To RSVP or for more information and/or to volunteer, call 847-433-8344 or send us an email. When you call or write, please include your contact information (name, address, phone, email).

Click here for a printable flyer

Moraine and West Deerfield Township Dems Host Candidate Meet & Mingle in Highland Park is a post from Illinois Tenth Congressional District Democrats

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Time: 7:00 – 8:30 pm

Location: Highland Park Health and Fitness Center, 1501 Busch Parkway, Buffalo Grove

Contact: For questions, call Rep. Sente at 847-478-9909 or send her an email.

Rep. Sente has organized a Children of Aging Parents Symposium to provide information to individuals who are currently caregivers or who might be caring for aging parents in the future.

Rep. Carol Sente Holds Symposium in Buffalo Grove on Caring for Aging Parents is a post from Illinois Tenth Congressional District Democrats

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by Paul Kelly
Tenth Dems Communications Director

Since 2004, Tenth Dems has been working to spark change through a grassroots effort. In that time, it has brought thousands of people into the political process by providing them the means to get involved—by holding rallies, getting news and information out to voters, or conducting Tenth Dems University classes.

And as has been the practice of the organization, Tenth Dems is not making an endorsement in the Democratic primary race for the 10th Congressional District in 2012.

“We take the position that we prefer a primary in this race,” said Lauren Beth Gash, Chair of Tenth Dems. “Primaries can serve to sharpen the campaign messages, develop effective organizations, and allow the candidates the opportunity to talk with voters. Each of the candidates who is vying for the nomination is terrific and would be an improvement over the incumbent.”

The concept of the direct primary—with ballots that are distributed and regulated by the states—is a progressive idea. Expanding democracy was part of the progressive push to achieve the goal of good government. Starting in the early to middle part of the 20th century, voters were given the opportunity to decide who to put on the general election ballot rather than have political operatives in “smoke-filled rooms” deciding the nominees. In fact, the term “smoke-filled room” came from the nomination of a Republican who is widely considered to be one of the worst presidents in history. While he was a bumbling and ineffective leader, members of his administration by and large gave away huge amounts of the country’s petroleum reserve to Big Oil, profiting themselves in the process. While you might have had another name in mind, that president was Warren G. Harding.

Of course, primaries result in tough, spirited debates. At the end of the day, at the end of the primary election, however, Democrats share the same values.

In the same way that spirited people staff campaigns, passionate volunteers are the lifeblood of Tenth Dems. For many years, for many campaigns, Tenth Dems volunteers have worked to staff speaker events, connect with constituents through our newsletter and other outreach channels, administer office support, mobilize neighborhood canvassing, register voters, and work get-out-the-vote phone banks.

Many of our volunteers are also active participants in the various campaigns for the candidates of their choosing. Tenth Dems is a volunteer-run, grassroots organization, and we need energetic people to fulfill our mission. It is important to note that since the beginning of the group, our volunteers have been able to serve in campaign roles while also working on activities that help all Democrats. And since the beginning, after the primary is over, participants from competing campaigns have come together to work on getting Democrats elected in the general election.

Coming together to help Democrats is our purpose. Our mission statement reads: “Tenth Dems is a grassroots organization that is dedicated to electing Democrats at all levels of government in the 10th Congressional District in the state of Illinois. That includes the local, state, and national levels of government.”

As a keynote speaker at our annual meeting in 2009, Gov. Howard Dean, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said: “Tenth Dems is one of the most impressive grassroots groups I’ve seen anywhere in the country.”

Impartiality of Tenth Dems a Primary Concern is a post from Illinois Tenth Congressional District Democrats

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Time: 6:00 pm

Location: Waukegan Public Library, 128 N. County St., Waukegan

Contact: For more information contact Daisy Navar at 773-799-1763 or send her an email.

StandUp! Illinois is a coalition of community and labor organizations and working families who invite you to attend this meeting. During February, they will address the need to extend unemployment insurance benefits and the payroll tax cut.

StandUp! Illinois Meeting in Waukegan is a post from Illinois Tenth Congressional District Democrats

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Time: 6:30 – 8:00 pm

Location: Private location in Lake Villa

Contact: For more information or to RSVP, call 847-623-7725 or send an email.

Reception for Melinda Bush in Lake Villa is a post from Illinois Tenth Congressional District Democrats

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Time: 3:00 – 5:00 pm

Location: Vernon Township Hall, 290 Evergreen Dr., Vernon Hills

Contact: For questions, send an email.

You’re invited to a Meet and Greet with Vivek Bavda, candidate for U.S. Congress from the 10th District.

Meet and Greet with Vivek Bavda in Vernon Hills is a post from Illinois Tenth Congressional District Democrats

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Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Location: Campaign HQ, 611 Rockland Rd., Suite 101, Lake Bluff

Contact: If you need more information, please call 847-231-2245 or send an email.

Come out this Saturday and join our phone bank to spread the word about John Tree.

Phone Bank for John Tree in Lake Bluff is a post from Illinois Tenth Congressional District Democrats

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Time: 5:00 – 8:00 pm

Location: Suite 101, 611 W. Rockland Rd., Lake Bluff

Contact: Call Stacy Raker, 847-231-2245, for details or just stop by.

Volunteers are needed to make phone calls for John Tree, Democratic candidate for Congress in the 10th District, from now through the March 20 primary election.

Phone Bank in Lake Bluff for John Tree is a post from Illinois Tenth Congressional District Democrats

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Time: 5:00 – 8:00 pm

Location: Suite 101, 611 W. Rockland Rd., Lake Bluff

Contact: Call Stacy Raker, 847-231-2245, for details or just stop by.

Volunteers are needed to make phone calls for John Tree, Democratic candidate for Congress in the 10th District, from now through the March 20 primary election.

Phone Bank for John Tree in Lake Bluff is a post from Illinois Tenth Congressional District Democrats

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The Democratic candidates vying for the nomination in March have raised more than $420,000 in the 4th quarter combined. Rep. Dold raised only $356,831 in the 4th quarter for his re-election campaign.

Many freshmen Republicans who were supported by Tea Party donations in 2010 have found their 2011 fundraising takes increasingly diminished compared to Democratic challengers. This trend was noted by USA Today, which described the fundraising drop as “buyers’ remorse” in an article ‟GOP freshmen see fundraising dwindle,” (11-25-11).

Democrats around the United States have been energized to actively campaign and raise funds for many Democratic challengers. President Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign has also been buoyed by strong record-setting fundraising.

For more information about the Illinois Tenth Congressional District Democrats, please visit http://www.tenthdems.org/.

The Illinois Tenth Congressional District Democrats is a volunteer group with members from all parts of the 10th Congressional District. The 10th District contains portions of both Cook and Lake Counties stretching from Winnetka through Waukegan and from Lake Michigan west through Round Lake. The District includes all or part of the following townships: Avon, Benton, Deerfield, Grant, Libertyville, Moraine, Shields, Waukegan, West Deerfield, Vernon, Zion and parts of Fremont, Lake Villa, Maine, New Trier, Newport, Northfield, Warren, and Wheeling.

Democratic Candidates Show Strong Fundraising Compared to Incumbent Dold is a post from Illinois Tenth Congressional District Democrats

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