PORTLAND — The Maine Democratic Party will host the official launch of the Maine Young Democrats chapter this Friday, Sept. 26 at Bayside Bowl in Portland. The MYD chapter is co-chaired by Rep. Justin Chenette of Saco and Woolwich native Kate Elmes.
MYD members will join gubernatorial candidate U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud and MDP Chairman Ben Grant for a kick-off event to learn about this year’s Democratic ticket and what’s at stake this election for young Mainers.
Doors open at 4:30 p.m. at the bowling alley, 58 Alder St., Portland, with a welcome and introductions scheduled for 5 p.m. A keynote address by Michaud will be at 5:15 p.m., followed by other remarks and bowling at 7 p.m.
“The Democratic Party believes in giving younger Mainers a voice at the table, and an ability to achieve the American dream,” said Chenette. “This group is about empowering young Mainers to get involved in this election and to support our strong Democrat ticket of Mike Michaud, Shenna Bellows, Chellie Pingree, Emily Cain and our legislative candidates. We’re excited to hear from Mike about his Maine Made plan and vision for creating better jobs, making college more affordable, and other issues important to our millennial generation.”
The event will bring together Maine college students, members of the Legislative Youth Caucus, State House and Senate candidates under the age of 35, and young Mainers supporting and organizing around the 2014 elections.
The Maine Young Democrats group is an approved chapter of the Young Democrats of America, the largest, youth-led, national, partisan political organization. YDA mobilizes young people under the age of 36 to participate in the electoral process, influences the ideals of the Democratic Party, and develops the skills of this generation to serve as leaders at the local and national level.
“What we represent as a party is more than a hashtag or campaign gimmick,” said Grant, chairman of the Maine Democratic Party. “Our party is built on a foundation of progressive values shared with young Mainers across the state, like equality and economic opportunity for all. There’s no question that Maine’s youth is the future of our party and an important demographic of the upcoming 2014 elections. We’ve seen an outpouring of support from college students and younger voters across the state who want to get Maine back on track and get out the vote in 2014.”
Maine also has some of the youngest members of state legislative and party leadership in the country. Senate President Justin Alfond, Speaker of the House Mark Eves, Assistant House Majority Leader Jeff McCabe, Grant and Bellows are all under age of 40. Cain previously served as the Democratic Minority Leader and was the youngest woman to hold that position in Maine history. She has also received the endorsement of the Women Under Forty Political Action Committee.
Contact Rachel Irwin at MDP to register for the event, at 356-6906 or [email protected].
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