As we slide into 2019, let’s look back for a moment at the 2018 midterm election. We won control of the House and had a net gain of more than 40 seats. Democrats at all levels of government did well in the midterm elections, we had a net gain of 308 seats in the 86 state legislative chambers in elections on November 6, 2018. Republicans lost 296 seats in the elections, and third-party and independent candidates lost 14 seats. 

The election also brought a wave of diversity into American governments. A total of 116 women were elected to Congress during the 2018 midterms, which serves as a significant jump from the 89 women who were elected in 2016. Add it to the number of women in the Senate still serving out terms, and that means 2019 will see a total of 126 women in the 116th Congress.  Some historic firsts in the 2018 midterm election:

• Kansas elected Sharice Davids, the state’s first lesbian House member, and one of the country’s first two Native American House members.
• Arizona and Tennessee elected their first female senators.
• Massachusetts voters elected Ayanna Pressley, who will be the first black congresswoman from the state.
• Coloradans elected Jared Polis, who will be the first openly gay male governor in the U.S.
• Michigan elected Rashida Tlaib, and Minnesota elected Ilhan Omar, making them the first two Muslim women in Congress.

Thank you for voting! We couldn’t have done it without you. Voter turnout in this election was estimated to be 50.3%, the highest turnout in a U.S. midterm election since 1914.

We also won 17 Governors races. There will be 14 states that have a Democratic trifecta (governor, house and senate) control. Colorado, Illinois, Maine, New Mexico, New York, and Nevada join Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware, California, Washington and Oregon in having a Democratic trifecta control, making 14 states or 34.4% of the US population.

Take this short survey and let us know about your voting experience. Why it matters: In order for us to do everything we can to make it easier for all Americans to vote from abroad, we need to understand your 2018 voting experience — what problems you encountered, what worked well, and even if you weren’t able to vote.  

Registration is now open for our Annual General Meeting (AGM). It will take place this year from 22-24 February 2019 in Heidelberg. The AGM is the time when Democrats Abroad in Germany gather in person to discuss issues and plan our activities for the coming year. In addition to these discussions, we will also be electing our new Executive Committee (ExCom). Find out more about the AGM, RSVP, and register.

Every two years we elect a new Executive Committee (ExCom). The people elected are the leaders of Democrats Abroad Germany (DAG) and includes several officers and six at-large project coordinators. If you are interested in running for a position in the ExCom, take a look the position descriptions and duties. If you are interested in running for a position or have any questions about the positions, please contact the Nominations and Elections Committee (NEC) at [email protected]. All eligible members may self-nominate or be nominated for all positions filled by elections.

The #WomensWave

It’s time to march again

The 2017 Women’s March inspired hundreds of women to run, millions more to vote, and dozens to win elected office. The 2019 Women’s March marks two years of resistance to the Trump presidency, two years of training new activists, and two years of building power. And this time, we're coming back with an agenda.

Please join us on Saturday, January 19, 2019. Democrats Abroad is marching in several locations. Find one near you. Please RSVP so we know how many people to expect.

Follow Democrats Abroad Germany on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

On 20 December, Rep. George Holding (R-NC) introduced the Tax Fairness for Americans Abroad Act HR 7358 on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill would enact a switch from our current system of citizenship-based taxation to Residency-Based Taxation (RBT), a move that would benefit nearly all Americans living abroad. Read our Taxation Team's statement on this new bill.  Democrats Abroad has supported a switch to RBT since we were founded over 50 years ago. Over the last two years, Democrats Abroad worked in collaboration with other organizations representing Americans abroad advocating in support of RBT.  If you have questions and/or comments for our Taxation Team, you can contact them at [email protected].

DAG is a self-sustaining, 100% volunteer organization. Thank you to all our Sustaining Members, your donations are vital. Without you, our mission would be a lot more difficult.

If you are not a currently a sustaining member, please consider becoming one. In 2016, we calculated that each Euro spent resulted in 3 new members/voters and in 2020 every vote will be necessary. A donation of €5 per month or more will make a big difference for us.  If you are interested in making a donation, either one time, monthly, or quarterly, please find our bank information below. To make it a recurring donation, you would do a Dauerauftrag. The suggested recurring donation amount is 5 Euros but higher amounts gladly are accepted.

Account name: Democrats Abroad Germany

IBAN: DE04 5405 0220 0140 2702 99

BIC: MALADE51KLK

The ERA is has come alive again after being dormant for many years. It was first introduced in 1923 shortly after women finally received the right to vote.  It passed the House and Senate in 1972, going to the states to be ratified. By 1982, 35 of the required 38 states had ratified it. Nevada ratified it in March 2017 and Illinois ratified it in May 2018.  We are now one state short with votes planned in 2019 in several states.

The 13 states where the ERA has not yet passed are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia.

We are so close now to getting the Equal Rights Amendment ratified. Please join us in supporting the efforts in Virginia to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. Sign the petition TODAY! You can sign the petition whether you vote in Virginia or not.

It is time for women to be recognized in the U.S. Constitution. 85% of the countries in the world have equal rights for women in their constitution. The United States is in the 15% that do not.

To learn more about the ERA, please visit our wiki. Please note new material is continually added.

While 2019 is between major elections years we cannot rest! This will be a big, busy year. We will elect our new EXCOM, develop our agenda and plan strategically for 2020, help to pass the ERA and Tax Fairness for Americans Abroad Act and participate in our annual events like the Women's March, the Science March and Pride. Of course, we will continue to respond to the Trump administration and await Mueller's report. Getting donations and growing our membership and outreach so our coffers (financial and volunteers) are full for our activities this year and we are postured for battle in 2020.

Thank you for your continued membership. Keep resisting!