We did it! We made it through the historic and unprecedented 2020 Presidential Elections. As we are on the other side of it now, we continue to recognize that this cycle was not without upsetting losses. It is devastating to put 110% into electoral organizing and for the hard work not to translate into victories. Whether you were a candidate, staff, volunteer, or friend, we see you and we believe in you and our goals for a more Democratic future. That being said, Young Dems have a lot to celebrate statewide, while as always, there is still a lot of work to push forward.

This email will cover our achievements from the election cycle, a huge THANK YOU to all of you, a preview of what's to come in legislative session, a request for recruitment help for Town Meeting Day, and a current community crisis occurring in Manchester. 

NHYD General Election

Elected Officials Recap: Press Release here!

35 YD statewide elected officials + 1 Congressman were elected.

All 23 state house incumbents who ran were re-elected!

A record 84 young Democrats ran for office in 2020. In November’s general election, the Young Democrats supported and advised 55 young candidates running for state and county offices. This work supplemented Young Democrats’ active participation in statewide recruitment efforts with the Committee to Elect House Democrats (CEHD) and other organizational partners. Ahead of June’s filing deadline and throughout the summer, Young Democrats hosted two candidate interest nights, two Young Dems Caucus re-election workshops, and six campaign skills workshops for Young Dems candidates.

During the weeks and months leading up to the general election, NHYD organized and executed over a dozen voter contact events in support of student, parent, BIPOC & LGBTQ+, and young candidates, engaging over seventy-five volunteers to make more than 4,700 phone calls, in addition to investing thousands in candidate contributions, digital advertising, and staff time. 

TO ALL CANDIDATES AND VOLUNTEERS:

Thank you for volunteering with New Hampshire Young Democrats and/or taking the leap of faith to run for office this election cycle. The pandemic circumstances created tough times for many of us, and your generosity to give and make time to volunteer and/or run for office did not go unnoticed. Because of your support and dedication to our mission to recruit, train, and elect Young Dems to statewide offices this year, there are now 35 Young Dems serving statewide. Again, that's 31 state representatives, 2 state senators, 1 county sheriff and 1 county register of probate. You did this. We did this. 

The Work Ahead

Legislative Session:

Please be on the lookout for Friday newsletters in the coming months from NHYD to kick off legislative session and issue advocacy. We are working closely with the Young Dems Caucus to ensure policy priorities are communicated with you all, and that you are shared with opportunities for civic engagement to both defend our democratic platforms as well as to oppose harmful legislation to our communities from right-wing agendas. Make sure you and your friends are signed up to receive our emails through https://www.nhyd.org/join. Help us grow our team!

Town Meeting Day:

We know that when our democratic safety net is threatened, in this case by a loss of statewide majorities, one of our largest tools is to fight back locally. Let's head into the new year stronger than ever and with a plan to take majority in local government. Running for office locally and/or starting an initiative in your town for your Town Meeting Day warrant is a great way to gain experience in politics, civic engagement, and to make a large impact for your immediate community and day to day life. If you are at all considering running for office in the coming future, and specifically in your town this March, please fill out our candidate inquiry form through https://www.nhyd.org/elections. Alternatively, or additionally, recruit a friend and ask them to step up, too!

Our Community in Crisis

Manchester Houseless Community:

Please see the below infographics on the current situation at 300 Chestnut St in Manchester. An illegal eviction is set to occur this week of over 100 houseless folks in this community. Plans to take belongings and arrest our houseless neighbors are cruel and unjust attacks on a community that already has so little and is struggling severely with COVID-19 safety and displacement. The COVID-19 pandemic has also attributed to a rise in houselessness, and during this tragic time, our state and city of Manchester should be allocating relief funds and shelter services to this community instead of punishing and inciting further instability against them.

Please consider calling the Governor's office and the office of the Attorney General to voice your support for our houseless neighbors' right to live. Script below.

- Governor Sununu's Office: 603-271-2121

- Attorney General's Office: 603-271-3658

Please consider coming in person to Manchester to help protect the houseless community at 300 Chestnut St from eviction orders. You can sign up here.

Please consider donating food, drink and other supplies such as heaters, as mutual aid groups and protesters are occupying this space around the clock. You can view needed materials on this sign up form as well.