This newsletter was emailed to all subscribers on November 14, 2025:
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Dear friends,
What a month this has been! In this newsletter, I’ll dive into both the good news and bad (or at least mixed) news since I last wrote.
First, the Good News: Big Wins in Mount Vernon!
Let’s celebrate what we can. Earlier this month, Mount Vernon elected both a Democratic city council member (Dale Miller, Mount Vernon at large) and a Democratic-leaning Independent (Taylor Jacklin, Mount Vernon 3rd Ward). Let’s watch City Council become more transparent and more accommodating to its constituents after January, when Dale and Taylor will be sworn in.
Mixed and/or Bad News, Depending on How You Look at It: Caving of Dems in DC
As you probably know, earlier this week, eight Democratic senators joined the Republicans to vote to end the federal government shutdown. This has some of us angry, some of us sad, and some of us relieved (or at least hopeful that SNAP benefits will resume soon). Bottom line: The whole shutdown episode has proven that Dems care about people (especially food scarcity and health care costs) and Republicans are unwilling to compromise, no matter the harm to people. The Trump Administration even went to the Supreme Court to avoid paying for SNAP, leaving millions of people worried about a basic human need, food – all in order to ensure tax cuts for billionaires.
More Mixed News: Congressional Redistricting in Ohio
On October 31, the Ohio redistricting commission decided on new congressional districts. The new districts are weighted more heavily towards Republicans, but we are hopeful that people are so fed up with Trump that the small margins in some areas of the state (for example, Cincinnati) can still be overcome. If you look at the new districts and how people have voted in elections since 2021, the ratio of Republican-leaning vs. Dem-leaning is now 12R/3D; previously it was 10R/5D.
The district for Knox County has changed a little (it no longer includes Athens County, for example), but at least now we know what our district is, and we know that Jerrad Christian will run again to be our congressman. This means we can get to work to support him. Check out Jerrad Christian’s website here for a reminder on how great it would be to have him replace the cruel and clueless Balderson, who voted to cut his constituents’ health care and SNAP benefits – in favor of billionaires who don’t even live in this district.
The redistricting process and its recent questionable results further highlight the importance of specific state-wide races – governor, auditor, and secretary of state. If Democrats can win at least two of those three contests going forward, they will have a majority on the redistricting commission and can un-gerrymander our state after the 2030 census. Watch for more information in the coming months on the Democratic Party candidates in those races.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Will you commit to do whatever you can to be part of a powerful movement aimed at both winning the midterm elections and protecting the results? Here are some ways you can get involved:
Sign candidate petitions in our office (9 E Vine Street, in Mount Vernon, Wednesdays and Saturdays, 11 am – 3 pm) All candidates need to collect signatures in order to appear on the ballot. To ensure we have a good choice of candidates, please come to sign their petitions.
Vote in the primary election, scheduled for May 5, 2026. Put this date on your calendar now! It’s only by pulling a Democratic Party ballot in a primary election that you get registered as a Democrat in Ohio.
Think about volunteering – This is a time when we need to push ourselves outside of our comfort zone. Here’s a link to our volunteer form, which gives you some ideas on what kind of help we will need in 2026. If you sign up now, we’ll get in touch with you as specific opportunities arise to put your talents and interests to work.
Consider running for the Knox Democratic Party central committee, so that you can work within your neighborhood to help get Dems elected next November. To join the central committee, you need to be elected in the May primary; to get on that ballot, you need to complete and this simple form and submit it to the Board of Elections by February 4, 2026. For details on what central committee members do, see our by-laws and/or stop by the office and chat with us about the role.
Food for the Hungry Collection
Trump and Balderson may not care about food scarcity issues in Knox County, but we do! Please stop by the office on any of the following dates to donate food and/or money (cash or checks) to Food for the Hungry. We’ve collected quite a bit from generous people already, but I know we can count on more Dems to help out. Even if the SNAP benefits are fully re-instated (which is still uncertain as of this writing), we have many people in our county who worry about food and sometimes go hungry. Please stop by with your donation:
Saturday, November 15: 11 am – 5 pm
Wednesday, November 19: 11 am – 5 pm
Saturday. November 22: 11 am – 5 pm
Saturday. November 29: 11 am – 5 pm
Monday, December 1: 11 am – 8 pm
Wednesday, December 3: 11 am – 8 pm
Saturday. Dec 6: 11 am – 5 pm
Monday, December 8: 11 am – 8 pm
Wednesday, December 10: 11 am – 8 pm
Friday, Dec 12: 11 am – 8 pm
In case I don’t see you in the office soon, let me now wish you a very happy Thanksgiving and a peaceful and joyful holiday season this December. Our next newsletter will be sent in January 2026, and by that time we hope to be getting to work on 2026 elections. I hope you’ll sign up to help!
Best wishes,
Kathy Tate, Chair
Knox County Democratic Party