This month we open with DASA Voices reflecting on Freedom Day and its meaning to us at this moment -
Eve Thompson shared a video and photos reflecting on her memories of the 1994 Elections and Inauguration - and how they should inspire us to vote in US elections.
Check out Eve's Video on Instagram
Loren Braithwaite Kabosha shared this Daily Maverick article about her connection to and life in South Africa during the transition to democracy. In '94 she was working alongside the Independent Electoral Commission in charge nationally for distribution of Temporary Voter ID cards. On 27 April she was in KZN, in what were then known as the the killing fields.
Mandela’s New York City moment, and how it changed one American’s life forever
Several other members shared, in our group, memories of where they were during the April 1994 elections. There are many dual citizens among us and many of us who hold that history and South Africa close to our hearts.
Stephanie Urdang's recent Freedom Day article South African Apartheid Prepared Me for Today's United States is also a poignant reflection on the connection between South Africa's history and the United States today. Stephanie is a South African who was actively involved in the struggle for liberation and was among the anti-apartheid activists in the States who influenced my life trajectory. - Liz
We all know too well how the current US regime is affecting South Africa. Vote for South Africa - for those who fought for liberation, for the country we share today, and for its future, by voting in the US elections.
(GLOBAL) DEMOCRATS ABROAD STATEMENT ON THE SUPREME COURT'S CALLAIS DECISION
The Supreme Court struck at the very foundation of democracy in the U.S. last week, gutting a core protection of the Voting Rights Act in Louisiana v. Callais and dismantling a cornerstone of the Civil Rights Movement.
By overturning this fundamental protection, Trump’s Court has opened the door for right-wing politicians to erase the voices of Black, Latino, and all other minority communities. This decision hands yet another tool to elected officials already working to rig maps and suppress fair representation.
There is a reason we celebrate John Lewis and the heroes of the Civil Rights Movement. Why we still cross the Edmund Pettis bridge, hands joined and heads held high. We honor the thousands who put their bodies on the line for the right of millions to be heard and represented. That right was just trampled by the Supreme Court.
Democrats Abroad will not let this blatant attack on our rights stand. We’re organizing, mobilizing, and fighting back - partnering with legal teams to support your vote, keeping you informed, and giving you actions you can take to fight back as we work to protect your vote every step of the way.
You can help.
Make sure you’re registered to vote, and that you’ve requested your ballot this year. Help other U.S. citizens abroad do the same. Amplify the truth about what’s happening. Stay engaged with Democrats up and down the ballot who are committed to protecting voting rights.
Don’t. Sit. This. Out. If we want a democracy that represents us all, we have to fight for it everywhere, including from abroad.
Media Recommended by Members
There are many great articles and discussions out there. Here are just a few:
Trump Has No Clue What His Supreme Court Has Just Unleashed (The New Republic)
Six Conservative Activists Killed the Voting Rights Act (Balls and Strikes)
Win With Black Women: Emergency Call- Protecting Voting Rights
Rachel Maddow: Trump’s War on Black America
Citizens United, Explained (Brennan Center for Justice)
Six Solutions to Fix the Supreme Court (Brennan Center for Justice)
On the Citizens United issue, take a look at what states like Hawaii and Montana are working on...there are solutions to be found!
ELECTORAL WINS! EVERY OFFICE POSSIBLE TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY
🌊🗳️💪DEMOCRATS KEEP WINNING. STATE & LOCAL ELECTIONS JUST GOT A LOT MORE IMPORTANT!
From the DLCC: Following the Callais decision that empowers state Republicans to racially gerrymander maps with no guardrails, the stakes of building Democratic power in state legislatures have never been higher. Democrats are heading into November with the strategy to flip eight Republican chambers, secure 6 new trifectas, and break ten GOP supermajorities, potentially putting as many as 10 to 22 congressional seats in play for Democrats to counter GOP gerrymandering in the South. Read more, here.
Democrats have flipped 30 seats since Trump’s election, and are seeing “more Democratic candidates are running than any time in recent history” in many states – especially in red districts. Read more, here.
From the Democratic Mayors’ Association: On May 2, Democrat Quentin Wiltz won the mayoral election in Pearland, Texas, flipping a Republican stronghold that had consistently gone for Donald Trump over the past decade. Wiltz will be Pearland's first Black mayor and the first Democrat in decades—in a red county, in a red state. Wiltz's victory is the latest in a streak of wins for Democrats in deep-red areas – including last month’s win in Waukesha, WI and Boca Raton, last year in Miami, FL and Omaha, NE.
✅Special Election in Congressional District New Jersey 11 (Essex, Morris, and Passaic Counties) Congratulations to Democrat Analilia Mejia who defeated Republican Joe Hathaway in the special election held on April 16!
Every. Vote. Counts! Keep going!
🌊🗳️💪SPECIAL FEDERAL ELECTIONS
✅Special Elections in Congressional Districts California 1 & 14
Special primary elections are underway to fill the U.S. House of Representative vacancies in CA-1 due to death (Republican Doug LaMalfa) and resignation (Democrat Eric Swalwell) until the end of the current term. Because all House seats for the next legislative cycle beginning from January 2027 are also up for election this year, voters in CA-1 and CA-14 will have both a special House election and a regular House election to vote in. Vote both ballots!
- CA-1 - the special election primary is June 2 (the same as the regular CA primary.) If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in the primary, the top two finishers will go to a special general election held on August 4. The winner of the special election holds the seat until January 2027.
- CA-14 - the special election primary is June 16. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in the primary, the top two finishers will go to a special general election held on August 18. The winner of the special election holds the seat until January 2027.
🌊🗳️💪IMPORTANT STATEWIDE ELECTIONS UNDERWAY
CA GOVERNOR’S RACE: THE PRIMARY IS THE GENERAL! Voting is underway in California’s 2026 governor’s race to replace term-limited Gavin Newsom, with ballots already in voters’ hands ahead of the June 2 primary. California’s top-two system means the two highest vote-getters—regardless of party—advance to November. A crowded Democratic field of leading contenders has caused concern that they could all be shut out of the general election ballot, handing Republicans the governorship. Don’t sit out this primary, CA voters! All CA voters abroad are eligible to vote in the Governor’s race (as well as all other state and local races, based on their voting address in CA). Make sure you are a UOCAVA / overseas civilian voter — send in an FPCA such as from VotefromAbroad.org by May 18, in order to have the right to get a ballot by email and return it by fax for the June 2 primary.
Every vote matters in this year's Special Elections, Primaries & Midterms!
Some of these elections come down to very tight margins and...every vote is a message that we oppose this regime!
VOTE TO WIN IN 2026!
✅ GET REGISTERED & READY TO VOTE: In 2026, there will be 470 Federal elections in Congress – all 435 members of the House, plus ⅓ of the Senate, plus 2 additional Senate seats (FL & OH). Many states will also have critical state and local elections that their overseas voters can vote in.
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NEED HELP or have questions?
Go to www.VoteFromAbroad.org and Find Help Here, use the message icon, or email [email protected]
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ZOOM-based individual help
Voters wanting individual voter support online via Zoom can go to https://www.votefromabroad.org/voter-support for details.
Upcoming May Voter Assistance sessions via Zoom:- Sun 17 May
- Sun 7 June
- Sun 21 June
RESISTANCE
TAKE ACTION - “Right now, Republican state leaders in Alabama, Louisiana, South Carolina and Tennessee are moving to redraw congressional maps in the middle of active election cycles.
This isn’t routine redistricting. It’s a coordinated political maneuver that is designed to silence voters, disrupt elections already underway, and weaken representation for communities of color to give the Republican Party a default electoral advantage.”
TAKE ACTION - "Last week, Rep. Dina Titus (NV-01), Chair of the Americans Abroad Caucus, reintroduced the Commission on Americans Living Abroad Act (HR 8561). Bipartisan legislation to establish a formal commission to study the challenges facing the millions of U.S. citizens living overseas and deliver recommendations to Congress. This bill is not symbolic. It creates a pathway for Congress to fully understand how U.S. laws and policies affect Americans abroad and to begin fixing what is not working."
Contact your Representative and ask them to co-sponsor the Commission
GLOBAL WOMEN'S CAUCUS IS STIRRING THE POT!
Sections include:
- “I Miss Home” Dishes
- Food That Got Me Through a Difficult Time
- Discoveries from Living Abroad
- The Ancestors: Family Traditions Carried Overseas
- You Don’t Know How to Cook? YES. We. Can.
We can’t wait to cook things up!
Contact: [email protected]
The Global Women's Caucus May Newsletter is great, you can read it HERE ...and we're considering the Scavenger Hunt idea....let us know if you'd be interested!
CAUCUS HIGHLIGHT: Global Black Caucus
The Global Black Caucus (GBC) provides a forum for all DA members to better understand the issues and concerns affecting Black Americans, to help eliminate unconscious bias within the DA membership and in America, to help engage with Black voters living abroad and ensure that their needs are met within the DA community, and, where needed, to advocate for reforms to political issues. We encourage and facilitate Black Americans abroad to engage, become informed, and exercise their voting franchise.
Join the GBC: https://www.democratsabroad.org/bc
See the 24 May event below and find other upcoming events: https://www.democratsabroad.org/bc_events
Email: [email protected]
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/globalblackcaucus/
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DemsabroadGBC
EVENTS
Sunday 24 May, 5pm SA Time
A 90-minute online gathering for Black Americans abroad to pause, breathe, reflect, and reconnect in community.
Info & RSVP HERE
Global Democrats Abroad AGM
30-31 May in Nairobi & Online
The Global Annual Meeting of Democrats Abroad brings together members, leaders, and organizers from around the world to strengthen our global Democratic community.
Hosted this year in Nairobi, Kenya, this year's hybrid meeting will focus on expanding voter engagement among U.S. citizens overseas, advancing inclusive leadership, and preparing for the upcoming U.S. general midterms.
This meeting is often rather administrative but all members are receiving email notices from Global Dems Abroad so you can keep an eye on those or the link below for more info on the agenda and see if there are topics of interest. Liz O'Leary, DASA Chair, will be in Nairobi to meet with our colleagues in person!
Monday 18 May
Africa-wide Voter Registration Drive - all day!
8pm SA Time
Africa-wide online gathering - join us and invite your friends from Cape Town to Cairo
How many US Citizens do you think there are on the continent? Help us find them!
We're teaming up with Democrats Abroad groups across the continent for this voter outreach event. Set some time aside on the 18th to help reach out to potential US voters in South Africa and across the continent!
This is our moment. Our opportunity. And together, Democrats Abroad members across Africa can make a real difference. 🌟 So invite a friend, bring your energy, and join us on May 18!
Joburg - we're thinking of an informal meetup to see this play about the life of freedom fighter, Constitutional Court Judge, humanitarian, artist Albie Sachs.
If you're interested, let us know [email protected] and we'll pick a date!
More on the play here
Read more about Albie Sachs here.
Cape Town - there is an exhibition of Albie Sachs' artwork Spring is Rebellious on at the Zeitz-MOCCA
Interested in a meet-up there? Let us know!
VOLUNTEER
We're building our volunteer teams! Whatever your skills, interests and experience there is an opportunity for you. Contact Liz at [email protected]
VOLUNTEER TRAINING
Democrats Abroad is rolling out training on many aspects of our work. From Media to Digital Advertising to Fundraising - let's develop our skills and conquer this election!
We'd especially love to have several members trained up in Voter Assistance! Live online training is available this month (Look for Modules 1, 2 and 3) as well as self-driven options HERE
If you're interested let us know at [email protected]
PLEASE CONNECT TO STAY UPDATED & SHARE!
US Citizens in South Africa are invited to get in touch and get involved, contact us at [email protected]
HELP US FIND US VOTERS IN SOUTH AFRICA
You can help us find and mobilize US voters across South Africa this year by reaching out to your networks, volunteering or making a financial contribution.
Let us know if you'd like to volunteer by emailing us at [email protected]. Click the button below to donate
Thank you -
Democrats Abroad South Africa
[email protected]