Be a part of the change you want to see on the West Side.
Go here to become a member or make a donation.
How I See It
by Dorothy Wilkinson
Chair of the West Side Dems
Changes Are Coming
West Side Dems has been around for several years, doing things much the same way. It is time to remodel our organization. Our Executive Committee has agreed to try a new approach with your approval.
We will become more member-centric, focusing on the issues you care about as members of WSD. Starting in January 2026, only members will receive our monthly newsletter. Our weekly newsletter, with graphics from candidates and related organizations, will continue with its wide circulation.
In our monthly newsletter we will ask your opinion on what our key issues should be. We will continue to invite speakers to speak about issues relating to Albuquerque’s West Side, and we will advocate for issues that members think are important.
We will develop perks for our members. We are still developing ideas about what our members want and what we can deliver.
Become part of the team. Help us remodel West Side Dems to become one of the most influential political groups in Albuquerque. Have you had experience recruiting members for other organizations? We are asking you to become a player in recruiting new members. We also need a membership coordinator.
We need members who are writers, artists, or who understand the workings of a computer. We need volunteers to help us set up meetings and take them down. We need members who are willing to call for us and text for us. We need your suggestions.
In other words, we need you as active members of Westside Dems. We can develop a stronger community.
Everybody is asking what they can do to make a difference in our political environment. What can you offer? Go ahead and click on info@westsidedems.org and let us know how you would like to get involved. Thanks.
Our Resolution is Complete
Inspired by Mayor Keller’s Executive Order declaring all immigrants have basic rights and spelling out what I.C.E. could not do in Albuquerque, the WSD Immigration Committee and members of Rio Grande Indivisible created a resolution concerning the treatment of immigrants and the behavior of I.C.E. addressed to Governor Lujan-Grisham and legislative leaders in New Mexico.
We have collected 347 signatures. The next step is to present the resolution to the Governor and legislative leaders. If you would like to join our immigration committee members on a visit to Santa Fe, please send your contact information to info@westsidedemd.org.
Let’s Get a New Sound System
If you have been to a meeting in the last year or two, you may have noticed that our sound system isn’t great. Sometimes the speakers don’t work, and sometimes the mics don’t work. Everything is wired, so we have to be careful not to trip on the connections.
We have two wired mics, which we must share if we have more than one presenter. It is awkward.
Let’s start 2026 with a bang — a new sound system with powerful speakers and two or three wireless mics. WSD member Paul Evans, who you see at meetings setting up the video and sound, has found us the system appropriate for our needs for about $2,200.
When we prepared our budget, we allowed $1,000 for a sound system. This is where you and I come in. We are taking donations to raise enough money to pay for it. $200 has been donated so far.
We can also share this sound system with candidates at Town Halls, as well as with other Bernalillo County Democrats and groups. A small donation from many of us will buy us what we need.
Let’s band together for West Side Dems.
Together, We’re Overhauling the WSD
Mark your calendars now.
We will have two monthly meetings before December, when WSD will take a break.
We will meet on the patio at Sobre Mesa Restaurant and Pub on October 19th at 3 pm. Before we hear from candidates and visit with our neighbors, old and new, we will have a short business meeting where we will discuss the WSD executive committee plans to overhaul WSD.
You will vote on the proposal to change our ways of operating. It is an extremely important meeting and besides it is great fun just to have a beer and visit with others who share our values.
Fun, food, and thankfulness will be the theme of our November 8th meeting. We will have a short business meeting then we will bring on the entertainment. WSD member Steve Arbuckle and Friend Will provide music. So bring your dancing shoes. The meeting will be at West Mesa Community Center from 12:30 until 2:30. In December we will take a break so we can celebrate with friends and family.
Local Democratic candidates in races on the West Side are invited to submit candidate events to WSD at Info@westsidedems.org by 8 pm Sunday.
Daniel Leiva is running for ABQ City Council District 1. More info HERE
State Representative and conservation attorney Matthew McQueen is running for NM Land Commissioner.
Support Athenea Allen in the race to beat incumbent Dan Lewis!
Ahren Griego is running for City Council District 1.
Chris Sedillo is running for City Council District 3.
Ready to Make an Impact?
Share Your Skills with WSD
WSD is a growing organization in numbers, power and prestige. This is your invitation to become an influential member of our team by volunteering.
If you are tech savvy, volunteer to work with our webmasters. If you take good photos, volunteer to take pictures at our meetings and events. If you are interested in the State Legislature, volunteer to advocate and keep track of legislation. If you’re interested in City Council or County Commission, volunteer to follow their meetings and report to our membership. If you have a little time to call or text, you contact our members about meetings and events.
We need volunteers to help us in our mission to keep the West Side blue and to fight to keep our democracy. If you’d like to write, we have a place for you If social media is your thing, let us know you are willing to help with that. If you’re interested in volunteering in any way, contact chair@westsidedems.org.
Also, if you would like us to cover an issue that we haven’t addressed, contact info@westsidedems.org.
Join Us
Members of West Side Dems are welcome to come to our executive committee meetings. We meet on the first Saturday of the month.
For more information about when and where we meet, contact info@westsidedems.org.
NEW! Protest in Tijeras on Sunday mornings, 9 – 10 am at 487 & NM-333.
NEW! Weekly Friday vigil in Santa Fe, Sandoval, and West Alameda, 12-1 pm.
Join People Against Tyranny every Tuesday 11am to NOON protesting the chaos, divisiveness and cruelty of Donny-2-Dolls’ wreckage! We’re in the Northeast Heights at the intersection of Montgomery and Juan Tabo.
There’s plenty of parking in the shopping centers on each corner. Bring your signs, your voices, noisemakers, bodies and souls, and your friends!
Please do not engage with hecklers (we haven’t had many) and allow pedestrians to get through.
Alamagordo 10 am Every Saturday
Honk and Wave Event Otero County — more info here
Members of West Side Dems are welcome to come to our executive committee meetings. We meet on the first Saturday of the month from 2-4 pm. For more information about where, contact info@westsidedems.org.
So you can’t make a meeting? You can zoom the meeting by accessing info@westsidedems.org and requesting a zoom link. A recording will also be available at westsidedems.org
West Side Dems Immigration Info Hub
“If the rights of one person are denied, the rights of all of us are denied. This concept of mass deportation is very frightening. So West Side Dems will develop a hub of information about immigration and mass deportation.”
— Dorothy Wilkinson
Read Dorothy’s editorial on why immigration is so important.
Click here to see our new IMMIGRATION PAGE, with ways to get involved.
“If the rights of one person are denied, the rights of all of us are denied. This concept of mass deportation is very frightening. So West Side Dems will develop a hub of information about immigration and mass deportation.”
— Dorothy Wilkinson
Read Dorothy’s editorial on why immigration is so important.
Click here to see our new IMMIGRATION PAGE, with ways to get involved.
Our Mission
To Serve the 88,000 Democrats
Living on the West Side
Democrats Care!
We encourage and support candidates who will work for the good of everyone in our community. We believe in a government that is truly “of the people, by the people, and for the people”…not just for corporations, Wall Street, or the rich.
United By A Common Goal…
Social justice and human rights are more important than corporate profits. We seek to improve the quality of life for all of our residents through grass-roots support of candidates who listen and work to implement liberal programs and legislation.
Get Involved…
Your candidates can’t win without your help. Canvassing, phone banking, word-of-mouth, volunteering, and donating are all ways to work together to achieve our common goals.