Hello Democrats!
With just 75 days to go until ballots drop on October 15th, it's time to gear up for an exciting election season! First off, a huge thank you to President Biden for his incredible leadership during such a historic time. He’s made a real difference in our lives, tackling big issues like the economy, infrastructure, climate change, and appointing the first Black woman to the Supreme Court.
I'm pumped to give my enthusiastic endorsement to Vice President Kamala Harris as our nominee. She's a powerhouse who’s ready to take on the challenges ahead and continue the progress we've made. We are not going back!
If you've been thinking about getting involved, now’s your chance. We’re feeling the Kamala effect, and it’s time to lace up our Converse, hit the streets, or get on the phones. Let’s harness this momentum and make a real impact together.
Thanks for being part of our team. Let’s make history again!
Sign up to Phone Bank and Canvass!
This month we started hosting weekly phone banks to elect Democrats here in Salt Lake County through our coordinated campaign Organize Utah and we need help. Our first several phone banks have been very successful, but we need more volunteers making calls. Talking to voters directly is the number one way that you can help elect Democrats in Salt Lake County and support Kamala Harris for president, so please sign up today to join us at one of our weekly Saturday or Wednesday Phone Banks.
We are also excited to announce that we will be starting weekly coordinated canvass launches at locations throughout the county starting Saturday, August 10th at 10AM. Please sign up to join as we knock doors to elect Democrats in Salt Lake County.
Can't Canvass? We Need Data Entry and Supporter Housing Volunteers
We all know not all of our supporters are able to knock doors or make phone calls. While those are the ways that we need the most help, there are two other important ways you can help our election efforts:
1) Supporter Housing
We have some campaign organizers coming from outside Utah to help us elect Democrats here in Salt Lake County and we need your help housing them. If you have an extra room, home, apartment, etc, in Salt Lake County, you can help our efforts to elect more Democrats by letting a party staffer stay with you. We just ask that the space has a lockable door to ensure that our staff member is safe and has some privacy.
2) Data Entry
We need help with simple data entry and you can help us organize our volunteer data better. No special skills or experience needed, just willingness to learn. If you can give us 2 hours of your time we can knock this project out in a couple weeks.
If you are able to help with either of these needs please reach out to nick@slcountydems.com.
July was Hot, Hot, Hot – And We are Just Getting Started
Second Biennial Fourth of July Parade Crawl
Our largest delegation ever kicked off the morning in the Murray parade before heading to Magna and Sandy. Meanwhile, other dedicated volunteers marched in the South Salt Lake, Millcreek, and West Jordan parades. Visibility matters, and team—this year, we were truly visible. It was amazing to see so many supporters coming together to celebrate and show our Democratic pride across the county!
Four Jam-Packed Weekends of Canvassing
July was a busy month with a record-setting seven canvasses that began on Saturday, July 20th, supporting candidates like King (Governor), Smith (HD42), Arthur (SBOE7), Atencio (Jordan 5), Pinkney (SLCo At Large), Dominguez (HD35), Fitisemanu (HD30), Gatrell (SBOE10), and Olsen (County Council 2). Our volunteers hit the streets every weekend, knocking on doors and connecting with voters, spreading the word about the incredible Democratic candidates running this election cycle.
Weekly Phone Banks
Our weekly phone banks are in full swing, reaching out to thousands of Democrats across the state, many for the first time. In a recent session, over 90% of respondents expressed their support for Vice President Harris as the nominee for President! It’s amazing to see this level of unity and enthusiasm among our community.
Tabling at Community Events
We were thrilled to have a presence at the Venture Out Festival, Deseret Marathon, and the Burning Sissy Valley POC Pride event. These gatherings provided fantastic opportunities to engage with diverse community members, share our message, register voters, and build support for our candidates. A huge thank you to everyone who helped make these events successful!
Countywide Call with Chair Velazquez
We concluded the month with an incredible countywide call led by Chair Velazquez, bringing together nearly 300 people who understood the assignment: rally support for VP Harris. We had an incredible lineup of guest speakers, including Rep. Angela Romero, Sen. Karen Kwan, Councilwoman Natalie Pinkney, Mayor Monica Zoltanski, Rep. Gay Lynn Bennion, Darlene McDonald, Verona Mauga, YDU President Emma Fetzer, Sen. Nate Blouin, Hoang Nguyen, and DNC Committee Woman-elect Clare Collard. Their insights and energy were inspiring, and their messages resonated with everyone on the call.
Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to making July such a successful month. Let's keep the momentum going as we move closer to Election Day!
More Events
Organize Utah Intern Spotlight
Martin "Martian" Gassner
Hi, My name is Martian Gassner!
I am 33 years old and I am a student at the University of Utah. I enjoy getting outside and going hiking, playing frisbee golf with my friends, and going camping. In my free time, I like working on my massive garden in my backyard, or hanging out with my dog Timothy and my two kittens: Shirley and Watson.
I am currently pursuing a degree in communications with an emphasis in strategic communication. After I graduate from the U, I want to work in the PR industry managing a company's image and brand, or work on local political campaigns to help turn Utah into a blue state.
I have a passion for communication, specifically how dialogue can help us change our society for the better. Using it as a tool to create healthy disagreements and communication bridges with people by incorporating conversation guard rails and facilitating spaces for people to be heard and understood.
In Closing…
As we wrap up this edition, I want to make an impassioned plea to each of you: consider volunteering. Whether it's knocking on doors, making phone calls, or simply asking, "How can I help?"—every action makes a difference. Even if you've never volunteered before, now is the perfect time to start.
I want to honor the memory of my dear friend Robert Comstock, who recently passed away. Despite using a walker and undergoing dialysis multiple times a week, Robert enthusiastically spent his dialysis time calling thousands of Democrats. He was legally blind but he never let that hold him back. His dedication and spirit were truly inspiring. Let's all strive to be like Robert, giving what we can to support the causes we believe in.
Jade Velazquez
Chairman of the Salt Lake County Democratic Party