May will be a busy month. We have a lot going on in DAG, and so does our democratically controlled Congress. Thank you for voting. Without the #BlueWave, we would not have any ability to investigate the Trump Administration.  If you haven't read the Mueller report, you can get a copy here. Take our poll on impeachment.

On May 4th from 1:30 to 3:30 pm, our Chair Candice Kerestan and Vice Chair Kenton Barnes will hold an online "Meet and Greet." They will discuss the structure and goals of our organization, volunteer opportunities and more. All DA Germany members are warmly invited to attend. A computer/tablet with an internet connection and a working microphone are necessary to participate actively. To receive the connection information, RSVP. See you on Saturday!

We're gearing up for 2020, and it takes a village to do all the things we need to do. Here are three opportunities to help:

1. Take our Volunteer Survey. We are looking for volunteers in all areas.
2. DA Germany is looking for members interested in heading our Black Caucus, LGBTQ+ Caucus, Progressive Caucus, and Youth Caucus. Find out more information.
3. Do you have an idea? We're looking for suggestions on how we can connect with more Americans in Germany, find places to advertise, events to have and any suggestions you have to get more people to vote.  Bookmark this link and submit your ideas at any time.

Spring has sprung, and there any many new and exciting developments happening with Democrats Abroad Germany as we gear up for the summer season, which will be filled not only with the first Democratic National Committee primary debates (June 26-27) in Miami, but also plenty of chances to get involved locally with DA Germany.

In an effort to discuss the structure and goals of our organization as well as volunteer opportunities as we head towards 2020, newly elected DA Germany Chair Candice Kerestan (Munich) and Vice Chair Kenton Barnes (Braunschweig) will be holding an online “Meet and Greet” on May 4^th, 2019, from 1:30-3:30pm. All DA Germany members are warmly invited to attend. A computer/tablet with an internet connection and a working microphone are necessary to actively participate. To receive log-in information, please RSVP.  

Don’t want to wait until then to help out or learn more about DA Germany? Here’s a quick overview of how you can get involved now as well as some updates on what’s been happening with DA both in Germany and internationally:

Phone banking: Help Call DA Virginia Voters to Help Pass the ERA!

The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was first introduced in 1923. Unfortunately, although it finally passed in the U.S. House and Senate 47 years ago (March 22^nd, 1972), it has still not been ratified by the necessary 38 states. It had only 35 when it “expired” in 1982. However, based on the 27^th Amendment being ratified 203 years after it was submitted to the states, it has been deemed that the deadline was not valid. Nevada ratified the ERA in 2017 and Illinois in 2018 – meaning we only need ONE more state to ratify it for it to be written into the U.S. Constitution. 

Just a few weeks ago, Republicans stopped the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in the Virginia Legislature by a single vote! We were devastated, but not defeated!

DA has just set up new global phone banking campaigns to reach out to DA voters in Virginia where the 2019 state elections will decide the majority in both the House of Delegates and the VA State Senate. Let’s take a majority in the VA legislature and ratify the ERA!

Sign up here to be on the phone banking team and join the campaign for Virginia.

Looking for more information on the ERA? Here’s a three-minute video on Why We Need an Equal Rights Amendment. One of the best articles explaining the history and current status was in last month’s Cosmopolitan article “So Here’s Something...Women Don’t Actually Have Equal Rights Under the Constitution.” You can also watch the “Legalize Equality” video, the 30-minute must-see video on ERA – just RSVP here to receive the link. Also please check out www.democratsabroad.org/era for the latest status along with ways ALL members of DA can help no matter where you vote or live. We need your help.

DA Germany Caucus Leadership

DA Germany is looking for members interested in working with a specific set of policy issues, which is facilitated through the Democrats Abroad caucus structure. Current open positions include Chair of the LGBTQ+ Caucus, Chair of the Progressive Caucus, Chair of the Black Caucus, and Chair of the Youth Caucus (35 and under). For a description of our caucus and chair responsibilities, please visit this page.   

Democrats Abroad Germany is looking for Caucus Leaders for the following Caucuses:

• LGBT Caucus
• Progressive Caucus
  
• Black Caucus
  
• Youth Caucus

General job description for all positions:

• Disseminating information to members
• Coordinating caucus-related events in Germany
• Periodically report to the global caucus steering committee
• Finding ways to add diversity to non-caucus events
• Establishing working committees on legislative or policy issues
• Running and attending meetings
• Other duties as required

Each caucus will be represented by a Chair who is responsive to both members and any requests for action or information from the DAG Executive Committee. Additional positions may be established depending upon interest within the caucus. The Caucus Chair will be appointed by the DAG Chair with the consultation of the Executive Committee for a term of two years. The Chair may be removed by the DAG Executive Committee at any time for conduct contrary to the interests of the caucus or DAG.

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

March 6, 2019

Democrats Abroad Germany Introduces Newly Elected Executive Committee

Heidelberg - Democrats Abroad Germany, the official arm of the Democratic Party in Germany, elected its new Executive Committee at their Annual General Meeting held on February 23, 2019, in Heidelberg. Incoming leaders, who will serve in their respective positions until 2021, are responsible for upholding and supporting the work of the Democratic Party Committee Abroad in Germany.

DA Germany announces the following newly elected leaders:

At-Large Positions:

As American politics has come to the forefront of global concern with the Trump administration, DA Germany aims to be the point of contact for Americans living in Germany and help actively connect them with government and civic engagement back home.

“Following the general election in 2016, we witnessed an outpouring of concern and activity from Americans living in Germany,” noted Candice Kerestan, Chair of DA Germany. “While this momentum to make a change was reflected in the recent midterm elections – where Democrats regained the House, flipped seven governors’ mansions, and picked up hundreds of state legislative seats nationwide – we must continue building upon this to take back the White House in 2020. Moving forward, the newly elected Executive Committee is determined to keep improving outreach to Americans, provide even greater opportunities for our members to learn about and engage with US politics, and make our voices heard while living in Germany.”

The elections are one facet of an ongoing program of activities for DA Germany. For more information please visit our website at http://www.democratsabroad.org/de.

- END -

Sound the fanfare! It's with great pleasure that we announce our 2019/2020 Executive Committee (ExCom). Congratulations to everyone. 

Rebekah Rollo, Germany Legal Counsel

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.  

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.