Monday’s Supreme Court ruling in Trump v. United States is deeply concerning and sets a dangerous precedent. Conservative justices, appointed in part by Donald Trump, have eliminated a crucial safeguard as Trump continues towards authoritarian rule. This ruling facilitates Trump's stated ambitions to rule as a dictator from "day one," dismantle constitutional protections, replace nonpartisan government officials with loyalists, and misuse governmental authority against both citizens and political opponents. While the stakes were already significant before this week's decision, they are are now even higher, posing a direct threat to American democracy.

Our nation needs leadership committed to defending democracy and the rule of law. The American people deserve a president who prioritizes their interests and upholds constitutional norms, rather than one who considers himself above legal constraints. Voters must reject Trump's bid for reelection and instead support Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in November. This year's election is a critical opportunity to prevent Trump's self-serving agenda from further eroding democratic principles.

Highlighting Trump's weaknesses, Biden acknowledged that while he may not debate as effectively as before, he's resilient and bounces back when knocked down. Biden articulated a vision for the future focused on safeguarding democracy, protecting fundamental freedoms, and ensuring equal opportunities for all. He underscored the dangers Trump poses to working families, democracy, and the nation's future.

Biden also called out Trump for his series of falsehoods during the recent debate:

• Trump lied about his mishandling of the pandemic, which led to business closures, school shutdowns, and economic hardship.
• He lied about his mistreatment of veterans, whom he derogatorily called 'suckers' and 'losers'.
• Trump also lied about his involvement in the January 6th insurrection.

The president pointed out that the rare instances when Trump spoke truthfully, he doubled down on his divisive policies:

• Trump refused to commit to respecting election results.
• He praised efforts to overturn Roe v. Wade.
• Trump defended tax cuts benefiting the ultra-wealthy.

In essence, Biden framed the election choice starkly: Trump threatens to undermine democracy, while Biden pledges to defend it with unwavering commitment.

What is a Poll Watcher? A poll watcher is an individual designated by a candidate, political party, or political committee to watch and observe the conduct of elections. We are searching for individuals to join our poll watching team. 

To learn more about joining this team, please contact the Democrats of Indian River office at 772-226-5267.

In Indian River County, 'ghost candidates' are robbing tens of thousands of voters of their choices by exploiting loopholes to avoid fees and signature requirements, ensuring their names never appear on ballots. Despite their low visibility after qualifying, their mere presence mandates closed primaries, disenfranchising a significant portion of the electorate.

For instance, Deborah Cooney and Keith Ridings are write-in candidates for Sheriff and the District 5 County Commission seat in Indian River County. This situation diverges from typical Florida elections, where all voters can participate in primaries if all candidates come from one party, regardless of their own party affiliation. However, a constitutional amendment in 1998, designed to promote open primaries under such circumstances, inadvertently created a major loophole when a single write-in candidate enters the race.

Approximately 58,104 Indian River County voters who aren't registered as Republicans will be unable to vote for their next Sheriff or District 5 commissioner. This exclusion affects nearly half of the county's 117,226 voters, denying them a meaningful voice in these pivotal elections.

View which candidates will be on the August Democratic Primary ballot HERE.

The Indian River County School Board recently sparked national attention by banning the book "Ban This Book."

Jennifer Pippin, president of the local Moms for Liberty chapter, led the effort to ban the book citing concerns over sexual content. However, "Ban This Book" itself contains no such content.

The children's novel tells the story of a fictional fourth grader who covertly creates a library of banned books after the school board removes numerous titles from shelves. The tale's rogue librarian is eventually caught and comes to realize the consequences of her actions.

Pippin objected to the book due to its references to other works that allegedly include sexual themes. Despite these books not being available in Indian River County schools, three out of five board members found these references problematic.

Kevin McDonald, recently appointed to the board by the Governor, argued that students can access these other books elsewhere once they become aware of them. McDonald and two of his colleagues also had additional concerns about "Ban This Book," viewing its storyline as potentially encouraging rebellion against school board authority. 

The decision to remove "Ban This Book" from school libraries was supported by board members Gene Posca and Jacqueline Rosario, resulting in a narrow 3-2 vote in favor of the ban. Earlier, McDonald had advocated following the recommendations of a minority faction within the school advisory panel that opposed the book, contradicting the majority's stance to retain it.

Critics argue that banning a book merely because it challenges authority is akin to authoritarianism.

View which school board candidates will be on the August Democratic Primary ballot HERE.

Every Tuesday at 6pm-7:30pm, the Voter Registration Department at FDP will be hosting voter registration specific virtual phone banks on Zoom. Click here to join the weekly phone banks on Tuesdays at 6pm-7pm ET.

Join Yes on 4 for weekly virtual phone banks. Call voters to invite them to take action and support Yes on 4 this election cycle. No experience is necessary. Training and support provided.

As we gear up for the 2024 election year, we're on the lookout for a talented and dedicated Social Media Intern to help us spread our message, engage with voters, and amplify our impact online. This is a part-time, paid internship opportunity. To apply for the Social Media Intern position, please send your resume to [email protected].