Meeting Recap
Thanks to everyone who came out for the Rocky River Dems meeting last night! We always appreciate hearing different perspectives from candidates and their representatives. Special thanks to Alison Russo, candidate for Secretary of State, who answered questions about what the role of the Secretary of State is in government and why it is important.
We would also like to extend a big thanks to our guest speaker Nima Homani, a first-generation Iranian-American who shared insights into the long and difficult history between the United States and Iran which helped to shape where we are today. We deeply appreciate his insights as we all struggle to make sense of current events.
May 5 – Primary Election Updates
Looking for candidate guides, sample ballots and just some extra info? Check out the following resources:
- Find your official Sample Ballots boe.cuyahogacounty.gov/voters/Get-a-Sample-Ballot
- Check out the Rocky River Dems Candidate Guide
- See the Cuyahoga Dems endorsed candidate list
Planning on voting early? You still have have time! Early In-Person Voting at the Board of Elections is continuing through the weekend (Saturday 8am-4pm) and Sunday 1-5pm). Note: there is no early voting on Monday, May 4.
Polling places open at 6:30am on Tuesday, May 5 and remain open until 7:30pm. Not sure where your polling place is? Click here to find it.
A Note About Ballot Drop Boxes
With the recent election changes, ballots must be received at the Board of Elections by election day. If you forgot to mail yours, the ballot drop box is the next best thing. Located by the county board of elections building downtown, it is a safe and convenient way to make sure your ballot is counted.
Election Day Volunteers Needed
- The Cuyahoga Democrats are looking for volunteers to pass out sample ballots at election sites on Election Day. Shifts are usually 2-3 hours in length. In our community, the Rocky River Civic Center and the Rocky River Presbyterian locations still need volunteers. Want to get involved? Click the signup link here.
- The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections is looking for volunteers at its downtown facility from 7:30-11:30pm. Follow the link for more information and to volunteer.
One Last Thought
If you are reading this, you are most likely already an engaged voter planning to participate in the May 5 primary election. But just in case you were on the fence about it (or are talking with someone who doesn’t think it is worth the effort) here is the number one reason to vote in the primary:
If you’ve ever felt that the November election was the choice between candidates that do not fully represent your beliefs, lack of participation in the primary election may be the reason why.
The reason? The candidates on the general election ballot are usually chosen by a much smaller group of voters. When primary turnout is low, those decisions reflect only a limited portion of the electorate. The more people who participate, the more likely it is that the candidates running in November reflect the group they are representing. And while this may sound obvious to someone who already participates in primary elections, it probably isn’t to everyone else.
Upcoming Campaign Events
There is a lot going on this weekend!
Be sure to visit the Cuyahoga County Democrats calendar page for a more comprehensive list of upcoming Democratic events and actions.
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.
Meet & Greet with Dr. Amy Acton – May 2
Rally for Democracy with Nickie Antonio – May 2
Get Involved – Other Events and Actions
May Day Protest – May 1
PRIDE in the CLE – Saturday, June 6, 2026
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Applications are on a rolling schedule. Don’t miss your chance to get involved! MORE INFO
Application Dates:
- March participants: Now-May 25
- Sponsorships & Ads: Now-May 1
- Volunteers: Now-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.
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.
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.
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:
- Allison Russo — https://allisonrusso.com/
- Bryan Hambley — https://www.hambleyforohio.com/
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.
This weekend, we were energized by all the participation in No Kings rallies throughout our region, including one right here in Rocky River! Let’s keep that momentum going through this primary season!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, its time to renew your membership! Click here to renew and thank you for your continued support.
March Meeting Recap
It was a great showing at our monthly meeting this week! Special thanks goes out to our scheduled speakers, Amanda Sebroskey and Juan Delgado Urcino, the Regional Organizing Director – Cuyahoga County for the Ohio Democratic Party. Juan is gathering volunteers to help mobilize voters in the upcoming elections. If you missed the chance to sign up at the meeting on Wednesday, you can sign up using the Ohio Dems Volunteer Interest Sign Up Form and Juan will be in touch in the next few weeks.
As always, a big thank you to the many candidates who stopped in. We have seen many of these candidates multiple times, and we really appreciate their continued commitment to connecting with our group.
7th Congressional District Candidate Forum
The Congressional Candidate forum on Wednesday night was a great chance to hear from all 8 candidates, including some you may not have seen before. For a complete list of the candidates with links to their websites, check out our March 19 Newsletter. If you missed the live event on Wednesday night, the recording will be available soon on the League of Women Voters youtube channel. Thanks to the Bay Village, Rocky River, and Westlake/North Olmsted chapters of the League of Women Voters for organizing and hosting this event.
Voter Registration Deadline – April 6
Voter Registration Deadline – April 6
We’ve said it over and over again, but it is still worth repeating. If you plan on voting in the primary, check the website to make sure your registration is up to date. Thousands of people were removed from the voter rolls without their knowledge, so even if you’ve voted recently, its still worth checking. Early voting starts April 7.
Breaking Down the Primaries
Sample Ballots Now Available
Continuing our series on the Primaries, sample ballots are now available! Check out this link to download find yours.
What is a State Central Committee member and why are they on the ballot?
If you haven’t voted in a lot of primaries, there are two contests you may not be familiar with: Member of the State Central Committee (Man and Woman). Central committee members manage party operations and direct policies of the Ohio Democratic party so they are an important, behind the scenes position. For a concise breakdown of the what these roles do, here is an informative article from the League of Women Voters.
Most central committee members don’t have websites and only a few may campaign, so it can be difficult to know who to vote for. While a lot of it depends upon name recognition, if you are deciding between a few candidates think about this: a good central committee member is reliable, engaged with their neighborhood, helps register and turn out voters, supports candidates locally, and communicates effectively with everyday people.
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
Upcoming Events
While candidate activity has certainly slowed in the last few weeks, visit the Cuyahoga County Democrats calendar page for a more comprehensive list of upcoming Democratic events and actions.
Allison Russo Event – April 9
Have events, issues or concerns to share with the Rocky River Dems? Submit them to our email to be included in the newsletter.
