Submit Your Events & Graphics
All Democrats are invited to submit event info and high resolution graphics to us by 8:00 PM Sunday each week. Please email your materials directly to info@westsidedems.org.
Election Connections.
The inaugural Election Connections, a current list of volunteer opportunities with local, state and national Democratic candidates and organizations.
This makes it easy for you to choose candidates you want to support and makes it easy for you to get involved, now and up until the November 3 General Election. (Local candidates are encouraged to share their events with our WSD members and friends. Send your graphics and text to infor@westsidedems.org by 8 pm each Sunday for events the following weeks.) We will be adding local candidates’ website links soon.
Upcoming West Side Dems Events.
Looking for volunteers to help plan our biggest event of the year – our Annual WSD Picnic on August 15 at Mariposa Park. First planning meeting if July 11. Mark your calendars now for the picnic.
Watch for our West Side Democrats of Bernalillo County July Newsletter coming out the third week of July.
Our exclusive monthly WSD Newsletter only goes to paid members.
If you haven’t paid your 2026 dues, go here to join or renew your membership online.
Speakers Bureau Summer Training Schedule Announced
The Speakers Bureau team has been meeting for a few months. We are shooting videos of the practice sessions we have already had.
We will continue our training at the Taylor Ranch Library through September 8. The training is now 6:00-7:30 pm on specific Mondays and Tuesdays (when the library is open til 8:00 pm) to better accommodate everyone’s work schedules.
Sessions will be held:
- (Monday) July 13
- (Tuesday) August 4
- (Tuesday) August 25
- (Tuesday) September 8.
Lynn Sarkany is organizing the Speakers Bureau. Contact her at info@westsidedems.org.
West Side Dems Happenings
No July Meeting — The WSD has challenged every member to volunteer for
1-1/2 hours in July, in lieu of holding a monthly WSD meeting. Use the time to support your candidates!
Why not join WSD member Lynne Gibbon to get some election volunteer time completed in July? She scheduled two July afternoons to write your letters to elected and appointed officials. See details in Local Election Connection, below.
August Annual Picnic — Save the Date! August 15, 11-2 at Mariposa Park. This is one of our largest events each year. WSD pops for the burgers and dogs; members are asked to bring side dishes, such as chips, salads, fruit, desserts,
beverages. Many Democratic candidates usually show up.
- We invite you to attend. Bring the kids, family and friends.
- Be part of the team to plan the picnic. You’ll be working with the best picnic planners and have lots of fun. Email us at info@westsidedems.org to sign up. Our first planning meeting will be Sunday, July 12, 2-4 pm., in a joint meeting with our Executive Committee. Sign up to learn the location.
This is a new section of our weekly Calls to Action, featuring actions you can take to keep the West Side blue, to keep New Mexico blue, and to turn Congress tidal wave blue in November.
At our June social event WSD introduced this special listing of advocacy actions any and all of us can do.
Here is what we know about this week.
Local & NM Election Connections
Replacing the Democratic Lieutenant Governor Candidate:
What Do You Think about the Process?
Personal Opinion By Sue Wolinsky, WSD Secretary
So, what happens when a major candidate pulls out of a major race and a replacement must be found? The New Mexico Democratic Party (NMDP) is going through that right now since the candidate elected by voters in the Democratic Primary Election has withdrawn from the Lieutenant Governor race. Many are comparing this situation to the substitution of Kamala Harris on the 2020 presidential ballot after President Joe Biden left the race. Many others are complaining that the ultimate Democratic candidate will not have been elected by the voters. There is evidence of both viewpoints on local social media platforms.
What many people don’t know is that the DPNM process for choosing a new candidate is legal and is entrenched in State Law. New Mexico Statute 188 requires a qualified political party’s State Central Committee (SCC) to fill the vacancy before the general election. The DPNM SCC is comprised of ~500 local party leaders elected at the county level. So, yes, the eventual candidate will be elected by party leaders. Does that appease the skeptics who are crying foul in this instance?
Probably not. But instead of crying foul, why don’t we contact the 500 or so SCC members and let them know who we, the DPNM rank and file, support in this race and why. There is a problem, however; the DPNM doesn’t publish the SCC names on the Caucuses and Committees page on its website New Mexico Democratic Party. So, if you happen to know your county’s SCC rep, contact them. But if you want to contact all of the SCC members, you need to know somebody who knows somebody who has the list. In spite of all this, I believe it is our responsibility as advocates with values to protect must defend the process our state party is following and commit to supporting the eventual Democratic Candidate for Lieutenant Governor in November. In this tense national political environment that could be spewing over into New Mexico, we have no choice.
With that being said, let’s focus on what is going now. Here is an analysis by Source New Mexico:
- The Democratic candidate for governor, Deb Haaland, has endorsed current NM Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richards for the Lieutenant Governor spot. Media has reported the five candidates were: Sen. Harold J. Pope Jr (an active WSD member who ran in the primary and lost to Toulouse Oliver), Garcia (who withdrew from the race last October), attorney Antonia Roybal-Mack, Sen. Leo Jaramillo, and former Secretary of NM Department of Veterans Services Sonya Smith. Roybal-Mack and Smith left the race. Sen. Jaramillo has reportedly left the race, although this has not been confirmed. “I want to be clear: I’m not entitled to this nomination because I’m the only one left,” he told Source NM. “But I do believe that I ran a race, and I have a lot of support, and I should be able to compete, because while I didn’t win, tens of thousands of people voted for me across the state.”
- The DPNM State Central Committee, will meet July 25 on Zoom. Voting will be conducted by online absentee ballot after the meeting.
Stay tuned for updates. We will publish what we learn when we learn it here, in the WSD Calls to Action. Share your thoughts at info@westsidedems.org.
Write Your Officials in July
Join WSD member Lynne Gibbon to write letters to your elected and appointed officials as part of WSD’s Volunteer July. Voice your feelings of disappointment or appreciation. Many are running for reelection; they need to hear your voice now!
- Meet Lynne at Taylor Ranch Library, 5700 Bogart St. NW, on Sunday, July 12th and Wednesday, July 22nd,1 to 3 both days. Let’s fill the room to the limit (20 people).
- Note cards, writing pens, addresses and information on how to address the letter and envelope will be provided. Stamps, up to three per person, will be provided and your notes will be mailed by the host, immediately after the session.
Support NM Democratic Candidates Who Will Face Opponents in November
Find out about NM Democratic candidates who will face opposition in November. These candidates need your help to win.
Blue Boosters for NM is a new activist/research group providing the information.
Analysis provided by Indivisible ABQ and Santa Fe. Blue In NM — 2026 Candidates (Information from Indivisible ABQ.)
Register Voters with Indivisible ABQ
Registration Teams Start August 1- Sign Up NOW!
Did you know that NM’s population is 2,117,522, per the 2020 Census? And only about half are registered to vote. (See map from USAFacts.) Do you also know that when Democrats vote, Democrats win?
So let’s register more!
Are YOU interested in registering voters? Many of our members are. So gather up your WSD friends and join the Indivisible ABQ Voter registration team. Each team will have 2-3 hour shifts. Sign up at mail@indivabq.org; ask the voter registration organizer to contact you. You don’t have to be a Voters Registration Agent, certified by Bernalillo County, but it helps.
Learn more about VRA training here:
Voter Registration Agents | Bernalillo County Clerk.
Recurring Local Protests
Albuquerque | Corner of Montgomery & Juan Tabo | 11am – 12pm
Rio Rancho | Corner of U.S. 550 & New Mexico 528 | 10am – 11:30am
Info and RSVP here.
(for LGBTQ+ adults and allies)
Albuquerque | Morningside Park | 10am – 11am
Info and RSVP here.
Albuquerque | Corner of 4th & Lomas | 9 to 10 am
Info and RSVP here.
Albuquerque | Corner of Montgomery & Juan Tabo | 11am – 12pm
Info and RSVP here.
Albuquerque | Corner of Paseo & Ventura | 12pm – 1pm
Info and RSVP here.
Santa Fe | Corner of Sandoval & West Alameda | 12pm – 1pm
Info and RSVP here.
National Calls to Action
Local Actions You Can Take Now
Sidewalk Sleeping Bill
Action Requesting Mayor Keller to veto O-25-14, commonly referred to as the “Sidewalk Sleeping Bill” failed. Mayor Keller did not sign or veto the proposed ordinance. The ordinance took effect June 5.
Read Council Bill No. O-26-14SoS Maggie Toulouse Oliver Discusses NM Elections on PBS
Watch this PBS News Hour feature focusing on NM Elections Protections. NM Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver describes how our state's elections are legally protected from interference from ICE, barring armed federal agents at the polls.
Watch on YouTubeAlbuquerque First Socialist Political Salon
Go to learn about Social Democrat Socialism and join their movement if you agree with their beliefs. The link provides structural details and registration. Similar Political Salons are currently being organized in counties all across the state.
Learn More & RegisterNational Actions You Can Take Now
Stop Mass Warrantless Surveillance: Reform Section 702
Tell Congress to vote no on Reforming Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. We must protect constitutional privacy rights from mass warrantless surveillance overreach.
Take Action via ACLUSign Common Cause Petition
Stop Trump from using US Treasury money to pay out to January 6 protestors. Add your name to demand strict accountability and protect public funds from being weaponized.
Sign the PetitionBlock Trump from building a giant arch in our nation's capital!
Congress must authorize funding for memorials built on federal lands. Join the community demand to keep Trump from building his vanity arch on public monuments.
Stop the Memorial FundingBecome a Democracy Defender
Defend Democracy with ACLU People Power! Step up to protect critical voting rights across the nation and join an organized grassroots network dedicated to monitoring and shielding our elections.
Join People PowerNew Sound System Arrives
At last—we have our new sound system.
We’ve been hearing about it for about a year – the limitations of the undersized current system, Executive Committee approval of an initial $1,000 to pay for a new one, the early attempts of small-change fundraising, updated needs analysis and cost, more serious fundraising, and some major donations.
“I’m thrilled we have the new sound system,” said Paul Evans, WSD volunteer A/V coordinator who did the needs analysis for the new system. “It will help WSD to continue our fight for our values on the West Side of town – at venues large and small. For small events, we can use the small speaker we already had. For big events, we can use the new, larger speakers.” He also recommended that WSD buy a cart to haul the system and bags to protect the speakers.
It all adds up to $2392.45 with two large speakers and two beefy microphones that will incorporate some components of our old system. Here’s how we paid for it:
- We budgeted $1,000 from our budget.
- We collected $1,100 from the DPBC and some area legislators, and we have $300 promised from area legislators. We will collect the remainder now that the 2026 Legislative Session has ended.
Audio/Visual Volunteers Needed Now
Paul Evans with the new sound system.
“Now that we have a larger sound system, we need help to run it... We also need someone to help me with the visual side by editing video footage,” Evans explained.
Contact Paul Evans at info@westsidedem.org to apply. Your “pay” is our gratitude and helping elect candidates who reflect our values!
Audio Technician
- Set up, operate, and troubleshoot sound equipment.
- Handle and transport heavy equipment.
- Team player supporting WSD’s mission.
Video Technician
- Edit short-form video for social media.
- Collaborate on footage needs and deadlines.
- Support WSD's digital messaging goals.
Paul Evans — Our A/V Mastermind
How did WSD lure an A/V expert with 40 years of experience?
The answer is simple: Recruit an expert who aligns with your values.
“I feel our democracy is at stake. Each of us needs to step up. We hold the keys. If we don’t do it, nobody will.”
5 Things About Paul Evans
- Roots: Raised in St. Paul, MN. He is deeply concerned about civil rights and believes we must protect our community locally.
- NM Journey: Came to NM in 1984. Amassed ~40 years in professional TV news and government videography.
- History Maker: Covered state government under four governors and visits from the Dalai Lama and various Presidents.
- Producer: Produced "Wild New Mexico" and the popular "Dance! Dance! Dance!" teen program.
- At the Meeting: See him behind the camera at WSD meetings and be sure to thank him for all he does!
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.