Young Dems Running!

In the 2024 General Election cycle, we saw 14 Young Democrats win throughout Kentucky!

Rep. Rachel Roarx, House District 38

Joshua Watkins, House District 42

Adam Moore, House District 45

Rep. Lindsey Burke, House District 75

Sen. Cassie Chambers, Senate District 19

Josie Raymond, Louisville Metro Council District 10

Tyler Morton, Lexington-Fayette Urban City Council District 1

Emma Curtis, Lexington-Fayette Urban City Council District 4

Katima Smith-Willis, Frankfort City Commissioner, Vice Mayor

Jake Denniston, Campton City Commissioner, Vice Mayor

Ruth Gao, Jeffersontown City Council

William Compton, Plum Springs City Commissioner

Nicholas Hazelett, Paintsville City Council

Ian Vansteenbergh, Midway City Council

An Open Letter to Kentucky Young Democrats

An Open Letter to the Kentucky Young Democrats (KYD)

In light of April being sexual assault awareness month, and the many questions surrounding our recent changes in leadership, I am writing this letter to notify our members of amendments that have been made to our bylaws. 

View the Anti-Harassment Policy Amendment / View the Removal of Members Amendment

My term as President began on January 30, since which my team and I have taken time to do a deep dive into how we can create a better culture within KYD. One built on understanding, trust, and commitment to what is right--not allegiances to friends, archaic traditions, or personal vendettas. These bylaw amendments are just the first of many steps to  creating a safe, inclusive and open environment for all our members.

To be clear, the Kentucky Young Democrats  has always stood firmly against sexual assault, harassment or violence of any nature. We  acknowledge the need for organizations and systems everywhere to change how they protect women wherever and whoever they are. However before we can effectively advocate for the change we want, we have to be that change. That’s why earlier this month, our state board temporarily passed Anti-Harassment and Removal of Members policies to our state bylaws. We hope to send a clear signal to everyone that this type of behavior will not ever be tolerated. Furthermore, we would like all victims of sexual assault to know, that our organization believes you, and that we stand in solidarity with the justice you deserve. 

But there is still work to do, and we need your help. These changes can only be made permanent through a ⅔ majority at our annual state convention June 12-13.

No one person or group can make this change, it has to be a collective change that we commit to facilitating together. We also understand that there may be other changes that need to be made and we encourage you to submit those changes here. Our bylaws committee will review and vote on them to be submitted to the convention body by May 28. We need to get this right, and every single member of leadership is dedicated to that goal, but the only way we get there is together.

I am honored to be the President of Kentucky Young Democrats, but I am even more proud to be a Kentuckian, like all of you. . So many Kentuckians  are making positive changes in their  communities whether it is organizing for workers’ rights, fighting  for civil rights, raising money for nonprofits, cleaning up your state parks , feeding their  neighborhoods, educating our children, working in public service, running for office, running a campaign or serving in party leadership. I know, together,  we have the power to make a difference--because so many of us already are. 

This year, we have the chance to fight against sexual assault, racism, unfair housing practices, police brutality and tyranny. We can stand up for universal childcare, for a $15 minimum wage, for an equitable healthcare system that doesn’t bankrupt working families, and accessible clean water. But we will continue to lose in this fight if we don’t stand together.

Let’s build.

In solidarity,

Stephon Moore

Update on KYD State Convention and COVID-19

Following advice from Governor Beshear and the CDC, the Kentucky Young Democrats Executive Committee met last night and voted to postpone the 2020 KYD State Convention scheduled for April 4th and 5th.

These are our plans moving forward for the Convention.

On April 4th, we will move to online voting for our new KYD Officers. We will also have a live stream for attendees to hear from our candidates for KYD office as well as candidates for the US Senate. Voting procedure will be the same as if the election was held in person. Each chapter’s voting delegates must have a convention ticket in order to cast their votes and their votes will be weighted based on the mileage ratio from their county to the convention county. These tickets will be honored at our later in-person convention.

We have worked with Capital Plaza Hotel to reschedule the in-person Convention for just Saturday, August 22nd. As I stated before, all tickets purchased in order to vote in our elections will be honored for the new event. If you have a hotel room reserved, you can reach out to the hotel and see about either canceling your reservation or moving it to the new date. The room block rate will still be available for anyone leading up to the new convention date. We will also be working to make sure that all of our speakers are able to attend with our new date.

If you are unable to attend this new date or participate in our online elections we will offer ticket refunds.

This is obviously uncharted territory for our organization, but given the very real health risks associated with meeting in large groups right now; we feel that we could not endanger the health of our members. We are working our hardest to still make this a successful convention. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to email us at communications@kyyoungdems.com

Clayton Brown
President, Kentucky Young Democrats

2019 KYD State Convention - SAVE THE DATE

SAVE THE DATE!

We are excited to announce that our 2019 State Convention will be held at the KY Dam Village State Resort Park in Gilbertsville, KY on Saturday, April 6th! There will be a Friday Kick-Off event on April 5th at the Harbor Lights Restaurant at the State Park.

Tickets and hotel lodging details will be coming this week, so stay tuned! If you have any questions feel free to email us at communications@kyyoungdems.com

A Message from our New President & the Wendell Ford Dinner After Dark Party

Fellow Young Democrats,

It was an honor to be elected as the 56th President of the Kentucky Young Democrats last month in Morehead! Throughout my years of service in KYD, as Vice President of Recruitment and as Chairman of the YDA Rural Caucus, I have strived to build and grow this organization into the backbone of the Democratic Party in Kentucky, and I will continue work to make sure that Young Democrats are active in every community: from Pike County to Fulton County, from Kenton County to Pulaski County.

I’m not alone in this: we elected an excellent executive committee in Morehead as well:

Vice President of Programming: Liz Fossett of Covington: Former KYD President and National Committeewoman.

Vice President of Recruitment: Alex Caudill of Henderson: Former College Democrats of Kentucky President.

National Committeewoman: Laken Gilbert of Flemingsburg: Former KYD Vice President of Programming and Secretary.

National Committeeman: Christian Motley of Lexington: former political director of the Kentucky Democratic Party, and a veteran of the campaigns of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Steve Beshear, and President Barack Obama.

Treasurer: Ashley L. Adkins of Morehead: Rowan County Young Democrats President, Chair of the Rowan County Democratic Executive Committee and 2016 Emerge Kentucky member.

Secretary: Thaddeus Walls of Southgate, President of the Northern Kentucky Young Democrats.

There’s a lot of work to be done: we’ve all got to work hard across our Commonwealth to keep our majority in the Kentucky House and defeat the radical Un-Kentuckian agenda of Governor Bevin. We’ve got to register voters! We’ve got to knock doors! And we’ve got to get people out to vote!

Our first event for this year will be in conjunction with the Kentucky Democratic Party Convention, June 4, 2016 at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center in Louisville. We are excited that so many Young Dems will be taking part in this year’s reorganization! To celebrate, the Kentucky Young Democrats are hosting our first ever annual Wendell Ford Dinner After Dark Party! Come join us Friday, June 3rd from 9:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. at 8UP Elevated Kitchen and Drinkery in Louisville! If you’ll be in town for convention, or just want to help us kick off this year’s election season, please join us on Friday!

Thank you again for all that you do to keep Kentucky Blue

Travis M. Scott

President, Kentucky Young Democrats.

Welcoming Valerie Biden Owens to the Commonwealth!

Kentucky Young Democrats is pleased to announce details of our 2009 convention, March 27-28 in Lexington, featuring Valerie Biden Owens!

Valerie, sister to Vice President Joe Biden, has directed all of her brother's campaigns since 1970.  She currently serves as Executive Vice President of Joe Slade White & Co., a strategic consulting firm.  She is a volunteer political trainer for Women's Campaign International, a non-profit organization dedicated to the empowerment of women in the world's emerging democracies, and currently serves on the national board of the DNC Women's Leadership Forum.

Visit the convention page or the Facebook event page for full details.  Please pass this message along to your friends and begin spreading the word.  You do not want to miss this!

Report from KYD annual convention

On January 18-19, Kentucky Young Democrats held our annual statewide convention at the Kentucky Democratic Party headquarters in Frankfort.  Over 150 members from across the state were in attendance.

The convention kicked-off on Friday night with U.S. Senate candidates Mike Cassaro, Greg Fisher, and Andrew Horne addressing those in attendance.  Saturday's speakers included Governor Steve Beshear, Congressman John Yarmuth, State Auditor Crit Luallen, and State Representative Reggie Meeks.

Annual awards were also presented:

High School Chapter of the Year: Lyon County High School

College Chapter of the Year: University of Louisville

Overall Chapter of the Year: Muhlenberg County

John F. Kennedy Member of the Year: Hillary Bullock (Lexington)

Election of new officers included:

President: Chad Aull (Lexington)

VP of Recruitment & Expansion: Jamie Jameson (Independence)

VP of Programming: Lisa Tanner (Louisville)

National Committee Woman: Ericka Cannaday (Frankfort)

National Committee Man: Colmon Elridge (Lexington)

Secretary: Lauren Ingram (Louisville)

Treasurer: Eugene Sisco (Pikeville)