Latest news with #DaviessCountyDemocraticParty
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Owensboro to host state Democrats
Daviess County has been solidly red in recent election cycles. However, it will see a significant influx of blue this weekend when the Owensboro Convention Center hosts the 2025 State Democratic Convention, which is expected to draw several hundred delegates from across the state. 'It's really huge,' said Larry Miller, chair of the Daviess County Democratic Party, on the event coming to Owensboro. 'It's really a reflection on Owensboro and the reputation that we have here for hospitality and the convention center being able to handle all of the delegates that will be here.' The convention, which runs through Saturday, opens with a Forward Together Dinner at 6:30 p.m. Friday that's open to the public. Tickets can be purchased at The dinner's keynote speaker will be Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin. He formerly led the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. 'He was kind of an outsider for that (position),' Miller said. 'I think the establishment in Washington, I think there were thoughts that we needed to shift the leadership maybe out of Washington and be more represented by the middle of the country. So I think he's somebody that's maybe more tied to everyday Democrats and more aware of the individual needs of the citizens. 'So he kind of overcame the establishment and came in as ready to be more of a fighter.' Miller said it's important the Democratic Party remains focused about the issues that it has always stood for. 'In the past, the history of the Democratic Party has been programs that help everybody, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security,' Miller said. 'That right now is a priority of the Democrats, whereas I really don't think you hear Republicans talking about strengthening those programs. 'In fact, in this budget bill, it's going to be taking money away from the safety net.' Gov. Andy Beshear, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and other Democratic leaders will also attend the dinner. On Saturday, the convention begins at 9:30 a.m. and Martin will again deliver a keynote address. A vote will also be held to elect state leadership. Miller said Democrats are coming into the convention feeling good about their political future. 'As far as I'm concerned, even though we're really concerned about a lot of this overreach and unwise interventions, and there is a lot of that going on in the country, but we're really thinking that the future looks better for the Democrats, not just because of what's going on, but we really do feel like the issues that are important to people, healthcare, jobs, economy, those kinds of things, are things that the Democrats are very clear about emphasizing.'
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Daviess County Democrats hold leadership elections
Officers of the Daviess County Democratic Party received a strong vote of confidence during the party's leadership election Saturday at the IBEW Union Hall. The party's newly-elected executive committee, which was nominated and elected by precinct captains, retained its slate of officers: Chair Larry Miller, Vice Chair Donna Haynes, Secretary Janet Estes and Treasurer Chuck Morgan. 'We've built continuity, and the communication we have with the Kentucky Democratic Party (is strong), so I was really pleased with it,' said Miller about the vote's outcome. 'I've heard from quite a few people that say that they appreciate that the party is more visible now, having some goals and activities. And one of our top priorities is recruiting candidates, and we think we're well on our way there.' Miller said he was pleased not only with Saturday's turnout, but the willingness of everyone to be involved. 'We had a lot of people that wanted to serve that we couldn't accommodate because of the limit,' said Miller about the executive committee, which is limited to 20 people and must be divided equally among males and females. Miller said the highest priority for the party will be having candidates to run in local and state elections. Republicans have won several of those races in recent years with no Democratic opposition. 'Obviously the last few years we haven't been able to accomplish that, but we're starting a little bit earlier now, and we already feel like we have three or four candidates that are running for different positions, and that will be announced later,' Miller said. 'We have until January for those people to file. So we want to see that done by this summer, get people filing and getting their names out there talking to people. 'And we're also really focusing on raising campaign funds to help elect these people. That's the one thing that people say, that they don't know if they can afford to run, and we don't want that to be an obstacle, because it's too important that good people run, regardless if they have the funds to finance their own campaign.' Miller said in addition to people having reached out to him about possible candidacies, the party is also working to recruit candidates. 'We've had people who have kind of come to us; they've been involved with the party, but not on the executive committee,' said Miller of potential candidates. 'They have seen what's going on in Frankfort and they see what's going on in Washington, and they realize it's a time to get involved. So we have people coming to us saying they want to run, and we're helping them with training, supporting them and getting them trained. 'But also, the second part of that is we are going and talking with people that we feel like just need a nudge and knowing that they would have support and they would have a lot of good issues to run on based on what our representatives are doing in Frankfort.' Miller said Democrats are, 'to a certain extent,' being motivated by what they deem as missteps by Republicans on several key issues. 'It's hard to watch the national news because it seems like there is some action by the (Trump) administration each day, something worse it seems like,' Miller said. 'Our rights and our institutions that we've always treasured have been threatened by executive actions. But also, Frankfort, we have our legislators in Frankfort who are trying to take away our education system, take funds away from that, they're supporting the cuts in Medicare and Medicaid. They're going right along with the party line. 'You have to feel like they know that's not right, but they're letting the pressure get to them, some of the boilerplate legislation that's coming through.' Miller wants to see members of all parties come together to better the community. 'Overall, there just needs to be more balance between Democrats and Republican and independents and people of goodwill who are doing things that are best for our community, and there are several who are not doing that,' he said. 'They're letting their own personal prejudices, they're ideologues, and they're not looking out for what's best for everybody in our community.' Miller is confident the local party will get a boost from the 2025 Kentucky Democrats State Convention that will be held June 14 at the Owensboro Convention Center. The Daviess County Democratic Party was allotted 22 delegates, and it didn't take long for them to be filled. 'We filled those 22 spots in about 10 minutes,' Miller said, 'so everybody's excited about being a part of that.'
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DC Democratic Party reorganization coming soon
The Daviess County Democratic Party will be holding its quadrennial party reorganization meeting within the next month, and local party Chairman Larry Miller is anticipating a large turnout. 'We hope for a big turnout,' he said. 'You try to reach out to all of the precincts in the county and city, and a lot of the precinct doesn't have active members. But we're going to make an effort to make sure all of the precincts are notified and included and involved. If the past is any indication, while there's not a lot of people that show up for each precinct, I think we'll have a good number of people, but there will be a lot of them from the same precincts.' The reorganizational meeting, which will be scheduled soon, is the opportunity for the local party to vote on new leadership through its executive committee. All registered Democrats at the time of the meeting are eligible to vote. 'Everybody that's on there now, including me as chair, we all have to declare our intention to run again, then the people who are precinct leaders and Democrats in general elect the executive committee,' Miller said. 'It's kind of a cleaning house, and it gives new people a chance. If they really want to run, they can place their name in the hat.' Miller said he will again seek the chairmanship. Early indications are that there could be multiple candidates for the executive committee seats. 'It's going to be wide open,' Miller said. 'I've talked to other people on the executive committee, and we'll probably talk to everybody to think about if they want to run again. They'll have the opportunity to do that.' The executive committee includes 20 seats, which must be split evenly between males and females. The executive committee then votes on the chairman and vice chairman — which must be filled by both sexes — then the chairman selects the secretary and treasurer. Miller said the party has thrived by having the equality. 'It's turned out really well,' he said. 'You think diversity, and we have several African Americans on the executive committee. And it's wide open for people to run and vote on that.' Miller said he's hearing alarm from many community members about the actions being taken by President Donald Trump. 'It's unheard of, unbelievable, what they're doing in Washington D.C., and what Trump is allowing (Elon) Musk to do — wholesale eliminating departments, or trying or attempting to,' Miller said. 'I think that's a good thing as time goes on, because there will be pushback. The Supreme Court has already pushed back on Trump wanting to suspend all foreign aid. But think of the damage they've already done, between USAID and attempting to eliminate the Department of Education.' Miller said Democrats might be more supportive of the actions to make cuts in the federal workforce if it was being handled in a more systematic method, rather than mass firings. 'There's a way to make reforms and to trim the workforce if you need to, but there is a way to do it, and you don't let someone do it who doesn't have an understanding of the federal government, doesn't really care about the employees,' Miller said. 'There's no concern for how it impacts people, and very soon, as time goes on, they're going to feel — Republicans and Democrats — all of our people are going to feel the effects all around the country, and Owensboro and Daviess County already have. 'I don't think that's what people voted for. My personal opinion is they put a halter on Trump during the campaign so that he wouldn't really say what he wanted to, but now that he's elected, it's unleashing the demons on the American people.' Members of the local Democratic Party participated in a protest Wednesday at Republican Congressman Brett Guthrie's office in Bowling Green, and Miller said Morgan Eaves, executive director of the Kentucky Democratic Party, will be the guest speaker at its 6 p.m. meeting Tuesday at the LIUNA union hall at 827 Old Hartford Road. She will discuss ways for residents to make their voices heard. 'There are a lot of people taking action right now,' Miller said. 'We have a lot of people that are phone calling the U.S. Senate and U.S. Representative every day. I've gotten a lot of people on our website that will check in and say, 'I want to be involved. What can I do?' 'We want to coordinate (efforts) to make them more effective.'
