History of Edmond Democratic Women
The Edmond Democratic Women began with a group of eight like-minded women in a suburban Oklahoma living room shortly after the November 2016 election and has since exploded into a community of women passionate about changing the political outcome for the better.
Those original eight women left that November meeting with hopes of putting together a group of 35 to 40 like-minded women who could make a difference in the future of Oklahoma politics. Their goal was to host a January meeting at a community member's home, inviting anyone in the Edmond area who shared similar political views. So, with only a word-of-mouth movement, fifty-two women packed into that living room on January 23, 2017.
Many were driven by frustration with elected officials and the momentum sparked by the Women’s Marches the weekend before. Each person attended with the hope of learning more about a group they believed could make a meaningful impact on the political landscape. Everyone was invited to share their hopes for the group’s future. With that, they set another meeting date and were charged with recruiting even more women for the February meeting.
From the January 23rd meeting to the February 12th meeting, the group's size increased to 110, and subsequently to 150. Word spread quickly about this women’s group in the very red community of Edmond. Many came from outside Edmond because they had no such resource – or support group – in their part of Oklahoma County or adjacent Logan County.
All the organization's infrastructure was put in place with officers elected, by-laws written, committees created, and dues established. Speakers were recruited for the meetings, and the word of a large and active group of Democratic Women in Edmond, Oklahoma was spreading throughout the state. Committee members were actively reaching out to legislators about specific issues and concerns, while others were working on behalf of Democratic candidates facing upcoming elections.
Hundreds of women and men have officially joined and paid their dues, turning what was once a dream shared by just eight women into a thriving reality. The rapidity of the growth has, at times, been challenging, but the size of the group continues to be impressive and rewarding for all those who have joined.
There is no question that the timing was right for such a movement in Edmond. The founders just had no idea that so many would be eager to be a part of it. When one of the members was asked why she joined, her response was, “This is a group that doesn’t just meet. It acts.”
Like fish swimming upstream, they are a blue force in a very red state. This group is positively impacting our community, state, and country, and they are only getting started.
Edmond Democratic Women’s Priorities and Initiatives:
1) Initiate and support voter registration efforts.
2) Support and elect Democrats and progressives to local, county, state, and federal offices.
3) Support precinct work to activate Democrats and get out the vote.
4) Advocate for progressive issues at the local and state levels.
