County’s Democratic Party opens new headquarters

The Alachua County Democratic Party held a grand opening Thursday for its second headquarters, located at 4056 W. Newberry Road.

The organization, which also works out of an office at 901 NW Eighth Ave., opened the second office in order to accommodate and organize more volunteers for the local branch. Staff and volunteers coordinate outreach programs, like phone banking and canvassing, to mobilize voters ahead of local and national elections.

At the ceremony, a speaker from the group and the Florida College Democrats discussed the presidential election and local politics, emphasizing the importance of volunteers spending time urging members of the community to vote Democrat.

To help ensure voters elect Democrats onto the ballot, the Florida College Democrats will be organizing voter registration drives on university campuses across the state, said Chris Reilly, a 21-year-old UF political science senior and the president of the group.

Kelly Zimmerman, the field organizer with the Alachua Democratic Party, said it’s vital for residents to volunteer, even if they can’t physically knock on doors. For those who are unable to sit at a phone or canvass in person, they can help feed other volunteers through the group’s Meal Train program.

“When we stay silent, when we don’t knock on doors, when we don’t talk to voters — that’s how people like Donald Trump get elected,” she said.