Democrats across Indian River County have been busy in the two weeks since our last newsletter. Our community celebrated Juneteenth during our Democratic Club meeting and by tabling at the Gifford celebratory event. Our leaders attended Leadership Blue 2025 to learn more about the party's NEW year-round organizing program, and we moved into a beautiful new office! We're giving away furniture for FREE on Monday and Tuesday. Keep reading on for the details.
The Democrats of Indian River are excited for all that’s to come as we approach the 2025 and 2026 elections. You can be part of the momentum by participating in this weekend’s statewide “Weekend of Action” to remind voters to request their vote-by-mail ballots.
Our DEC Chair, Bill Evans, also has a message for you below.
From Your DEC Chair, Bill Evans
I wanted to acknowledge the amazing turnout and the incredible energy exhibited at the "No Kings" and "No Clowns" protests on the 14th in both Vero Beach and Sebastian. The commitment and concern shown by the 2,000+ local residents who attended was truly inspiring. It was, by many accounts, the largest peacetime national rally in American history. We made front-page headlines in local press outlets all along the Treasure Coast.
Many of you approached our organizers during the protests asking, "What else can we do?" We're planning to continue our protest efforts, but to create lasting change in our local community, we're encouraging everyone to get involved in our broader outreach efforts. There are several important ways you can support us:
Run for Office
We need candidates to run for local positions such as City Councils, County Commissions, School Boards, and even statewide offices in order to hold Republican officeholders accountable. If you're interested, we will support you throughout your campaign.
Volunteer with Us
Once we’re settled into our new office, we’ll begin a range of outreach activities including canvassing, phone banking, voter registration, and building neighborhood alliances. Your help will be essential to making this happen.
Help Run the Organization
We are looking for specific volunteers:
A Webmaster to maintain and improve our website
An Assistant Treasurer to help prepare financial reports for the DEC
Office Volunteers to assist with daily operations and join our outreach committees
If you're interested in getting involved, call our office today at (772) 226-5267. Together, we can make responsible change in our local community and work to influence our state legislature.
Thank you for your support!
Swing by our old office at 2345 14th Ave, #7, Vero Beach, FL 32960 on Monday (6/30) or Tuesday (7/1) between 10AM and 3PM to pick up any remaining furniture or items; we're giving it all away for free! Just bring a dolly and something to haul it in.
🇺🇸 Volunteer with us at the 4th of July Freedom Festival! 🎆
We’re hosting a booth at Riverview Park in Sebastian for the 2025 Freedom Festival, and we need your help! Join us as we celebrate Independence Day with the community while taking action to protect our democracy.
Volunteer tasks include:
Helping voters request their Vote-by-Mail ballots
Gathering signatures for the Medicaid expansion petition
Engaging with festival-goers and sharing information about how to get involved
This is a fun, meaningful way to connect with your neighbors and make a real impact.
📍 Where: Riverview Park, Sebastian, FL
📅 When: July 4, 2025
⏰ Time: shifts from 10am to 5pm
Sign up to volunteer today and be part of the movement to protect our freedoms and build a stronger community! Pro Tip: Don't forget to bring a lawn chair as seating will be limited.
Gifford’s Juneteenth event was once again a resounding success; both a celebration and a solemn reminder of the hard-won freedoms Black Americans have had and continue to fight for.
A huge thank you to the 50+ passionate volunteers who stepped up at our Juneteenth Table. Together, we gathered nearly 60 Medicaid expansion petitions and connected with dozens of new community members ready to take action.
Join the Florida Democratic Party for thier Statewide Weekend of Action and continued year-round effort to reconnect with Democratic voters and help them stay vote-ready. No experience necessary, just a willingness to make a difference. They’ll provide the training and support you need.
As of January 1, more than 1.2 million Democrats have been removed from Florida’s Vote-by-Mail rolls. During this phonebank, you’ll contact voters who had a mail ballot in 2024 but haven’t yet re-enrolled—helping them take the steps to stay on track for future elections.
Last weekend, county DEC members attended the Leadership Blue 2025 event in Hollywood, Florida, where the Florida Democratic Party introduced its plan for year-round organizing.
Only three states currently practice year-round organizing and all three have a Democratic governor. With Indian River County joining forces with Democrats across the state, Florida is on track to become the fourth!
From recruiting candidates to registering voters and maintaining consistent voter outreach, Florida’s ground game just received a complete overhaul. It will take a dedicated team of volunteers to make this effort a success, and we encourage you to become a volunteer HERE.
Run For Office
FROM OUR CANDIDATE COMMITTEE
In 2025, City Council elections will be held in Fellsmere, Sebastian, and Vero Beach. County and state elections follow in 2026. Running for office is a meaningful way to impact your community. Many local positions are paid, include some insurance benefits and are non-partisan. If you're interested in running, contact us to set up an info session or one-on-one meeting. Getting on the ballot is straightforward, and support is available to help you run a successful campaign.
Get Involved contact the Indian River Candidate Committee through the office or [email protected] for support in your journey.
FROM THE FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
All Candidates Call June 30 @ 7 PM EST
Hosted by the Florida Democratic Party
During this call, you’ll learn about the resources available to all Democratic candidates and those considering running for office and come away with practical steps you can take to launch your political campaign. If you’re a registered Democrat thinking about running for office in Florida or in the beginning stages of starting your campaign, this call is for you! You must pre-register to attend. Pre-register HERE.
Complete FDP's Run for Office Form to be added to their candidate newsletter and stay in the loop on how FDP supports our candidates!
Looking To Volunteer, Intern, or Work For a Campaign? | Resume Bank Form
Environmental Caucus of Florida Update on "Alligator Alcatraz"
"Just a few days ago, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that Gov. DeSantis is using his emergency powers to build "Alligator Alcatraz" in the Everglades.
The Florida Everglades will become home to MAGA/DeSantis scapegoating and cruelty to immigrants - kidnapping people off the streets, no due process, no oversight to ensure that those jailed have access to food, needed medical care, safe and sanitary housing conditions, access to family or lawyers.
This extreme cruelty is happening all while desecrating the Florida Everglades, one of the most fragile ecosystems on earth, and home to sacred Tribal grounds.
All Floridians are mobilizing to stop this. Below, please look at the ways you can make your voice heard, and read a press release issued on June 24, 2025, from the Florida Democratic Party Chair, Nikki Fried."
Judy Freiberg, J.D.
President, Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida
President, Collier County chapter of the Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida
State Committeewoman [email protected]
314-409-9548
Local Democratic Meetings
DEMOCRATS OF INDIAN RIVER Volunteer with Democrats of Indian River HERE
Democratic Executive Committee (DEC) Meeting Thursday, July 24th, 2025 at 6pm Vero Beach Main Library Multi-Media Room
Steering Committee Meeting Thursday, July 17th, 2025 at 5pm Online/Zoom
Fall MeetingTBD
Join the NEW Democratic Club of Indian River event information blast. We're heading up a handful of new promotional efforts to make a greater impact in the Treasure Coast. From coordinating focus groups to hosting entertaining speakers and throwing grand balls, we make it happen and want you to be there.
DWC Book Group Meeting Friday, June 27th, 2025 2-4 p.m.
Brackett Library, 6155 College Lane, Vero Beach
Bjorkman Room (to your left when your enter the library)
Indian River State College, Mueller Campus
Book Title: The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an Epidemic of Mental Illness
Author: Jonathan Haidt
DWC Book Group Meeting Friday, July 25th, 2025 2-4 p.m.
Brackett Library, 6155 College Lane, Vero Beach
Bjorkman Room (to your left when your enter the library)
Indian River State College, Mueller Campus
Book Title: Attack From Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America
Author: Barbara McQuade
Education Champions Monthly Meeting 2nd Thursday of each month at 1:00 p.m.
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Education Champions is a grassroots organization whose mission is to be a positive, proactive force for addressing public education issues on the local, state and national levels.
GOVERNMENT MEETINGS
School District of Indian River County Find School Board meeting details here.
Indian River County
2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month 9 a.m. Board of County Commission Meeting. Details here. Watch live here.
City of Vero Beach 2nd & 4th Tuesday of the month 9:30 a.m. Regular City Council Meeting. Details here.
Town of Indian River Shores Find Town Council meeting details here.
City of Fellsmere
1st & 3rd Thursday of the Month Regular City Council Meeting details here.
City of Sebastian
2nd & 4th Wednesday of the Month Find Regular City Council Meeting Details here.
