There are 96 days until the midterm elections but there’s even less time until the cutoff date for overseas voters to request their ballots. If you have not registered to vote/requested your ballot, now is the time. Go to Votefromabroad.org and do it today! If you are already registered, it doesn't hurt to check your registration at https://iwillvote.com/. This election is extremely important, don’t get disenfranchised by Republican tricks. Also, if your state's primary has already occurred and you didn’t receive a ballot for that election, you might not be registered.

Need information on the candidates running in your state's elections?  You can use Ballotpedia’s Sample Ballot Lookup Tool. All you need is your voting address and you can find out who’s running in the various elections. There are links to the candidates' website’s, information on ballot measures and more. If your state has not had it’s primary elections yet, you can get information on primary candidates there too.

Greetings from Münsterland. My name is Matt LeMieux and for the past three years I have been helping Democrats Abroad build a precinct in the Münster/Osnabrück area. We started small back in 2016 during the Global Primary and today we are an active, diverse and engaging group. Our mostly Münster centered group holds monthly meetings (“First Saturday at the Münster Wochenmarkt”), meets regularly to discuss books ranging from “How Democracies Die” to “Hillbilly Elegy,” and celebrates American holidays (our next event is a Labor Day Picnic). Our group is ever expanding and it is rare that our meetings do not feature a new face or two. So if you have not yet joined us for a gathering, please do. All are welcome!

Now a bit about me. I was born and raised in Michigan, studied law at Michigan State University and was the Executive Director for the ACLU affiliate offices in Nebraska (1995-99) and Missouri (1999-2004). I moved to Germany in 2004, and I currently work for the foreign law programs at University of Münster and University of Osnabrück where I give lectures on American law.

For more information about our chapter, please feel free to drop me a line at DAG-muenster@democratsabroad.org.

My name Thorin Engeseth and I am the Hispanic Caucus leader for Germany. I was born on Halloween, 1990 in Michigan (my hometown Ada is the same as Betsy DeVos’s, my nemesis for decades), though I’ve spent time living in South Carolina, Oregon, Albania, Germany, Chile, and Ukraine. Michigan is the place that shaped me, I lived there the longest out of anywhere else, and I plan on returning so that I can help reshape the state’s future.

I currently live in Duisburg, where I’m a member of the Ruhrgebiet chapter. I came here in August and my wife in November of last year, mainly because as a DREAMer she was no longer safe, and we knew that we had to get somewhere where we can hone our strengths and acquire more tools for enacting change.

For the past nine years, I’ve been a full-time translator, working personally with a former President of Germany, two Minister Presidents, numerous governmental agencies, and several mayors. I have also translated for four United States governors, the President of Ghana, and the former Prime Minister of Albania. In addition, I work with Translators without Borders to provide language assistance to the homeless, and with an organization in Berlin that provides immigration and other official documents in the native languages of immigrants and refugees.

Democrats Abroad Germany will have stands and march in many pride events across Germany this year. If you are interested in marching with us in the parades or working at one of the stands contact: dag-lgbt@democratsabroad.org Come join us or just stop by and say hello. We need to stand together now more than ever.

Date and Location

08 July, Cologne (March and Stand)
14 July, Munich (March and Stand)
21 July, Leipzig (Stand)
28 July, Berlin (Stand)
28 July, Braunschweig (Stand)

28 July, Stuttgart (March)
04 August, Hamburg (Stand)
11 August, Mannheim (March and Stand)
25 August, Bremen (Stand)

Looking for great books to read this summer? Feed your brain while you catch some rays this summer with this assortment of great books that will be as provocative as they are entertaining.

1. The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America by Timothy Snyder

Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Tim Duggan Books (April 3, 2018)
ISBN-10: 0525574468
ISBN-13: 978-0525574460

With the end of the Cold War, the victory of liberal democracy seemed final. Observers declared the end of history, confident in a peaceful, globalized future. This faith was misplaced. Authoritarianism returned to Russia, as Putin found fascist ideas that could be used to justify rule by the wealthy. In the 2010s, it has spread from east to west, aided by Russian warfare in Ukraine and cyberwar in Europe and the United States.

Russia found allies among nationalists, oligarchs, and radicals everywhere, and its drive to dissolve Western institutions, states, and values found resonance within the West itself.  The rise of populism, the British vote against the EU, and the election of Donald Trump were all Russian goals, but their achievement reveals the vulnerability of Western societies.

In this forceful and unsparing work of contemporary history, based on vast research as well as personal reporting, Snyder goes beyond the headlines to expose the true nature of the threat to democracy and law. To understand the challenge is to see, and perhaps renew, the fundamental political virtues offered by tradition and demanded by the future. By revealing the stark choices before us--between equality or oligarchy, individuality or totality, truth and falsehood--Snyder restores our understanding of the basis of our way of life, offering a way forward in a time of terrible uncertainty.

Available formats: Paperback, Hardcover, Kindle, Audiobook

JOIN Democrats Abroad to get more information about and direct invitations to our events.

Demand an end to the criminalization of immigrants and asylum seekers in the US with Democrats Abroad Germany.

Do not be fooled - although the Trump Administration promised to end family separations in their Executive Order, this is a temporary 20-day halt, and they have no plans to reunite the children with their parents. Join us to keep pressure on Trump and the Republicans until the camps are closed, the children are with their parents and receiving medical/trauma assistance. Separating children from their families, putting children in detention camps in any form, is immoral, illegal and goes against our basic human instincts.

We are demonstrating in five locations on June 30th.

Join Democrats Abroad for Independence Day celebrations across Germany. Come to meet other American Expats, have fun, get to know like-minded people and celebrate American Independence with us.

We're having 4th of July events of all types, from BBQ's to parties at restaurants, in 9 locations. We hope you join us!

JOIN Democrats Abroad to get more info about and direct invitations to our events.

It's a great time to get involved with Democrats Abroad Germany (DAG) Veterans and Military Families Caucus.

We need members and leaders! We encourage all interested Democrats Abroad Germany members to join the caucus. To join, just fill out this form. If you are interested in being on the steering committee please also indicate that on the form. 

Currently, the caucus has only two serving officers, Kirk Samson, who is leaving in August for the US, and Michael Lee, so we really need your help. A robust caucus ensures that Democrats Abroad Germany remains a key player in issues involving the U.S. military presence in Germany and helps to support veterans and family members’ issues that are unique to our overseas constituency. 

Please join us!

Also, if you are a veteran residing in Germany, we recommend that you keep an eye on the VA Benefits Bulletin

Thank you,

Kirk Samson and Michael Lee

Co-Chairs, Germany Veterans and Military Families Caucus
DA Germany

There are 158 days until the midterm elections. If you have not registered to vote or requested your ballot, now is the time. Go to Votefromabroad.org and do it today! If you are already registered, it doesn't hurt to check your registration at https://iwillvote.com/. This election is extremely important, don’t get disenfranchised by republican tricks. #VotingMatters

It looks and feels like we have quickly moved into summertime in Germany. We hope that everyone is staying cool, eating lots of ice cream, and able to still enjoy the sun (don’t forget your sunscreen)! To provide you with some cool thoughts, you can already start to think about fall and our  10th Annual Oktoberfest Extravaganza on Sunday, October 7th. If you sign-up before July 1st, tickets are only 65€ and this includes a reserved seat in the “Gallerie”, a half roasted chicken (vegetarian options are available), 2 liters of Spaten beer (there are other beverage options, too), and a 10-euro coupon for other purchases. Make sure you sign-up now because starting July 1st, tickets will go up to 75€.

June - Upcoming Election Information

California’s primary election on June 5 will be one of the most important –and bizarre - contests of the entire primary season. The Golden State is crucial to Democrats’ effort to retake the House and Republicans currently hold seven districts which Hillary Clinton won in 2016. With so many Democrats running, and because of the state’s “top two” open primary system, there is a risk that the vote will be split, allowing Republicans — who have fewer candidates — to dominate some primaries. Watch this video to learn more about the California primary system and the problem this year

If you are a California voter, make sure you have a choice in November and vote in the Primary on June 5th!

For more details about What is on the Primary Ballot for the June 12 State Primaries and June 19 and June 26 Primaries on the DA website Voting blog.

Caucuses are an important way to increase awareness of principal issues and identify legislative priorities. Joining one or more of our caucuses is a great way to get involved with Democrats Abroad.

All Democrats Abroad members are welcome to join them.  

• Members are welcome to join the Women's Caucus regardless of their gender identity.  
• Members of any sexual orientation are welcome to join the LGBT Caucus.  
• The Youth Caucus welcomes members of all ages.
• Bienvenidos to new members of the Hispanic Caucus
• And a very special welcome to new members of the newly formed Black Caucus and Progressive Caucus.

Please go to their web pages to read about them, meet their leaders and join up, or send them an email.

We need a Germany representatives for the Hispanic Caucus. If you would be interested in becoming the Hispanic Caucus leader please contact us.

If you are interested in what our caucuses are doing, please contact our caucus leaders listed below: