JUNE 2022 NEWSLETTER

CHAIR’S MESSAGE

I want to thank all DPCCC members, Democratic Clubs, and Democrats across Contra Costa County for your hard work during the recently concluded June 7 primary elections. 

In early 2021 we agreed that our highest priority race was to re-elect District Attorney Diana Becton, and we succeeded with more than 56 percent of the vote!

While we could not unseat the Sheriff and Assessor, we had strong first-time candidates who changed Contra Costa’s conversation about accountability and equity. I believe we can build upon these efforts and pave the way for change in future elections.

Our DPCCC and Democratic Clubs did more voter outreach in this Primary than ever before! Thanks to all of our efforts, we:    reached over 170,000 households with mailers and door hangers; texted close to 100,000 voters; used social media blasts to reach thousands of voters; and walked neighborhoods in every corner of this county.  I believe we will see the benefits of our hard work after we study the release of the precinct-level turnout results. 

Please share what you observed in this primary and what you think we can do better as we prepare for the November 8 General Election. Our Elections & Endorsements Committee will create ways to capture your ideas this summer.

This fall, we will have to work hard to help our endorsed Democrats win local elections. I’m sure you’ve seen the media coverage about how supporters of Q-Anon and The Big Election Lie are organizing across the country to win these offices that are so important to ensuring progress in our schools and communities. Please join me in doing all we can on behalf of our candidates this fall. 

I hope you find our new monthly email newsletter helpful and informative! Please let our new Communications Committee know what you think by emailing its Chair, Jan Bell, at commsdir@contracostadems.com.

Best wishes,

Katie Ricklefs
Chair, Democratic Party of Contra Costa County

JUNE MEETING REPORT

We were excited to have Assembly Member Rebecca Bauer-Kahan join the DPCCC’s June 16, 2022, General Membership Meeting. She updated us about her legislative priorities and explained what Democrats could do to help her and her colleagues. 

Assembly Member Bauer-Kahan’s legislative priorities include:efforts to prevent gun violence and improve gun safety;protecting reproductive health access, including access to abortion services and protecting patients; improving the state’s mental health services;ensuring safe drinking water for all;criminal justice reform, especially for juveniles; and finding solutions to the housing problems facing so many people and families. These priorities align with the DPCCC’s, and our members have taken support positions on legislation Bauer-Kahan has authored to address these critical issues. 

Assembly Member Bauer-Kahan asked us to continue to get out the vote for Democrats, like the recently re-elected District Attorney Diana Becton, who support our values. 

She urged us to pay attention to local races this fall and make sure we support the Democrats running for these offices. City councils, school boards, and special district boards can significantly impact our quality of life—and our opponents are targeting these offices. 

Assembly Member Bauer-Kahan also requested that we continue to speak up. We mustbring issues to state legislators’ attention, attend committee hearings, go to city council and school board meetings, and take these opportunities to speak up and support our elected officials on our priority issues. 

We also heard updates from the Elections Committee about our activities to support our endorsed candidates during the June primary election. The Fundraising Committee updated us on their efforts and plans for upcoming events. We are excited to share more about these plans in future newsletters. 

Our new Communications Committee Chair, Jan Bell, reported on the organization of the new committee and some of its initiatives (including this new newsletter). You reach the Communications Committee by emailing commsdir@contracostadems.com. 

We also heard early plans about trying to find ways to hold our monthly General Membership meetings in a hybrid fashion that would allow for in-person and online participation. 

Would you like to learn more? Under DPCCC’s file access policy, access to all non-confidential DPCCC files is available to any DPCCC member (including Associates) upon request by emailing the Secretary. You can pay your dues by clicking here!

TAKE ACTION

KEEP NEVADA BLUE PHONE BANKS: Join Contra Costa Democrats on Wednesday, June 22, 5 p.m. (PDT) to hear from Andrea Miller, President of the National Institute for Reproductive Health, an advocacy group working to create change from the ground up, to protect and advance access to reproductive healthcare. With the Supreme Court set to overturn Roe v. Wade in June, this is the time to hear about the decision and our next steps. REGISTER NOW to hear Andrea Miller and then call voters in Nevada—where we need to hold a critical Senate seat in order to codify abortion rights. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) is running in a toss-up race! No experience is needed; our coaches will train you.

KNOCK DOORS IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY: Even in California, a Central Valley woman was jailed for the death of her stillborn infant in 2018. And in 2019, it happened again. Everyone in the Central Valley and across the country deserves the power and freedom to make their own reproductive health care decisions. TJ Cox beat Valadao in 2018 by 862 votes. In 2020, we could not knock on doors, and we lost this seat by 1,522 votes. California’s Central Valley is the key to Democrats holding the House in 2022…and we must win in 2022. SIGN UP HERE to join the Rudy Salas team and Contra Costa Democrats to knock on doors on Saturday, June 25, in Hanford. Lodging and carpool options are available. We need your help introducing voters to Rudy Salas and registering voters in the Central Valley…one conversation and one voter at a time!

GET FIRED UP AND READY TO GO WITH MIKE LUX: The Bay Area Coalition Speaker Series presents Mike Lux on Thursday, July 14, at 5 p.m. (PDT). SIGN UP HERE to learn from Mike as he discusses the reasons that prove we can win in 2022 and the strategies and messaging needed to do it. Mike Lux is an important progressive voice. As he says, “What Democrats need to do is shake off the doldrums, get over the pessimism, and get about the business of fashioning a winning strategy for 2022. We can’t—and our democracy can’t—afford to let pessimism become a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

For more information on volunteering, click here or contact Cecilia at volunteer@contracostadems.com or call 510-693-4259.

GET YOUR DPCCC SWAG

The Democratic Party of Contra Costa County is partnering with ForeAmerica, a California-based, Democratic woman-owned small business and union printer, to provide all the Democratic accessories you need. ForeAmerica can connect you with American-made (and reasonably priced!) shirts, buttons, bumper stickers, signs, hats, and fun masks to keep you safe during COVID. FREE SHIPPING!

Use our link, and we will receive 30-50% of each purchase, which will support our upcoming 2022 campaigns! 

RESOLUTIONS AND LEGISLATION

The DPCCC voted to take positions on the following bills currently under consideration in the California State Legislature: SUPPORT SJR 13 (Authored by Senator Cortese), which would urge the United States Congress and the Department of the Interior to reaffirm and restore the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe as a federally recognized Indian tribe. Click here to read the Issues Committee Application. SUPPORT SB 300 (Authored by Senators Cortese and Durazo), the Sentencing Reform Act, which would address the injustice of the felony-murder special circumstance law by allowing a sentence other than the death penalty or life in prison without parole for a person who did not cause, or intend, a death during the commission of a felony. Click here to read the Issues Committee Application.
 SUPPORT AB 1608 (Authored by Assembly Members Gipson and Akilah Weber), which would require the separation of the offices of the County Sheriff and County Coroner and the offices of the County Tax Collector and County Coroner. Click here to read the Issues Committee Application.You can learn more about the Issues Committee’s process for reviewing legislation, resolutions, and proclamations by reading its submission guidelines and application for consideration. 

DEMOCRATS AROUND CONTRA COSTA COUNTY  

DISTRICT 1: Democrats in District 1 participated in many activities leading up to and through the June 7 election. West County’s three Democratic Clubs took the lead by distributing lawn and window signs and walking precincts. Local Democrats also hosted a Meet and Greet for endorsed 8th Congressional District candidate John Garamendi.

DISTRICT 2: District 2 volunteers worked diligently to support our Democratic candidates. Lamorinda Democratic Club members called, wrote letters, and emailed thousands of potential voters to urge them to vote for the Club’s endorsed candidates through its Precinct Organizing Project. The San Ramon Valley Democratic Club enlisted 15 volunteers for the past election. These volunteers each distributed 100 or more DPCCC Door Hangers or flyers by canvassing the homes of Democrats in Danville and San Ramon. The Democrats of Rossmoor texted, phone-banked, and canvassed with over 1,400 door hangers to many homes in the Saranap and Parkmead areas of Walnut Creek.

DISTRICT 3: The Marsh Creek Democratic Club will meet on June 26 instead of June 19.

DISTRICT 4: Many cities in District 4 are raising LGBTQ+ flags during Pride Month, and the City of Clayton is creating a more welcoming community by hosting its first Pride Parade on Saturday, June 25. You can secure your spot on Main Street before 10 a.m. to cheer on marchers. You can also stop by Chick Boss Clayton, who made CLAYTON PRIDE BRACELETS. For a minimum $25 donation, you can get a bracelet that will benefit Clayton’s Pride Parade. Click here for more information about the Clayton Pride Parade. You can see more of the District 4 report by clicking here, including details about the March for our Lives event and how to advocate for renters’ rights and improve city housing elements.

DISTRICT 5: Democrats in District 5 continue to have an active presence at the Martinez Farmer’s Market. We have had members there every weekend sharing our slate and asking for support of our endorsed candidates leading up to the election. The Farmer’s Market includes a food drive on the second Sunday of the month from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Please help support and bring nonperishable, not outdated food to donate. Please don’t bring glass packages. The need is great every month of the year, and this is a wonderful way we show support for our community.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Recruitment Committee is seeking volunteers for the DPCCC’s upcoming BBQ. You can volunteer by completing this form.

If you have an announcement you would like us to consider including in next month’s newsletter, please email commsdir@contracostadems.com. 

DPCCC EVENT CALENDAR

This calendar is for DPCCC and other Democratic Party events to which all DPCCC members are invited. To request the addition of an item to the calendar, please email secretary@contracostadems.com. Please click on the image to get more details!

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINKDo you have any questions or feedback about this DPCCC Newsletter? We would love to hear from you! Please send your comments to commsdir@contracostadems.com. 

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