victory.
  • Voter registration gaps have narrowed in all four battleground Congressional districts (but these elections could go down to a handful of votes — we urgently need voter registration going strong).
  • Voter registration flipped blue in several OC cities including Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Tustin, and Westminster.
  • We have endorsed an unprecedented 19 candidates for the March Primaries.
  • Local Clubs are the backbone of Orange County’s Democratic efforts. In 2019 we welcomed six new clubs, a dramatic increase in leadership across OC: Arts and Advocacy Democratic Club, Buena Park Democrats, Feel the Bern Democratic Club, Lavender Democrats, Orange County Veterans Democratic Club, and Westminster Democratic Club!
  • DPOC was front and center, in partnership with the ACLU, to successfully overturn an unreasonable and arbitrary Aliso Viejo city ordinance that barred voter registration on Sundays.
  • Our annual operating budget grew by 35%.
  • Our 2019 Truman Awards Dinner was a huge success. Net income jumped 43% above our (also very successful) 2018 Awards Dinner, thanks to our outstanding team of volunteer organizers and supporters.
  • We invested in PDI to make field data accessible to clubs and activists for precinct walking, as well as to endorsed candidates to ensure strong field programs.
  • We founded “Adopt-A-Precinct,” a monthly training series for field organizing.
  • We founded “Harnessing the Power of Women,” a monthly series that recruits and trains women, especially young women and women of color, to expand and diversify our “blue bench” of political organizers and candidates.
  • We were selected by DCCC for campaign offices.
  • We were 1 of 12 counties to be selected by the California Democratic Party for a strong coordinated campaign, which includes multiple staff and offices.
  • We partnered with the National Democratic Training Committee for a free one-day training workshop covering field, digital, media, and fundraising skills.
  • In yet another clear signal of our sustained vitality, more Democrats are running for DPOC Central Committee than Republicans for OC GOP Central Committee.

This year, we mourned the passing of Democratic Party leaders whose powerful legacies continue to shape our work. We paid tribute to former DPOC Chair Frank Barbaro, whose mark on OC continues to this day — having been named one of OC’s Most Influential of 2019 by the Orange County Register. And we honored Conrad Tuohey, one of the founders of DPOC and its predecessor organization, Orange County Democrats, and whose family has remained active in Democratic organizing for three generations.

It’s clear: Your work is making a powerful impact. Our collective successes would not be possible without your hard work, and our shared belief in collective change.

In 2020, as our party takes the mantle of leadership as a dominant political force, we have a tremendous responsibility. How can each of us stretch our capacity to match this historic demand? How can we build a more sustainable, stronger Democratic Party? Let’s challenge each other to think bigger. I am excited to build our party in partnership with you. Take your next leap so we can attain victory in 2020!

In unity,

Ada Briceño
Chair

 


 

Democratic Events in Orange County

 

National Democratic Training Committee: Ready, Set, Run – 30 Day Challenge 
Throughout January 2020

Register Democrats to protect Katie Porter (CA-45)
January 4, 2020, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm, Mother’s Market, 2963 Michelson Dr, Irvine, CA 92612

Democratic Women of South Orange County General Meeting & Dinner with Keynote Speakers Congressmen Harley Rouda and Gil Cisneros
January 6, 2020, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm, San Juan Hills Golf Club, 32120 San Juan Creek Road, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

Register Democrats to Protect Katie Porter (CA-45) and Harley Rouda (CA-48)
January 7, 2020, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm, Euro Caffe, Santa Ana, CA 92704

Laguna Beach Democratic Club: A New Way to Vote is Coming to OC
January 8, 2020, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, 380 3rd St, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Voter Registration Training Call with Field Team 6
January 8, 2020, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Canyon Democrats Women’s March Sign Making Party 
January 11, 2020, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm, Norman Murray Community & Senior Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo, CA 92692

Register Democrats to Protect Katie Porter (CA-45) and Harley Rouda (CA-48)
January 14, 2020, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm, Euro Caffe, Santa Ana, CA 92704

Canyon Democrats 2020 Women’s March Bus to Santa Ana
January 18, 2020, 8:00 am – 1:30 pm, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo, California 92692

2020 OC Women’s March
January 18, 2020, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm, Orange County, CA

Register Democrats to protect Katie Porter (CA-45)
January 18, 2020, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm, Mother’s Market, 2963 Michelson Dr, Irvine, CA 92612

Getting Our Bands Back Together: Free Organizer Training for 2020
January 19, 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm, Orange County Employees Association, 830 N Ross St, Santa Ana, CA 92701, RSVP requested.

Register Democrats to Protect Katie Porter (CA-45) and Harley Rouda (CA-48)  
January 21, 2020, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm, Euro Caffe, Santa Ana, CA 92704

DPOC Reception with CA Senator Maria Elena Durazo 
January 25, 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm, DPOC Office, 1916 W Chapman Ave Ste B, Orange, California 92868

2020 Candidate Panel Hosted by College Democrats at UCI and Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris
January 25, 2020, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm, UC Irvine Student Center, Crystal Cove Auditorium, 311 W Peltason Dr, Irvine, CA 92617

Register Democrats to Protect Katie Porter (CA-45) and Harley Rouda (CA-48)  
January 28, 2020, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm, Euro Caffe, Santa Ana, CA 92704

Voting 101 with Special Guest Neal Kelley, Orange County’s Registrar of Voters
January 29, 2020, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, Costa Mesa Senior Conference Center, 695 W 19th St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627

 

Club Meetings & Voter Registration

Visit our Calendar for regularly scheduled Democratic Club meetings, voter registration actions with Field Team 6, DPOC Central Committee meetings, and more. Note: Some clubs may not have meetings due to the holidays. The regular January meeting of Democrats of North Orange County has been moved to January 9. Contact clubs directly for details.

 

News

 

URGENT: No Party Preference (independent) Voters must opt-in to vote in the Democratic Primary by January 2, 2020

No Party Preference (independent) voters can opt in for a Democratic Presidential Primary ballot, but must reply by 1/2/20 – click here to learn how. California Secretary of State Alex Padilla created a new How to Vote for President website to help voters of all parties learn how you can vote in the primaries.

 

2020 Election Dates – Are you ready?

Visit our 2020 Election Center for key Primary election dates for voter guides, vote-by-mail ballots, vote centers, and more! Click here to get important info you need to VOTE!

 

Michelle Obama visits Orange County in April

“A Moderated Conversation with Former First Lady Michelle Obama” will be at the Honda Center on April 2, 2020. Click here for tickets on Ticketmaster. Hurry – tickets are already going fast.

 

Orange County Women’s March: How to Get Involved

The OC Women’s March, a nonpartisan community-organized action with more than 20,000 attendees each year, returns on Saturday, January 18, 2020. Here are some important links to help you or your organization get involved:

Sign Up To Volunteer – Route guides are always the most needed volunteer position, and it’s the best way to help and still march.
Register Your Organization
Register As An Individual
Downloadable Flyers in Multiple Languages (more coming soon)
Shareable Facebook Event

Street Team/Event Planning
There will be a limited number of spots available along the march route for groups who would like to express themselves through music, dance, art, poetry readings, or whatever creative ideas you come up with. If you would like to get involved with the Street Team or the Organizing Committee, please email OCWomensMarch@gmail.com.

 

Job Opportunities in Orange County

For political jobs and nonpartisan election job opportunities, visit our Careers page. Send opportunities to info@ocdemocrats.org.

 

Central Committee Elections

If you’ve been reading our newsletters or following us on social media, you probably know Democratic Party of Orange County Central Committee elections are underway. Central Committee members vote on endorsements, resolutions, bylaws, delegates, and more. They also help fundraise, support Democratic Clubs, and help recruit candidates for local office.

Wondering who’s running to represent you at DPOC? View candidate filings on the OC Registrar of Voters website (you can vote for up to 6 DPOC Central Committee members in your Assembly District):

Candidates in the 55th Assembly District
Candidates in the 65th Assembly District
Candidates in the 68th Assembly District
Candidates in the 69th Assembly District
Candidates in the 72nd Assembly District
Candidates in the 73rd Assembly District
Candidates in the 74th Assembly District
Unsure which Assembly District you’re in? Look up your district here.

 

Open Call for Parliamentarian

The Democratic Party of Orange County seeks a Parliamentarian. For more information, click here.


A reception with Maria Elena Durazo, California State Senator and DNC Vice Chair

 

Praised by The Nation, The New York Times, CNN, Capital Weekly and many others, California State Senator and DNC Vice Chair Maria Elena Durazo is a political force. The Los Angeles Times declared her “the single most influential individual in Los Angeles politics.”

Join the Democratic Party of Orange County for a reception with Senator Durazo. Your support raises crucial funds for essential voter engagement in 2020. RSVP: orangecountydemocrats.com/maria

Tickets: $40 Early Bird (purchase by January 15) / $55 General Admission
Sponsorship Levels:  $1,000 – Leader  /  $500 – Partner  /  $250 – Supporter  /  $150 – Friend

To RSVP, visit orangecountydemocrats.com/maria