John,

In this edition, we’re sharing important policy wins, our School Board endorsement results, and everything you need to know about the upcoming Democratic primary.

Let’s keep the momentum going! 💪

🏛️ Arlington County Board Updates

At its May recessed meeting, the Arlington County Board officially removed Section 7 from the Arlington County Trust Policy, ending proactive engagement with ICE. This marks a significant step in protecting our immigrant communities.

In addition, the Board passed several important resolutions:

• A formal apology for the county's past inaction regarding the federal government’s destruction of the Queen City neighborhood and the displacement of its residents.
• A resolution recognizing Pride Month and reaffirming Arlington’s commitment to the LGBTQ+ community, including pursuing legal action against the Trump Administration if necessary.

We applaud the County Board for these actions and proudly stand in support.

🗳️ School Board Endorsement

On Saturday, the Arlington Democrats concluded the 2025 School Board Endorsement Vote. With 1,288 votes, Monique "Moe" Bryant secured the endorsement as the endorsed Democratic candidate!

🎉 Congratulations, Moe! We’re ready to get out the vote for you this November.

Learn more about Moe’s campaign at: www.moeforschoolboard.com

🗳️ June Democratic Primary Candidates

Our Democratic slate isn’t complete just yet! The June Democratic Primary is underway. Here are the candidates on the ballot (by ballot order):

Lieutenant Governor 

• Levar Marcus Stoney
• Babur B. Lateef
• Aaron R. Rouse
• Victor R. Salgado
• Ghazala F. Hashmi
• Alexander J. Bastani 

Attorney General

• Shannon L. Taylor
• Jay C. Jones

House of Delegates - 1st District

• Arjoon Srikanth
• Sean Philip Epstein
• Patrick A. Hope (Incumbent)

Arlington County Board (Member At-Large)

• James DeVita
• Takis Karantonis (Incumbent)

🗳️ Early voting is happening now!
Visit vote.arlingtonva.gov/Elections for information on how and where to vote.

🗣️ AYD/ArlDems Candidate Forum

We will be hosting a County Board and HD-1 Forum on May 21st from 6 to 8 PM at NRECA. We will also be live streaming the event as well. We encourage you to attend to help you make your decision for this primary election.

~Kaitlyn 

Check out our upcoming events and more:

• AYD/ArlDems Primary Forum  | May 21st 6 - 8 PM | NRECA
• May Social Hour | May 27th 6:30 PM | TBD
• AYD Pride Brunch  | June 1st 12 PM | Punch Bowl Social

WE ARE MOVING...to a new Newsletter Platform

The AYD Executive Board has decided to end our contract with NGP VAN. This move will strengthen our organization’s financial stability and allow us to explore digital tools beyond the traditional Democratic ecosystem. Rest assured, AYD will continue to have access to key party tools through our partnership with the Arlington Democrats.

Starting in June, our newsletter will transition to Substack! Current subscribers will be automatically transferred to the new platform—no action needed, and no updates missed.

You can still find us on all our usual digital channels.

🍎 AYD Community Food Drive

The Arlington Young Democrats are stepping up to fight food insecurity—and we need your help. Now through the end of June, we’re collecting donations for the Little Free Food Pantry (LFFP) at St. John's Church in Arlington. This 24/7 pantry offers free food and essential items to our neighbors in need—and with demand rising, the shelves need restocking.

📦 What to Donate:

Non-perishable, unexpired food (no glass jars)

Canned goods, boxed meals, shelf-stable milk

Snacks, plastic utensils, and basic toiletries

🗓 How to Donate:

Bring items to any AYD event this quarter

Drop off anytime in the donation bin on the 5th Street porch of St. John's Church

Let’s come together to keep the pantry full and the community strong. 💙

Lily Franklin Fundraiser 

Join AYD for a fundraiser supporting Lily Franklin for HD-41.

As the most competitive battleground race in Virginia, this seat is a must-win for Democrats to expand their control in the Virginia House of Delegates and will have major implications for access to abortion throughout the Commonwealth. 

If she wins, Lily will be the first Democratic woman to represent Southwest VA in her lifetime!

Ticket Levels: 

Host: $500 | Hero: $250 | Supporter: $100

General: $50* | YD/Labor: $25*

*Limited Quantities

You can buy your tickets here, or by reaching out to Austin Locke at [email protected]

AYD County Board and HD-1 Forum!

Join the Arlington Young Democrats and Arlington Democrats on Wednesday, May 21, for an evening of civic engagement and candidate conversations!

We'll kick off the night with a brief general meeting, followed by a one-hour discussion featuring the candidates for Virginia’s 1st House District: Arjoon Srikanth, Sean Epstein, and Delegate Patrick Hope. After a short break, we’ll continue with a discussion between our County Board candidates, James DeVita and Takis Karantonis.

This is a great opportunity to hear directly from the candidates about their vision for Arlington and the issues that matter most to young voters.

Can’t stay for the whole evening? No problem—our event will be live-streamed and recorded so you can tune in at your convenience. We hope to see you there!

Submit your questions here.

📅 Date: Wednesday, May 21st, 2025

⏰ Time: 6:00PM

📍 NEW Location: NRECA,  4301 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22203

RSVP Here! 

Arlington Young Democrats

Our mailing address is:

Arlington Young Dems
1235 S Clark St
Suite 207
Arlington, VA 22202
United States

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