Club board member Chris Zurawsky inspiring some noise this past Election Day.
Past posts
Rally for PA Democratic Candidates September 26!
THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED MAKE THIS A SUCCESS, AND WILL CONTINUE TO HELP MAKE AMERICA SAFE FOR DEMOCRACY!
READ ALL ABOUT IT in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette!
Summer Pop-Up-Politicking Pot-Luck June 5!
Pop-Up Political Picnic in the Park! | Saturday June 5 from 1 to 4 PM | Vietnam Vets Pavilion in Schenley Park
Masks recommended | Guidelines for gathering size and safe distancing will be followed
Time to catch up in person! | We’ll provide drinks and packaged snacks | You bring whatever else you want.
2021 Elections, Endorsements, and Events Information
2021 CANDIDATE FORUMS
and ENDORSEMENT ELECTION
From Our 2021 Primary Election Voters Guide:
2021 Endorsements for Court of Common Pleas:
Bruce Beemer, Jessel Costa, Nicola Henry-Taylor, George Heym, Elliot Howsie, Sabrina Korbel, Lisa Middleman, Tiffany Sizemore, and Chelsa Wagner
Watch Saturday’s forum video
2021 Endorsements for All Other Offices and the Referenda:
Pennsylvania Supreme Court: Maria McLaughlin
Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court: David Spurgeon and Amanda Green-Hawkins
Pennsylvania Superior Court: Jill Beck
Allegheny County Sheriff: Kevin Kraus
Pittsburgh Mayor: Ed Gainey
City Council District 8: Erika Strassburger
School Board District 1: Sylvia Wilson
School Board District 5: Terry Kennedy
Solitary Confinement Referendum: Yes
No-Knock Warrant Ban: Yes
Equal Protection Amendment: Yes
Emergency Declaration Amendment: No
Legislative Resolution Amendment: No
The results are also on our Facebook page and will be in our 2021 Voters Guide mailed to Democratic voters throughout the 14th Ward.
Common Pleas Judicial Candidates Questionnaires for your review.
FIVE referenda to be voted on May 18! Information here.
Courts have a vital role to play in everyone’s lives. Learn about Pennsylvania’s courts here.
Please help to support the Voters Guide:
Join our 2021 Online Fundraiser!
Because…
The 2021 ANNUAL MEETING was SUNDAY 31 JANUARY
Watch the recording:
Introductions: 0:00-6:30 | Video Presentations: 6:30-33:00 | Panel Presentations and Discussion: 33:00-1:27 | About the 2021 Club Endorsements: 1:27-1:35 | Thanks, recognitions, and announcements: 1:35-1:44
This year’s Spring Primary affords us a unique opportunity: the ability to respond to the stark reality of social and racial injustice with our vote. With the candidates for Mayor, City Council, School Board, County Sheriff, Magisterial District Judge, and Common Pleas and Appellate Courts all on the ballot, it is time to view this election through the lens of Justice.
The Barbara Daly Danko Political Forum this year will be devoted to exactly that. Discussion will include ending cash bail, electing anti-racist judges, police and public safety, and protecting our vote.
Members are creating a video highlighting “Activities in the 14th Ward that Bend the Arc Towards Justice.”
Speakers included Marie Norman of the “Order of the Phoenix” organizing group, and David Harris and Jerry Dickinson of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law; followed by a panel presentation and discussion with Rep Summer Lee, Gwen’s Girls CEO Dr. Kathi Elliott, and Executive Director Jam Hammond of the City of Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations.
ANNUAL ENDORSEMENT MEETING MEMBER MATTERS:
To vote in the 2021 Primary Endorsement Election: members make sure we have your email address. For household memberships: one email per member of the household. Send them here.
Remember, our courts have a vital role to play in everyone’s lives.
Learn about Pennsylvania’s courts here.
MEET THE 2021 BOARD AND OFFICERS!
The proposed By-Laws changes adjusting timing for the Club Primary Election Endorsement vote were approved.
Get the 2021 Club Newsletter!
IN THIS YEAR’S ELECTIONS,
You have three basic options: vote early, vote in-person or vote by mail.
1. Vote Early: You can vote early in person or if you received a mail-in ballot you can bring it with you and put it in a drop box at the locations and times listed on our Current Elections page.
2. Vote In Person: If you’re comfortable voting in person, plan to do that. Decide now when you’ll head to the polls on Tuesday, May 18 and create an event in your phone’s calendar. For example: “VOTE!! on May 18th @ 8-9 am.” Then convince a friend to go with you, grab a mask on your way out the door, and make your voice heard! For information on what to expect at your polling station and the location of your polling station, click here.
3. Vote By Mail: Applications may be completed online. Or, in the alternative, you can download and complete an absentee ballot application and mail it to the Elections Office (604 County Office Building, 542 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh 15219). Your application must be RECEIVED by 5 PM on May 11, 2021 to vote in the primary election.
Note: When your mail-in ballot arrives, fill it out and drop it in the mail as soon as possible. If you wait until the week of the election, your ballot may not arrive in time to be counted.
FAQs:
- Not sure if you’re registered at your current Pennsylvania address? Check your voter registration status here.
- Need to register to vote at your current Pennsylvania address? Fix that now by clicking here.
- Need to find your polling place? Click here.
- Changed your mind and decided to vote in person (so your vote will be counted on election day, for example)? If so, remember to take your mail-in ballot with you, and give it to the poll-workers before you vote!
2020 Endorsements!
MAIL-IN BALLOTS. Find out more. Need Assistance? See JFCS of Pittsburgh’s List
2020 PRIMARY ELECTION VOTER’S GUIDE
UPDATE ON MAIL-IN VOTING >>> Allegheny County is going to send EVERY registered Allegheny County voter an absentee ballot application.
You may still apply through VotesPA.
Watch This for the Step-By-Step:
PGH 14 WIDC 2020 ENDORSEMENTS:
U.S. House of Representatives District 18: Mike Doyle
PA Attorney General: Josh Shapiro
PA Auditor General: Michael Lamb
PA Treasurer: Joseph Torsella
PA Senate District 43: Jay Costa, Jr.
PA House District 23: Dan Frankel
PA House District 24: Ed Gainey
PA House District 34: Summer Lee
Who’s running? Here’s a list.
Couldn’t connect for the Candidate Forum on March 29th? Here are the candidate videos.
Out of concern for everyone’s health and safety during the COVID-19 outbreak …
We cancelled our annual fundraiser. We hope to see you live and in-person next year
Here is Pittsburgh’s own Howie Alexander Trio, who we booked for our cancelled fundraiser. We paid them anyway because we know many artists and freelancers have recently lost business. Think about booking them when social events are safe again!
Consider sponsoring or contributing?
Your contributions support our work throughout the year, including our Annual Meeting, Barbara Danko Political Forum, Endorsement Candidate Forum and Election, and the primary election Voters Guide.
Club endorsements have been shown to increase endorsed candidates primary results over 5%.
Information on covid-19: 
Now, some information on how we can all help our communities manage the covid-19 outbreak and keep the impact to a minimum by “flattening the curve”:
Be informed: There will be a lot of conflicting information during this outbreak. Follow any directives or recommendations from the following sources:
Federal: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
State: https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx
County: https://www.alleghenycounty.us/Health-Department/Resources/COVID-19/COVID-19.aspx
Things to note:
Stay home if you are sick! You can communicate through email if you need to be at work meetings or events.
Practice self-care and other mental health wellness! Check out this resource from the CDC
And use this resource in times of distress: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline
WASH YOUR HANDS! Even without an outbreak, you should always wash your hands. Check out this article on ways to greet people without shaking hands.
Annual Meeting: Jan 26
The Petrochemical Build-Out:
Not What It’s Cracked Up To Be
Sunday January 26, 1:00pm doors open
Eddy Theatre, Chatham University
The 14th Ward Independent Democratic Club and the Chatham University College Democrats have invited the authors of the recent Carnegie Mellon University report to share their findings with the community. FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT’S 2020?!
That means you can look forward to:
- The Club’s Annual Meeting – Sunday, January 26, 2020
- A busy and early Primary Election season, and leading up to that,
- The 55th Club Fundraiser! Saturday, March 28, 2020.
- The 55th Club Primary Endorsements Election! Sunday March 29, 2020.
Excited?
Democratic Debate Watch Party!
14th WIDC members, friends and folks just checking out this website – you are ALL invited to watch the Democratic Debate together this Weds. June 26, 8-11pm at Goodfellas Restaurant & Tavern located at 1915 McCague St, Swissvale, Pennsylvania 15218.
The party starts at 8:00, the debate starts at 9:00. $10 at the door buys you delicious eats, plus there’s a cash bar, plus debate bingo! Goodfellas has multiple TVs, tons of parking, and it’s handicapped accessible. What’s not to love??
Grab your friends and bring ’em along. We’re going to need all hands on deck between now and 2020!
Important: Please click on this link to the Facebook event page and choose “going” if you’re planning to attend so the organizers can order the right amount of food! Thank you!
Co-hosts:
Order of the Phoenix
Swing Left
Project Battleground
Women’s March Pittsburgh
Indivisible Pittsburgh
Indivisible Forest Hills
Indivisible Grassroots Pittsburgh
FIERCE: Pittsburgh and SWPA
14th Ward Independent Democratic Club << hey! That’s us! YAY!!
Ascend PAC
UNITE
