A LETTER TO THE RCDC MEMBERSHIP

April 8, 2020

Dear Rappahannock Democrats,

We missed seeing you at our last monthly get together, cancelled for COVID19. Unfortunately, we will miss you again. Our scheduled general meeting for April 11 is also cancelled to keep everyone distanced and safe, following Governor Ralph Northam’s recommendations. They came not a moment too soon. Sadly, our county reported its first confirmed case this week.

Distanced as we are, we have been busy and want to keep you informed of events in the coming months.

  • County delegates to the district, state, and national Democratic conventions have until April 9 at 5 pm to send in their pre-filing forms to the DPVA (Democratic Party of Virginia).

Based on your votes on Super Tuesday, the county was allotted two delegates for Joe Biden and one for Bernie Sanders. Even though Bernie has dropped out of the race, his delegates will go to the conventions!

  • To be a delegate to the 5th District Convention on May 9 and State Convention on Jun 20, click HERE for the form.
  • To go on to the National Convention in August 17-20 in Milwaukee, click HERE to apply.

NOTE: Compared to other counties in the CD5, Rappahannock has had a great turnout of delegate applications! The DPVA has been accepting them all, for both candidates, to cover the shortfall in other counties.

NOTE: Because of the pandemic, the Party will decide, from moment to moment, whether to hold in-person or virtual conventions. The 5th District Convention will be held virtually. (Those details to come.)

  • To find out more about delegate selection and duties, click HERE.
  • The 5th District Congressional Primary is scheduled for June 9. We are urging you to vote absentee by mail. It’s easy and complies with our distancing practices.
    • I’ve attached Registrar Kim McKiernan’s instructions and the deadlines to apply for and send in absentee ballots for the June Congressional Primary and November General elections.

NOTE: Mail-in voting is going to be crucial this year for getting out the vote! We’re planning phone banks, texts blasts, and socially distanced postcard parties to get the word out, and to help voters get their ballots in. We’ll need your help.

NOTE: We have four terrific candidates to run against Denver Riggleman in November: RD Huffstetler, John Lesinski, Claire Russo, and Cameron Webb. Instead of live forums to let voters meet the candidates, we’re coordinating with other 5th District committees to hold virtual forums in our localities. Ours is tentatively scheduled for May 12 at 6 pm, to be moderated by former candidate Leslie Cockburn. (Details to come.)

  • RCDC fundraising has become one of the casualties of COVID19. Our April 4 Blue State Blue Grass Brunch and auction were cancelled. The Yard Sale in August may be too. While our expenses will go down, our income will too. As the season progresses, we’ll need to buy yard and highway signs, and campaign ads. We appreciate any donations you’re able to make along the way.

We want to thank everyone for your work and support, for stepping up even as our world is upended by this invisible threat wreaking such havoc to ourselves and our democracy. Thanks in particular to Ron Goodman, Tommy Bruce, Larry Wohlers, and Rachel Taylor for representing us as delegates to the State Convention (and beyond!).

Please send your questions and comments at maryswillis@me.com. We want to hear from you! Keep up with our news at www.RappDems.org and on our Facebook page.

Stay safe, stay engaged, and let us bring the light of Democratic competence and compassion into this dark time.

Mary-Sherman Willis

RCDC, Chair

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Delegate Selection in the time of Covid-19

In the altered reality of COVID-19, the Democratic election picture is coming into focus! To get either Joe Biden or Bernie Sanders to the White House, Democrats have to nominate one or the other. Here are the steps ahead for us in Virginia:

First, we Rapp Dems have to our select delegates to represent either Bernie Sanders or Joe Biden to ultimately go to the National Democratic Convention. Rapp has been allocated one Biden delegate and one Biden alternate delegate (to fill in if needed), and one Bernie delegate. Now we have to pick those delegates.

In normal times, Rapp Dems step up to become delegates and we’d hold a caucus at the Library to elect them them. Because of restrictions brought on by COVID-19, this year we’ll hold a virtual caucus.

Here’s what you need to do:

If you want to be a delegate or alternate for Bernie or Biden, submit this pre-filing form to the Democratic Committee of Virginia by April 9. You’ll need to pledge to one candidate.

To participate in picking the delegates (and we hope EVERYONE will!), submit this form to the Democratic Committee by April 9.

After April 9, the DPVA will let us know who has applied to be a delegate and who wants to participate in selecting delegates.

Then on April 20 we will hold our virtual caucus. All registered participants will receive an emailed ballot, which they will email back to us. We then notify the winners and send our results back to the DPVA.

On May 9 is the 5th Congressional District Convention to whittle down the local delegates to those who will go to the State Convention. This will also be held virtually. (Details to come.)

June 9 is the State Convention, where delegates will be picked to go to the National Convention. Chances are good that we’ll have to find a way to hold a virtual convention.

July 13-16 is the National Convention.

The DPVA and DNC are working hard to make the nominating process safe, inclusive, and transparent. The situation is still fluid, but now is the time to get involved! 

It’s never been easier!

Questions? Email chair@RappDems.org or call 540/987-8912

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What’s Next? Important RCDC info

To all Rappahannock Democrats:  

After Super Tuesday, there is still work to do to nominate a Democratic Presidential candidate to rid us of Donald Trump and his entire incompetent apparatus.  

In spite of the chaos and upheavals of the past week, we are charting our course (with guidance from the Democratic Party of Virginia) to safely select delegates to send to the 5th District Nominating Convention on May 9, then on to the State Convention on June 20. From there, VA delegates will go to the National Convention in Milwaukee on July 13 to 16.  

It’s still unclear what form these conventions will take, given the cancellations due to the coronavirus outbreak across the country.    What we do know is that:

  • Rappahannock County has been allotted 2 delegates and one alternate delegate to represent us on May 9.
  • Each delegate may only pledge to either Bernie Sanders or Joe Biden.
  • We will be holding an unassembled caucus to pick those delegates on Monday April 20 from 7:30 to 9:30 pm at the Rappahannock Library. This is like a typical voting experience: you’ll come to the library, present an ID, complete a form certifying that you are a Democrat registered to vote in the county, and fill out a ballot for one of a list of potential delegates. (Click here to open the call for caucus form)
  • To run for delegate, fill out the pre-filing form (Click here to open and download the pre-filing form). You’ll be asked 
    • whether you want to be a delegate or an alternate (to fill in for a delegate unable to go to the convention), and
    • to which candidate you’re pledging. 
  • You must submit the form to the committee by April 13 at 5 pm
    • by mail at: RCDC, PO Box 277, Washington VA 22747
    • by email to chair@RappDems.com
    • in person to an officer of the RCDC.

Delegates will take part in one of the most important Democratic conventions in our history. IT COULD BE YOU!  

Until then, enjoy the spring season in our beautiful county, and look for updates from us as they come along.  

In solidarity,  

Mary-Sherman Willis  and the Rappahannock Democratic Committee

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Super Tuesday Information

Pick your Democratic nominee for President on Super Tuesday, March 3! 

Just go to your regular polling station (see below if you need help finding it). Doors open at 6 AM and close promptly at 7 PM (though if you’re in line at 7 PM, you can still vote). Bring your photo ID.

If you have questions or problems on Tuesday, the Virginia Hotline Number is (844) 4VA-VOTE or (844) 482-8683.

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