A Message from Young Democrats of America President Quentin Wathum-Ocama
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Dear Young Democrats and Supporters —
We find ourselves confronting a presidency that has rapidly dismantled democratic norms, undermined civil liberties, and prioritized authoritarian power over the public good. Donald Trump’s return to the White House has been marked by a barrage of executive actions and policies that threaten the very fabric of our democracy.
In just a few months, Trump has:
- Illegally imposed sweeping tariffs under the guise of national emergency, a move recently struck down by a federal court for exceeding presidential authority.
- Revived “Schedule F”, making it easier to purge federal employees and replace them with loyalists, effectively politicizing the civil service.
- Targeted marginalized communities, including rolling back protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, limiting access to abortion and gender-affirming care, and pushing state-level laws designed to intimidate voters and criminalize protest.
- Issued controversial pardons, including for January 6 rioters convicted of assaulting police officers and attempting to overturn the results of a free and fair election.
- Undermined foreign policy, taking an increasingly erratic and isolationist approach that alienates our allies, weakens support for countries like Ukraine, and emboldens authoritarian regimes.
These actions are not isolated—they are part of a coordinated effort outlined in Project 2025, a right-wing blueprint to dismantle our institutions, concentrate power in the executive branch, and roll back decades of progress on civil rights, environmental protections, and public education.
And yet—young people continue to rise.
We are organizing for justice, mobilizing our communities, and standing up for a future rooted in dignity, freedom, and fairness. Whether in the streets, at the ballot box, or in our neighborhoods, we are proving that this generation will not back down.
The work ahead will continue to be hard, but it is necessary. We must stay informed, build power at the local level, support one another, and fight like hell for the future we believe in.
Together, we are the firewall. Together, we are the future.
In solidarity and hope,
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Quentin Wathum-Ocama
President, Young Democrats of America
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Is there a YDA local, chartered unit or caucus event that should be listed in our next newsletter? Email us at [email protected] to let us know.
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Share Your Photos & Content with YDA
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Do you have photos of events you or your chapter have hosted? Here at YDA, we love to highlight and celebrate our chapters. Please DM us photos of the exciting things your chapter has been up to. Photos can be submitted by messaging @theyoungdemocrats on Instagram
You can also DM us on twitter (@YoungDems) with posts or content you want us to share or boost. Always feel free to email us at [email protected] with any questions or concerns.
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Young Dems Actions and Events
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YDA 2025 Convention — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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The 2025 Young Democrats of America National Convention is coming up, and you won’t want to miss this incredible opportunity to connect, learn, and lead. From July 17-20, 2025, we’re heading to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The theme for this convention is YDA Philly: The Next Revolution as we celebrate the upcoming 250th anniversary of our country's founding and the beginning of the American Revolution in the place where our country was born. We have three programming tracks: Resolution, Renaissance, and Resurgence , addressing where we have come from, what we are doing, and where we are going in advocacy, career development, and leadership training as we head into this new era of Democratic politics and a next generation of leadership.
Register & Book Your Hotel Today:
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Young Democrats Appointed to Key DNC Roles and Committees
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Young Democrats are continuing to make history at the national level. DNC Chair Ken Martin recently appointed several members of the Young Democrats of America and the DNC Youth Council to influential roles across the Democratic National Committee.
Stephanie Campanha Wheaton was appointed to the Rules & Bylaws Committee—believed to be the first person under 35 to serve on the RBC in at least a decade. Nathaniel Robert received an At-Large DNC seat, while Coby Owens and Matt Hughes were appointed to the Credentials Committee. Jason Park, Cory Lemke, and Oregon Chair Nathan Soltz will serve on the Resolutions Committee.
These appointments reflect a growing commitment to uplifting young voices and ensuring the future of the Party is shaped by those who will carry it forward.
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Young Democrats in the News
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Young Democratic candidates are pushing to redefine the party’s future
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PBS News - Young Democratic candidates are launching primary bids for national office in hopes of charting a new path forward for a party in disarray. We hear from three of those candidates, Mallory McMorrow, Jake Rakov and Kat Abughazaleh, about what they think the Democratic Party needs to do to win.
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Young Democrats look to bulldoze the old guard ahead of the midterms
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GZERO - As the Democrats start plotting their fight back into power in the 2026 midterms, one issue has come up again and again.
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As the Democrats start plotting their fight back into power in the 2026 midterms, Anderson Clayton has a suggestion about who should lead that fight.
“Young people have the energy and the mobility to reshape the party in ways which older generations, quite frankly, are not interested in.”
Clayton speaks with authority on this matter. At 27 years old, the North Carolina native is the country's youngest state party chair. She won the highest organizational position in the swing-state’s Democratic Party at 25.
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DNC vice-chair David Hogg on Democratic party: ‘We need to dramatically change’
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The Guardian - Hogg, a Florida activist, presses on importance of strong fighters in face of Trump for ‘isolated’ Democratic base
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“The base of the party, they just want us to do anything,” the 25-year-old Florida activist and Democratic National Committee (DNC) vice-chair said in an interview last week. “They feel alone, they feel isolated, they feel unheard, and they feel like they’re not being fought for.”
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YDA Volunteer, Engagement, & Feedback Opportunities
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Don't Forget Your YDA Merch!
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Organizing never goes out of season — and neither does great YDA merch. Stock up at store.yda.org
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YDA Volunteer, Engagement, & Feedback Opportunities
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2025 YDA Convention - Call for Workshops
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We are gearing up for an exciting convention this year in Philadelphia and that means putting together panels, workshops, and trainings that will be impactful to all of our members traveling from all corners of the country. And that's why we want to hear from you!
If you have any ideas or requests, below is a form for a call to workshops for the 2025 YDA Convention in Philadelphia. Please fill out all the information requested to the best of your ability. Please remember the more information you provide about the workshops, the better. We will reach out to every person or organization for clarification and to finalize all details.
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The Young Democrats of America (YDA) is the official youth wing of the Democratic Party of the United States and the oldest partisan youth organization in the country. To help us mobilize the next generation of Democrats, donate anything you can afford right now to YDA.
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Monthly donations truly help sustain our work.
If you're ready to support Young Democrats, please:
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Contributions or gifts to the Young Democrats of America are not tax
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