MEDIA ADVISORY

California Young Democrats

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Contac: Claire Conlon, CYD Communications Director, (916) 266-1006, cconlon@youngdems.org

California Young Democrats Available for Comment

Presidential Debate & Election Returns Reactions

SACRAMENTO – California Young Democrats will be available for reaction comments pre and post Democratic Presidential debate at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood on Thursday, January 31 and also at various debate-watch parties around the state. The California Young Democrats will hold three official Primary Election returns-watch parties in Sacramento, Los Angeles and San Francisco, and several smaller parties around the state. The California Young Democrats can connect the media with local young Democratic leaders in every community in California for comments and reactions.

Thursday, January 31, 4-8pm

DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

KODAK THEATER, HOLLYWOOD

Available both inside and outside the debate

and at debate watching parties around the state

Tuesday, February 5

CYD PRIMARY ELECTIONS RETRUNS WATCH PARTIES

California State University, Sacramento Student Union, Ballroom One, 4pm-9pm

University of California, Los Angeles, Tom Bradley International Hall, 7pm-10pm

Jillian’s at the Metreon, 101 4th Street/Mission Street, San Francisco, 6pm-11pm

Participants

Tim Steed, President

California Young Democrats

Nick Warshaw, President

California College Democrats

and

Young Democratic activists around the state

*Note for Spanish-language media: Spanish speakers will be available for comment

Young voters are flocking to the Democratic Party in droves because we are interested in solutions, not fairy tales. When it comes to the issues we care about, the Democratic Party is fighting for us and engaging us. The Republicans aren't even on the field.

Today, a winning campaign is one that acknowledges the facts on the ground: young people are hardly apathetic. Consider that young voters provided the margin of victory in 2006 to 22 of the Democratic candidates who now proudly call themselves members of Congress. Without the youth vote, Democrats would not have re-gained control of Congress.

“When I took to the stage at American University to endorse Barack Obama on Monday, I came face to face with a new generation in American politics,” said Senator Edward M. Kennedy. “…today I'm following that with an emphatic endorsement of a new generation in American politics. Across this country, there's overwhelming turnout at the polls, unprecedented attention to the critical issues facing our nation and a growing conviction that our best days are still ahead. No matter who you support for president, I challenge you to accept the responsibilities of this new generation.”

In 2004, and again in 2006, youth turnout increased for the first time since the voting age was lowered. This year, we’re poised to hit the election with the force of an earthquake. We're motivated. We're energized. We're passionate about our future and inspired by the Democratic Party and its candidates. And in 2008 we will continue to be the margin of victory.

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Journalist Cheat Sheet: Eleven Tips for Reporting the Youth Vote

Future Majority Blog – November 2007

Quick Facts About Young Voters in California: The Primary Election Year 2008

Circle: The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning & Engagement – January 2008

Why Young Voters Care Again – Cover Story

TIME Magazine – 1/30/08

“Obama also won the majority of South Carolina’s young white voters — the only white age group he carried.”

Clinton no closer to narrowing youth gap – Politco 1/29/08

“As of late 2007, nearly 2.6 million Californians in the 18- to 29-year-old range were registered, representing 16.5 percent of all voters. Overall, that age group makes up about a third of the state's population.”

Will young voters have an impact? – Associated Press 1/29/08

“[T]he youth vote at the Iowa caucus was triple that of the previous election cycle, and the figures nearly tripled in New Hampshire.”

Youth Activists Defend Generation – The New York Times Politics Blog 1/29/08

“The Institute of Politics at Harvard University recently released data from an online survey of 2,525 18- to 24-year-olds. Among the survey’s more notable statistics are those concerning party affiliation among Asian-Americans: 47 percent identify themselves as Democratic, 15 percent Republican and 39 percent independent — making them more Democratic than any other ethnic group except African-Americans in the survey.”

Asian-American youth trend Democratic – Politico 12/20/07

“ “Many young Californians are still undecided and we’ve seen that when a Presidential candidate shows us they care about young people and the issues affecting us, we respond by turning out to the polls,” said California College Democrats President Nick Warshaw.”

California youth feeling the candidate love –Contra Costa Times Politics Blog 1/17/08

"We want decline-to-state voters to understand they have a home in the Democratic Party," said Roger Salazar, a party spokesman.

'Decline-to-state' voters add Golden State intrigue – Sacramento Bee 1/9/08

The California Young Democrats is the official youth arm of the California Democratic Party, comprised of progressive people ages 14-35. The California Young Democrats are committed to creating a bloc of young voters who will elect Democrats for an entire generation. Using proven Peer to Peer campaign methods, Young Democrats have made significant differences in races all over California. Young Democrats in California work everyday to promote social justice, women’s rights, peace and stability in the world, and many other progressive values.