By Sheila McNeil, chair of the Madison County Democratic Executive Committee
I am honored to serve as the chair of the Madison County Democratic Party. As a former elected official and community leader in my native state of Texas, the opportunity to continue to serve the community is a sincere privilege. The Madison County Democratic Party is a party of the people whose mission is to work alongside Democratic candidates and officials in sharing their message with the citizens of Madison County. We want to engage members of our communities in believing in the equality of all people, the power of education, the dignity of work, and the responsibility to support our communities.
The 2024 election year has become one of the most energizing in our lifetime, and the Madison County Democratic Party is ready to roll up its sleeves and get into the trenches to protect the future of America and our community. What was a lackluster Democratic race just two weeks ago has evolved into an exuberant race for the White House due solely to President Biden’s selfless act of withdrawing and elevating Vice President Kamala Harris to the top of the ticket. In just a few days, she has set historic records in raising money and volunteer engagement. She has garnered endorsements from groups like Win with Black Women, White Women for Harris, White Dudes for Harris, Latinos for Harris, Cat Ladies for Harris, and even Republicans for Harris. The excitement is contagious. Vice President Harris’s first major decision as a presidential candidate to add Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate has only accelerated the enthusiasm.
So, what does that mean for us here in the very conservative state of Alabama? It means that even though Trump will probably win the state, we have a unique opportunity to win Madison County. It is rumored that Madison County is “blue,” meaning the majority of its voters are Democrats. As one of the state’s fastest-growing and most progressive counties, the November election is our time to show that the county is genuinely blue, proving that the rumor is true and allowing us to say it out loud. This will require our full engagement in what I like to call the Five Steps to Success. They are: 1) Voter registration, 2) Voter education, 3) Voter mobilization, 4) Voter engagement, and 5) Voter stabilization. If we master these, we will not only elect the first woman of color as president of the United States, protect our country from the Republican factious and extremist policy proposals, but also secure our place in history here in Madison County, Ala., as a blue county.
This will have enormous implications for future elections in our community. It also helps local Democratic candidates down ballot. So don’t be left out. Please get involved today by emailing us at info@madisoncountydemocrats.com or visiting our website at madisoncountydemocrats.com.
