What a roller coaster of a year! Through the ups and downs, Teton Dems stayed focused and kept our eyes on the prize.
Reconnecting at Our Potluck
The year began with a congenial potluck supper and trivia party at the Old Wilson Schoolhouse. About 70 people welcomed the opportunity to gather in person, enjoy a wide variety of delicious dishes and test their knowledge of local history and politics.
Reaching Out on Housing
On June 5, we hosted an Affordable Housing Block Party at the Center for the Arts.
Attendees learned about housing solutions and challenges from the Teton County Housing Department, Jackson Hole Community Housing Trust, Teton Habitat for Humanity, ShelterJH and the One22 Resource Center, as well as from Jackson Mayor Hailey Morton Levinson and County Commission Chair Natalia Macker.
With the help of Voices JH, we spread word to our Hispanic community and provided Spanish translation from Nataly Espinoza.
Rallying for Reproductive Rights
When the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade on June 24, Teton Dems were strongly represented at a rally on the Town Square that day, and then again for Bans Off Our Bodies rallies in late July. And we'll keep turning out until reproductive rights are ensured for all.
Marching Forward on the Fourth
Come July 4th, we had a great crowd march in the parade, and were so happy to have our unofficial mascots join us again.
Party Switching for Democracy
The eyes of millions were focused on Wyoming as the August primary approached. We were contacted by news organizations from around the world, including Nippon TV, Al Jazeera, and the Financial Times, as well as all the major U.S. news networks, who were eager to hear about party switching and whether Liz Cheney could win. Even though a large percentage of Teton Dems changed their registration, we know what happened. (Please remember to switch back – the 2024 Democratic caucus will be here before you know it!)
They Outspent Us. We Outvoted Them.
As election season heated up, we were outspent, but not outvoted. We did more with less, promoting our candidates:
At our October 4 Stumps on Stumps candidate event (pictured above), graciously hosted by the Linn Ranch
In social media posts and ads
In Google search and display ads
In several print ads in the Jackson Hole News & Guide
At our October 26 phone banking event
We reached more than 6,600 targeted Teton County voters an average of five times with community-centric messages on social media during the general election. Our various efforts drove more than 1,600 local voters to our website at TetonDems.org to learn more about our Democratic candidates and party platform.
Teton County Votes Even Bluer
In the end, Teton County Democrats not only retained all six incumbents who ran for Town Council, County Commission or State Legislature, but also gained a seat on the Commission with the election of Wes Gardner, and maintained the seat left by outgoing Representatve Andy Schwartz with the election of Liz Storer in House District 23.
Thank you again to all our candidates, and for all you did to support them. We won’t be resting on our laurels, though. Stay tuned for ways to get involved and for our second-annual Potluck next March.
Lastly, if you have time this Monday, please stop by the Wort to thank Andy Schwartz and our other outgoing civil servants for all their hard work:
