Young Democrats of America
Encyclopedia
The Young Democrats of America (YDA), founded in 1932, is the official youth arm of the Democratic Party
of the United States
, although it severed official ties with the Democratic National Committee
following passage of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 and became an independent 527 group
. The group's membership consists of those Democrats under the age of 36 (although two chapters allow members under the age of 40), and its political activities tend to concentrate on increasing the voter turnout of young Democrats and affecting the issues impacting that demographic group. It tends to be somewhat more focused on political activism
than the party at large.
.
Along with the national officers, YDA's national executive committee includes chairs of the nine constituency caucuses, eight regional directors, and a variety of appointed officers.
The President, Democratic National Committeeman, and Democratic National Committeewoman are automatic members of the Democratic National Committee
, and superdelegates to any Democratic National Convention occurring during their terms.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, although it severed official ties with the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
following passage of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 and became an independent 527 group
527 group
A 527 organization or 527 group is a type of American tax-exempt organization named after "Section 527" of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code...
. The group's membership consists of those Democrats under the age of 36 (although two chapters allow members under the age of 40), and its political activities tend to concentrate on increasing the voter turnout of young Democrats and affecting the issues impacting that demographic group. It tends to be somewhat more focused on political activism
Activism
Activism consists of intentional efforts to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing...
than the party at large.
2011-2013 YDA Leadership
YDA membership elects seven national officers biannually at the organization's National Conventions and two DNC representatives in even-numbered years. These officers, as well as six "stakeholders" who are leaders in other related organizations form the national board of directors, which deals with day-to-day management of the organization. The officers were elected at the 2011 YDA National Convention in Louisville, KentuckyLouisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
.
Along with the national officers, YDA's national executive committee includes chairs of the nine constituency caucuses, eight regional directors, and a variety of appointed officers.
The President, Democratic National Committeeman, and Democratic National Committeewoman are automatic members of the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
, and superdelegates to any Democratic National Convention occurring during their terms.
National Elected Officers
- President: Rod Snyder of West VirginiaWest VirginiaWest Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
- Executive Vice President: Colmon Elridge of KentuckyKentuckyThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
- Vice President: Kristin Aschenbrenner of South DakotaSouth DakotaSouth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
- Vice President: Atima Omara-Alwala of VirginiaVirginiaThe Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
- Vice President: Mike Corbett of New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
- Democratic National Committeeman: Francisco DomenechFrancisco DomenechFrancisco J. Domenech is the former Director of the Office of Legislative Services of Puerto Rico .- Superdelegate controversy :...
of Puerto RicoPuerto RicoPuerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
(serving 2010-2012) - Democratic National Committeewoman: Hon. Stephanie Hausner of New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
(serving 2010-2012) - Secretary: Emily Robinson of IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
- Treasurer: Jonathan Padilla of CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
Caucus Chairs
- College Caucus Chair: Benjamin Goodman of MaineMaineMaine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
- Disability Issues Caucus Chair: Dustin Hausner of New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
- High School CaucusYoung Democrats of America High School CaucusThe Young Democrats of America High School Caucus is the official national federation/organization of high school students in the Democratic Party of the United States...
Chair: Samina Hydery of New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east... - Jewish Caucus Chair: Alexander Lewy of FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
- Labor Caucus Chair: Rocco Giammaria of PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
- LGBTQ Caucus Chair: Kristian Cosme of FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
- Minority Caucus Chair: Ralph Johnson of LouisianaLouisianaLouisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
- Rural Caucus Chair: Travis Scott of KentuckyKentuckyThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
- Veterans and Military Affairs Caucus Chair: Matthew Silverstein of New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
- Women's Caucus Chair: Jillian Cardillo of MassachusettsMassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
Other Elected Leaders
- Chair - State Presidents Association: Chris James (NJ)
- Secretary - State Presidents Association: Yaakov "Jake" Weissmann (MD)
See also
- College Democrats of America
- Young Democrats of America High School CaucusYoung Democrats of America High School CaucusThe Young Democrats of America High School Caucus is the official national federation/organization of high school students in the Democratic Party of the United States...
- Young Republican National Federation
External links
- Young Democrats of America - national website
- YDA Facebook Page
- YDA Twitter account
- YDA YouTube channel
- YDA MySpace page
- whYDA.org - Why I'm Voting Democrat - A YDA Project
- High School Democrats of America - A YDA Project