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RR Dems News and Events – April 23, 2026

Join us for the next meeting – April 28

Join us for another interesting evening with the Rocky River Dems! Our currently scheduled speakers include Allison Russo, candidate for Ohio Secretary of State, and Nima Homani, an Iranian citizen currently living in the Cleveland area who will provide his unique perspective on Iran and the situation in the Middle East. Tuesday, April 28 at the Rocky River Public Library. Click here to register for the event.

Primary Election Round Up

As we near the finish line on this primary election season, here’s a few reminders and a few events.

  • Tuesday, April 28 is the Absentee Ballot Request Deadline! Click here to request a vote by mail ballot and for more information.
  • Early In-Person Voting at the Board of Elections is happening now through Sunday, May 3, at 5:00 pm
  • Primary Election Day is Tuesday, May 5 from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm

Sample ballots are available online. Review your ballot before you vote! Visit boe.cuyahogacounty.gov/voters/Get-a-Sample-Ballot

Need help breaking down the candidates? Check out this candidate guide.

Secretary of State Candidate Forum – Saturday, April 25

Here’s your chance to meet the democratic candidates for Ohio Secretary of State. Allison Russo and Bryan Handley will appear in a forum on Saturday, April 25 at Strongsville Old Town Hall. Doors open at 6pm, forum starts at 6:30pm. This event is sponsored by the Berea, Midpark, North Royalton, Olmsted Falls and Strongsville Democratic Clubs.

Bernie Sanders Coming to Parma

Bernie Sanders will be coming to Valley Forge High School on Friday, May 1 with special guest Brian Poindexter and Rep. Chris Deluzio. Doors open at 6pm, with the speaking program starting at 7pm. For more information and to register for the event, click here.

Upcoming Campaign Events

Be sure to visit the Cuyahoga County Democrats calendar page for a more comprehensive list of upcoming Democratic events and actions.

Michael Eisner Voter Town Hall – April 23

Meet Dr. Bryan Hambley – April 24

Brian Poindexter Event – April 24

John Kulewicz Fundraiser – April 26

Meet & Greet with Dr. Amy Acton – May 2

Get Involved – Other Events and Actions

May Day Protest – May 1

Stand Up Saturdays – Every Week!

Have events, issues or concerns to share with the Rocky River Dems? Submit them to our email to be included in the newsletter.

RR Dems News and Events – April 16, 2026

Primary Election Guide

The new Primary Guide is now live on Rocky River Dems website! We’ve put together all sorts of useful links to general election resources, sample ballots and other great information in one easy location.

Speaking of great information, a big thanks to our friends at the Strongsville Democrats for sharing this great Candidate Resource with us. This is available as a downloadable pdf, and has the names, website links and other useful information. Download it from our website here!

Early Voting is Now Available

The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections makes it convenient and easy to vote early at their beautiful new downtown location on Superior Avenue. (The parking is much better too!) If kids, school and work make it difficult for you to get to the polls on election day, consider trying in-person voting. Saturday and Sunday hours are available on May 2 and 3. For more information and directions to their downtown location, click here.

Poll Monitor Recruitment Phone Banks Training Event – Sunday, April 19.

From Juan Delgado Urcino – Our team working with the Voter Access department has organized a virtual event to have volunteers recruit past poll monitors in our communities and encourage them to join us once again as we head into our primaries across the state. No experience is needed; the volunteer group running this virtual event will train everyone who signs up and volunteers may join from home. Poll Monitor Recruitment Phone Banks!

Next Rocky River Dems meeting – April 28

Mark your calendars for the next meeting – Tuesday, April 28 at the Rocky River Public Library. Our currently scheduled speakers include Allison Russo, candidate for Ohio Secretary of State, and Nima Homani, who will be speaking on Iran and the situation in the Middle East. Click here to register for the event.

One Last Thought

Amid all of the talk about the primaries, our Republican-controlled statehouse continues to push through bills like Ohio HB 249, which passed the House in March and is moving to the Senate.  This bill, with the scarily titled “Indecent Exposure Modernization Act”, essentially bans drag shows in public, with penalties ranging from a first degree misdemeanor to a fifth degree felony.  For a more detailed breakdown of this bill, check out this article from the Ohio Capital Journal.

This bill is another example of the dangerous disconnect between the Republican party in Ohio and the concerns of everyday people.  As the house minority leader Dani Isaccson stated, “The majority in the legislature is focused on drag shows, while Ohioans are worried about how to pay the bills.”

Upcoming Campaign Events

Be sure to visit the Cuyahoga County Democrats calendar page for a more comprehensive list of upcoming Democratic events and actions.

Judge Vodrey Reelection Campaign Party – April 15

Candidates Meet & Eat – April 18

David Pepper and Allison Russo – April 19

Judge Kira Krivosh Fundraiser – April 20

Michael Eisner Voter Town Hall – April 23

A Conversation with Dr. Bryan Hambley – April 23

John Kulewicz Fundraiser – April 26

Get Involved – Other Events and Actions

May Day Protest – May 1

Stand Up Saturdays – Every Week!

Have events, issues or concerns to share with the Rocky River Dems? Submit them to our email to be included in the newsletter.

RR Dems News and Events – April 9, 2026

In this issue, we’re sharing some more useful info on the upcoming primaries, including a breakdown of the Secretary of State race.

Just a reminder, our next meeting is Tuesday, April 28!

Finally, a big thank you to everyone who renewed their membership this year! As a reminder, membership dues support all the Rocky River Dems activities including door hangers, signs, mailers and other “get out the vote” literature! If you haven’t done so already, click here to renew and thank you for your continued support.

Important Primary Election Information

Voting by Mail

If You (or Someone You Know) is Planning to Vote by Mail…

Plan ahead. Request your mail-in ballot early – you can request your ballot for the May 2026 PrimaryNOW. Then, mail your completed ballot at least one week prior to Election Day, May 5. After mailing, you can track your ballot. Sign up on the Board of Elections website.

Please note: A postmark is now basically irrelevant: your mail-in ballot must arrive at the Board of Elections by Election Day or it will not be counted. Mail early or use the Board of Elections Drop Box (see info below).

If you still want to ensure that your return ballot envelope receives a postmark with a date aligning with the date you mailed it, you can bring your ballot mail to the retail counter at a Postal Service retail location and request a manual postmark, which will be applied free of charge upon accepting custody of the mailpiece.

Also note: The Postal Service offers Certified Mail or Registered Mail service at its Post Office retail counters for purchase. If you purchase these services, you will get a receipt that includes tracking information.

Find U.S. Postal Service information about election mail here.

Find Cuyahoga County Board of Elections Vote-by-Mail information (including tracking your ballot) here.

Breaking Down the Primaries

Continuing Series on the Primaries – Secretary of State

The Ohio Secretary of State serves as Ohio’s chief elections official, overseeing how elections are conducted, setting voting rules, certifying results, and managing business filings and official state records. Because the office directly controls election administration, its decisions can shape everything from ballot access to how voting is carried out across the state.

The office has been held by Republicans since 2011, but there is no incumbent this year. With ongoing challenges around voting access and election security, this is an important opportunity for Democrats to win this seat.

The candidates on the primary ballot for this position are:

There is currently no Democratic Party endorsement for this race.

Upcoming Campaign Events

Be sure to visit the Cuyahoga County Democrats calendar page for a more comprehensive list of upcoming Democratic events and actions.

Allison Russo Event – April 9

Judge Vodrey Fundraising Event – April 15

David Pepper Meet & Greet- April 15

David Pepper and Allison Russo – April 19

Judge Kira Krivosh Fundraiser – April 20

Other Events and Actions

May Day Protest – May 1

Stand Up Saturdays – Every Week!

Have events, issues or concerns to share with the Rocky River Dems? Submit them to our email to be included in the newsletter.

RR Dems News and Events – March 26, 2026

From protests to candidate forums – its going to be a busy week this week!

No Kings III – Saturday, March 28

Got your sign ready? 

No Kings III is this weekend and it’s expected to be even bigger than the last two! There are gatherings happening all across our area, from downtown Cleveland to Strongsville, Avon Lake, and Parma.. For more information, check out the official NoKings site.

Rocky River is showing up too! Join your neighbors in front of – and across from – the Presidential Apartments (3410 Wooster Rd.) from 1:00–2:30 PM. Parking is available at The Mountain of the Lord Church on the west side of Wooster Road.

As we said last week, the past two protests have been organized, peaceful expressions of people’s frustrations, exactly what civic (and civil!) participation looks like.

Can’t stay for the protest? You can still be part of it! Drive by, wave, snap a few photos, and share them on social media. Every show of support helps spread the word and build momentum.

Join us for our March meeting – Tuesday, March 31

Please join your fellow Dems as we get set for the upcoming primaries! Tuesday, March 31 at the Rocky River Library to catch up on everything that happened and what’s to come in April! Doors open at 6:30pm and the meeting starts promptly at 7pm. RSVP HERE

  • Location: Rocky River Public Library
  • Doors open: 6:30pm
  • Meeting starts: 7:00pm

           

Congressional Candidate Forum – April 1

Don’t miss the US House District 7 Congressional Candidate Forum, hosted by the Bay Village, Rocky River, and Westlake/North Olmsted chapters of the League of Women Voters! This event will also be livestreamed on their Youtube channel. Click here for more info or to register to attend.

  • Location: Don Umerley Civic Center
  • Time: 6:30pm

Primary Election Deadlines

Primary elections are just around the corner! When more voters participate, the candidates are more likely to reflect the interests and concerns of the full community. These races matter, especially this year. Be sure to take part!

  • April 6: Voter Registration Deadline
  • April 7: Start of Early Voting
  • April 28: Deadline to Request a Mail-In Ballot
  • May 5: Primary Election Day

Want to learn more? Visit the Cuyahoga County Democrats calendar page for a more comprehensive list of upcoming events and actions.

Have events, issues or concerns to share with the Rocky River Dems? Submit them to our email to be included in the newsletter.

LWV’s Democratic Congressional Candidate Forum

Event Date: April 1, 2026

The Bay Village, Rocky River and Westlake/North Olmsted chapters of the League of Women Voters are presenting a congressional candidate forum for US House District 7 democratic candidates on the May 7 primary ballot. The event will also be livestreamed on their Youtube channel. Click here for more info and to register.

Location:  Don Umerley Civic Center

Date:  April 1, 2026

Time:  6:30 p.m.

Rocky River Dems – March Meeting

Event Date: March 31, 2026

Please join us for our monthly meeting on March 31 at the Rocky River Public Library.

We have two scheduled speakers this month.  Amanda Sebroskey from the Bay Village Dems will join us to discuss House Joint Resolution 2 and the dangers of an Article V Convention.  We will also be joined by Juan Delgado Urcino, the Regional Organizing Director – Cuyahoga County for the Ohio Democratic Party who will talk about activating voters for the upcoming midterms. 

You can register for the event here. Hope to see you there!

  • Location:  Rocky River Public Library
  • Date:  March 31, 2026
  • Time:  Doors open at 6:30pm. Meeting starts at 7:00 pm.

RR Dems News and Events – February 19, 2026

Don’t Forget – Rocky River Dems February Meeting

Tuesday February 24 @ 7pm (Doors open at 6:30pm)

Rocky River Public Library

Join us for our next monthly meeting, where the guest speaker will be Cuyahoga County Pleas Court Judge William Vodrey, who will be presenting on “President Trump and the Rule of Law”. This will be an incredibly important lecture, especially in this time of increasing lawlessness–you won’t want to miss it!

RSVP HERE

Cuyahoga County Democratic Party Primary Endorsements Announced

Congratulations to the candidates recently endorsed by the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party for the upcoming primary election. The complete list of endorsed candidates is available here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DHepjETSxS7VrTuKHJoU_68ff7lkAGOtZxwtJQBXk8c/edit?tab=t.0.

What the SAVE Act Is — and Why It Matters for Voters

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act is federal legislation recently passed by the U.S. House that would change how Americans register to vote in federal elections. The bill would require every person registering or updating their registration to provide specific proof of U.S. citizenship — such as a passport, birth certificate, or similar documentation — in person at an election office before their registration is accepted.

This requirement goes far beyond current law — which already makes non-citizen voting illegal — and could make registering to vote significantly harder for many eligible Americans.

    These changes would disenfranchise millions of eligible voters and weaken access to the ballot rather than strengthen election integrity.

    📞 Call to Action: Contact your U.S. Senators and urge them to vote no on the SAVE Act to protect voter access and participation.

    Calling Your Elected Officials — Does It Matter?

    There’s a famous saying often attributed to Albert Einstein: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” At times, calling our elected officials can feel just like that — frustrating and maybe even pointless.

    But here’s one big reason to keep at it: Not speaking up lets others speak for you. When lawmakers don’t hear from constituents, it can look like no one cares. Every call, email, or message gets logged and helps show the full range of community opinion.  And that is important. 

    Every  voice counts. Making the effort ensures your views are seen and documented. In a democracy, staying silent is the only thing that guarantees your opinion won’t be heard.

    Visit the Cuyahoga County Democrats calendar page for a more comprehensive list of upcoming events and actions.

    Michael Eisner Meet & Greet- February 19

    Come meet Michael Eisner, Candidate for Ohio Congressional District 7 this Thursday!

    Thursday 2/19 6-8pm

    Burntwood Tavern, Rocky River

    Fallon Radigan Fundraiser – February 26

    Scott Dimauro Event – March 9

    More info HERE!!

    Have events, issues or concerns to share with the Rocky River Dems? Submit them to our email to be included in the newsletter.

    Quick Reminder from the Michael Eisner Campaign

    Michael Eisner Meet & Greet Tomorrow!

    Come meet Michael Eisner, Candidate for Ohio Congressional District 7 this Thursday at the Burntwood Tavern in Rocky River!.

    Come find out why Mike should be your choice to beat Max Miller. This is an important race, and this is your chance to meet Mike and ask him your thought questions, discuss the issues facing our district.

    Thursday, February 19 6-8pm

    Burntwood Tavern, Rocky River

    RR Dems News and Events – February 13, 2026

    **RESCHEDULED** – Westshore Congressional Candidate Forum

    The forum, originally scheduled for February 16th at the Westlake Porter Library, has been cancelled and will be rescheduled for mid-March. Please stay tuned for updates on the new date, time and location! Thanks!

    Rocky River Dems February Meeting

    Tuesday February 24 @ 7pm (Doors open at 6:30pm)

    Rocky River Public Library

    We are excited to announce the guest speaker for our February meeting with be Cuyahoga County Pleas Court Judge William Vodrey, who will be presenting on “President Trump and the Rule of Law”–this will be an incredibly important lecture, especially in this time of increasing lawlessness–you won’t want to miss it!

    RSVP HERE

    City Council Chat Series Scheduled

    Due to the popularity of their first event, our Rocky River City Council representatives have scheduled a series of these casual conversations. Bring your questions and comments, and learn more about city government! The next date is Wednesday, February 18, 5:30-6:30pm at the Rocky River Public Library Auditorium.

    Cuyahoga County Events

    Visit the Cuyahoga County Democrats calendar page for a more comprehensive list of upcoming events and actions.

    Anti-ICE Protest!!

    Please register HERE!!

    Jeff Crossman Event!!

    Get your ticket HERE!!

    Michael Eisner Event!!

    Scott Dimauro Event!!

    More info HERE!!

    RR Dems News and Events – February 12, 2026

    Don’t Forget – Westshore Congressional Candidate Forum

    Monday, February 16th @ 7pm

    Porter Library (in the Porter Room)

    Our Westshore Group will be coming together again to hold a forum for candidates for US Congressional District 7 –please plan to attend!

    Rocky River Dems February Meeting

    Tuesday February 24 @ 7pm (Doors open at 6:30pm)

    Rocky River Public Library

    We are excited to announce the guest speaker for our February meeting with be Cuyahoga County Pleas Court Judge William Vodrey, who will be presenting on “President Trump and the Rule of Law”–this will be an incredibly important lecture, especially in this time of increasing lawlessness–you won’t want to miss it!

    RSVP HERE

    City Council Chat Series Scheduled

    Due to the popularity of their first event, our Rocky River City Council representatives have scheduled a series of these casual conversations. Bring your questions and comments, and learn more about city government! The next date is Wednesday, February 18, 5:30-6:30pm at the Rocky River Public Library Auditorium.

    Cuyahoga County Events

    Visit the Cuyahoga County Democrats calendar page for a more comprehensive list of upcoming events and actions.

    Anti-ICE Protest!!

    Please register HERE!!

    Jeff Crossman Event!!

    Get your ticket HERE!!

    Michael Eisner Event!!

    Scott Dimauro Event!!

    More info HERE!!

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