Crystal Strait Announces Candidacy to Become President of the Young Democrats

Today, Crystal Strait, the Political Director of the California Democratic Party, announced her candidacy to become YDA President. As I reported in my book, YDA underwent huge changes in recent years. They left the DNC and transformed from a networking organization for aspiring politicos to become a great grassroots, peer-to-peer organizing operation targeting young voters. This change lies at the heart of what Kevin was talking about in his post yesterday about the disconnect between "youth movement" people, young staff, and the Democratic Party. Crystal gets that. She understands why peer-to-peer organizing targeted at young people is important. In short, she'd make a great YDA President and I wish her the best of luck.

Enough of me yapping, though. Here's Crystal's letter to the Young Dems announcing her candidacy:

Dear Young Democrat,

I want you to know that I am running for President of the Young Democrats of America.

For more than 75 years, YDA has served as an arena for young leaders to cut their teeth, learn politics and earn their first stripes. But for many of us, just playing politics isn’t enough.

Over the last three election cycles, there has been a slow and steady push for YDA to be a people-powered organization that dedicates our time to doing the hard work it takes to build a bloc of progressive young voters. Like many of us, I have dedicated myself to this change and want to see YDA become a place that will continue to build and represent our generation.

That's why I am running for YDA President and hope I can earn your support.

Through the inspired efforts of young people across America, we have generated unprecedented results; and we are now poised to become a sustained force for change and progress. We must open the doors and embrace this once-in-a-lifetime energy. We must ensure that the ineffective organizational politics of old are left behind so we can build upon our achievements and embrace the change our generation so desperately wants; and our country so desperately needs.

We know change is never easy, but it is necessary for progress.

With our talented and diverse membership, I am confident we have the power to make the changes we need to move YDA forward. I am running for YDA President so together we can make these changes and realize our collective potential. Working together, we can make progress; without all of our shoulders to the wheel, we cannot advance.

We will change YDA by bringing more people into the room, not fewer--by making our programming serve and help our members grow at the local level--by making sure that we represent millions of young voters by directly advocating on the issues that impact them the most—and most importantly by holding each other accountable for getting the work done.

From my time as a local chapter president, state chapter president and national officer, I have ideas on how we can get there—and I know you do, too. The future of YDA is in our hands. I look forward to talking with you, so we can share our ideas and plan how we move YDA forward, together.

Last Tuesday night, our President said to a room of young people just like you and me: “The future will be in your hands...You will make it happen."

Let’s make it happen, together.

Best,

Crystal