September/October 2026 Newsletter

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Calendar

Find out more about these and other events by visiting the Calendar on our website.

September 29 – Women’s Leadership Forum

Do Something MO’s Second Annual Women’s Leadership Forum in the Northland. 6:30 pm, Park Hill South High School, 4500 River Park Dr. Riverside, MO

September 30 – Community Talk November Ballot Issues

Speakers include Jamie Johnson, People Not Politicians; Cara Hile, Abortion Action MO; Amy Slaybaugh, Respect MO Voters and Jessica Ann, MO Budget Project. 6:30 pm, Green Hills Library, 8581 N Green Hills Rd.

September 30 – Northland Democratic Club Ice Cream Social

Come enjoy ice cream and hot dogs, meet current candidates and elected officials, ask questions, and connect with friends and like-minded neighbors from across the Northland. 6:30 pm, Happy Rock Park, 7565 NE Antioch Rd. Gladstone, MO.

October 7 – Last day to register to vote in the November 3 election

October 12 – Platte County Democratic Women

This will be a fun, working session – canvassing, phone banking, post cards and other candidate support activities. Pizza will be provided; bring your own drink. 5:00 – 7:30 pm Platte County Democratic Headquarters, 6447 N Cosby Ave.

October 13 – Democratic Women’s Coalition for Northern Platte County

7:00 pm, American Bowman Restaurant, 500 Welt St., Weston, MO

October 15 – Platte County Democratic Central Committee

7:00 pm, Teamsters Local 955 Union Hall, 10525 N Ambassador Dr.

October 20 – The Northland Democratic Club

6:30 pm, Clay County Democratic Headquarters, 5226 N Antioch Rd.

October 20 – Early (no excuse) voting begins

8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Platte County Board of Elections, 2600 NW Prairie View Rd. Platte City

October 21 – Community Talk Meet the Candidates

Meet candidates Shereka Barnes for State Senate District 34, Ashley Aune for State House District 14, Tracey Steele for State House District 12 and Jacoby Wynkoop for State House District 13. Mary McKenna running for Platte County Commissioner and Hans Peter running for Platte County Clerk. 6:30 pm, Green Hills Library, 8581 N Green Hills Rd.

October 22 – Community Town Hall – Candidates of Contested Local Races

Candidates in contested races are invited to be a part of the panel. Contested races are Platte County Presiding Commissioner, Platte County Clerk, Platte County Collector, Platte County Treasurer, Platte County Auditor, Missouri House District 12, Missouri Senate District 34. 6:00 pm, 819 Main St. Parkville

Platte County Democratic Election Headquarters

Our 2026 Election Headquarters is located in Picture Hills: 6447 N Cosby Ave. Hours are: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 am – 6 pm, Wednesday 9 am – 8 pm, Saturday 9 am – 5 pm, Sunday 1 – 4 pm. At our headquarters, you can pick up yard signs, candidate brochures and information about upcoming ballot issues. We are there to answer questions and help connect you with the resources or volunteer opportunities that interest you most.

Platte County Democratic Central Committee

The PCDCC met on September 17^th at the Teamsters Local 955 Union Hall10525 North Ambassador Drive, Kansas City, MO. Thank you Teamsters Local 955 for providing this beautiful space for our meetings!

The Committee voted to make the following endorsements on November ballot initiatives:

• NO on Proposition A – A NO vote rejects the 2025 congressional redistricting map.
• NO on Amendment 3 – A NO vote keeps the reproductive healthcare rights approved by Missouri voters in 2024 and rejects the proposed constitutional changes in Amendment 3.
• YES on Amendment 6 – The only YES on the ballot! Amendment 6 protects the initiative process and makes it difficult for the legislature to overturn the will of the voters.
• NO on Amendment 7 – A NO vote rejects a state-controlled “Show-Me Prosperity Fund” and preserves the current system for funding government services.
• NO on Amendment 8 – A NO vote rejects changing the MO Constitution to give the Attorney General exclusive authority to initiate proceedings against most county sheriffs.

The Committee voted to make the following endorsements on November ballot initiatives:

• Mary McKenna for Platte County Presiding Commissioner
• Hans Peter for Platte County Clerk
• Tracey Steele for MO House District 12
• Jacoby Wynkoop for MO House District 13
• Ashley Aune for MO House District 14
• Shereka Barnes for MO Senate District 34
• Josh Smead for Congressional District 6
• Quentin Wilson for State Auditor

Platte County Democratic Women

Platte County Democratic Women met on September 14 at the Green Hills Library. Chris Hershey Director of Elections at Platte County Missouri Board of Elections was the guest speaker. The group reviewed the September 12 Advocacy Fair and extended special thanks to everyone who planned, volunteered and participated.

Candidates Corner

Candidate Events

Keep Dolly’s Dream Alive with Shereka Barnes: A FREE Book Giveaway On September 20, Shereka’s book giveaway was a huge success. More than 120 children participated and received more than 500 brand-new books. Congratulations to Shereka for her ongoing work advocating for children and families in Missouri!

Canvass with the Candidates: Saturday Mornings at 9:30 am, Platte County Democratic Headquarters, 6447 N. Cosby Ave. Bring your walking shoes, fully charged phone, water and your neck fans. Training is available.

Josh Smead Whistle Stop Bus Tour First Leg October 9 & 10, Second Leg October 16 & 17 click here for additional information.

Tracey Steele Fall Fundraiser! October 19, American Legion Post 318 11 Main Street, Parkville. Join us for food and friends to support Tracey Steele for State Representative!

A Note from the editor

Early this month, a voter stopped by our Democratic Headquarters and asked a simple question: “What do you tell people who have been lifelong Republicans, whose parents have been Republicans, but who do not or cannot identify with the MAGA party? How do you convince them that it is ok to vote for Democrats?”

After thinking about it, my advice would be: Emphasize shared civic values, avoid the emotional fear mongering that has been characteristic of Republican ads and rhetoric for decades. Remind people that in the late 1980’s Speaker of the House Gingrich transformed Washington by replacing traditional compromise with confrontational, zero-sum partisan warfare. That was the beginning of the polarized landscape that makes it so difficult to talk to and work with what used to be known as the loyal opposition. Stay away from hot-button, polarizing issues if you can.

I am proud to be an American. The values that make me proud, “liberty and justice for all” are under attack by the MAGA administration and by our regressive Republican state and county governments. To convince independents and lifelong (until now) Republicans that it is ok to vote for Democrats, talk about what we have in common: a respect for public education; pride in our state, national and local parks; the universal need to take care of crucial infrastructure: roads, trains, airports, regulation of utilities, safe food and water, access to affordable health care. Stability also requires the rule of law, police and fire protection and courts to resolve conflicts. It does not require the establishment of the police state that seems to be a priority of the MAGA government.

At this crucial moment we need to rebuild a sense of mutual respect that by-passes divisions. We need to get rid of corruption and begin to carefully rebuild our government. We need to begin to reconnect and rebuild our relationships with each other, our allies and the world. We need to win in order to re-establish a shared understanding of who we are, what we stand for, what we aspire to as a Nation and as responsible citizens of the world.

Alice Wadsworth

United We Stand