Greetings Friends!

The 2024 Portland Pride Parade and Festival are this Saturday! The parade starts at Monument Square at 1:00 PM, will proceed along Congress Street to Congress Square Park, down High Street to Park Avenue, where it enters Deering Oaks Park by Mellen Street. The festival follows at Deering Oaks Park from 1pm to 5pm. If you would like to join us, our Dems walking group for the parade will be in Group B.

Because have been assigned to GROUP B, we will line up on Brown Street between Congress Street and Cumberland Avenue, facing Congress Street.
 
Our group will be marching under the banner of Cumberland County Democrats, and will be marching with the Portland Democrats, along with a collective of LGBTQ+ individuals, allies, and advocates who are committed to fostering a safe and supportive environment for everyone. Whether you identify as a member of the community or as an ally, we welcome you with open arms to join us! Feel free to bring friends, family members, or colleagues who share our vision of a more inclusive world. We encourage participants to wear colorful attire or rainbow-themed accessories to showcase our unity and pride.

If you have any questions or need further information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to cumberlandcountydems@gmail.com or chair@portlanddems.com. We would be more than happy to assist you.

Greetings friends!

Consider joining the Portland Dems next week for an evening hosted by the Portland Democratic City Committee and the Maine House Democratic Campaign Committee to celebrate pride month for a great cause – keeping a Democratic majority in the Maine House!First, go vote (it’s primary day) then join us for a party featuring:A performance by local drag personality Chartreuse Money Speeches by Former Speaker of the House and Maine’s first openly gay speaker Ryan Fecteau and Portland House Representative Matt Moonen A silent auction Plenty of cocktails and appetizers! Some surprise guests too!!! Tuesday, June 11th SPACE Gallery 538 Congress Street, Portland 7-10 PM The Portland Dems have graciously invited the Cumberland County Dems to raise money by donating items to the silent action. If you would like to donate a silent auction item (consider, gift certificates or art) that will benefit the Cumberland County Dems please reach out!  GRAB YOUR TICKETS HERE! Primary Elections determine each qualified party’s nomination of candidates for federal offices and State and County offices. Party candidates who are elected at the Primary qualify to appear on the November General Election ballot. Want more information?  https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/upcoming/index.html

A reminder about our upcoming short May meeting of the Cumberland County Democratic Committee. On Sunday, May 12th, from 3:00 – 4:00 PM via Zoom, we will elect those in Cumberland County still wishing to be a state delegate to the upcoming State Convention 2024. If you wish to attend the State Convention as a delegate, we will be holding elections for vacant seats – and this is your LAST opportunity if you missed your caucus or were not elected as a delegate at a follow up meeting.

Please note, this meeting is being scheduled for 60 minutes (1.0 hours) via Zoom. The Zoom information is below.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the gathering.

Welcome to New CCDC Members
Approval of Chair’s Agenda – Chair Joe Z.
Election of Delegates to State Convention (10 min)
Featured Guest Speaker – TBD (20 min)
Approval of the April Minutes – Secretary Angel B.
Treasurer’s Report – Treasurer Marcia S.
Program Committee Chair – Jay P.
Communications Chair – Chad J.
Anti-Racism and Inclusion Committee Chair – Dick F.
Fundraising Chair – Olivia V.
Municipal Committee Check Ins
Election of New CCDC Membership (At-Large Members)
New Business

Questions? Email us at cumberlandcountydems@gmail.com

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAocumgpzsjG9ZLSjz9rvYhzKpM3gVrhV4x

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Please join us for a short May meeting of the Cumberland County Democratic Committee. On Sunday, May 12th, from 3:00 – 4:00 PM via Zoom, we will elect those in Cumberland County still wishing to be a state delegate to the upcoming State Convention 2024. If you wish to attend the State Convention as a delegate, we will be holding elections for vacant seats – and this is your LAST opportunity if you missed your caucus or were not elected as a delegate at a follow up meeting. 
Please note, this meeting is being scheduled for 60 minutes (1.0 hours) via Zoom. The Zoom information is below.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the gathering. Welcome to New CCDC Members  Approval of Chair’s Agenda – Chair Joe Z.  Election of Delegates to State Convention (10 min) Featured Guest Speaker – TBD (20 min) Approval of the April Minutes – Secretary Angel B.  Treasurer’s Report – Treasurer Marcia S. Program Committee Chair – Jay P. Communications Chair – Chad J. Anti-Racism and Inclusion Committee Chair – Dick F.  Fundraising Chair – Olivia V. Municipal Committee Check Ins  Election of New CCDC Membership (At-Large Members) New Business Questions? Email us at cumberlandcountydems@gmail.com Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAocumgpzsjG9ZLSjz9rvYhzKpM3gVrhV4x  After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Charter amendments are used to make changes to the Maine Democratic Party’s Charter (internal rules) and require a minimum of 25 signatures collected from State Delegates and Alternates.

https://www.mainedems.org/2024petitions

Platform amendments are used to make changes to the Maine Democratic Party’s Platform and require a minimum of 25 signatures collected from State Delegates and Alternates.

https://www.mainedems.org/2024petitions

Every county in Maine gets a certain number of representatives to the Democratic State Committee (DSC). The DSC makes all the major decisions about how the Maine Democratic Party runs. 

The DSC meets six times each year, with the meetings being held virtually. 

Any Maine Democrat interested in running for State Committee must take out a ballot petition to run. These petitions require a minimum of 10 signatures collected from State Delegates and Alternates from within your county.

https://www.mainedems.org/2024petitions

Presidential electors cast Maine’s electoral college votes following the next presidential election. They meet in Augusta at the State Capital for this ceremonial exercise. Presidential electors are required to cast their votes in accordance with the results of the state’s presidential election results.

Any registered Maine Democrat may use this form to take out a petition to get on the ballot to run for  Presidential Elector. These petitions require 25 signatures of State Delegates and Alternates from your Congressional District.

https://www.mainedems.org/2024petitions

Maine is entitled to two representatives to the Democratic National Committee (DNC). The DNC makes all the major decisions about how the national Democratic Party runs. 

The DNC meets twice a year, once in the Washington, DC area and once at locations across the country. Its Eastern Regional caucus meets once a year. DNC members are responsible for the costs of going to the meetings which, including airfare and two to three nights in a hotel, can be expensive. Members can raise funds to defray their costs.

Any registered Maine Democrat may use this form to take out a petition to get on the ballot to run for the Democratic National Committee (DNC). These petitions require 25 signatures of State Delegates and Alternates.

https://www.mainedems.org/2024petitions

Maine is entitled to 24 pledged delegate seats at the Democratic National Convention. These seats are distributed to presidential candidates based on the Presidential Primary results. 

People who run for national delegate run for a specific category (1st Congressional District, 2nd Congressional District, At-Large, or Party Leaders & Elected Officials), and for a specific candidate who won national delegate seats in that category. If elected, they are bound to vote for that candidate at the Democratic National Convention.

Delegates are responsible for the costs of attending the convention. Expenses including airfare, hotel (four-day minimum) and food costs could run as high as $4,000. Delegates are able to raise funds to defray their costs.

Any registered Maine Democrat may use this form to take out a petition to get on the ballot to run for National Delegate. These petitions require 25 signatures of State Delegates and Alternates from the Delegate Category you select.

https://www.mainedems.org/2024petitions