July-August 2025 Newsletter

Message from the Editor

United We Stand!

With Washington engaged in seemingly endless rounds of destruction, the questions are – what can be done to offset the immediate damage but beyond the chaos of the moment, what can we do to prepare for a future that demands rebuilding of the hope and optimism that has always been so much of what America is about.

These are the times that try men’s souls… Thomas Paine Of the People, By the People, For the People – not Karl Marx, Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg; words of the founders, words to heal the wounds of the Civil War. These words of inspiration helped heal the wounds of Civil War. With all that is happening now, these words call us back to the time we recognized how much we, the people of the United States need each other. After World War II that sense of interconnection and interdependent benefit grew to include all of the free world. What we had in common was respect for independence, the integrity of individuals and the sovereignty of nations.

In these days when integrity is sometimes seen as weakness, we hunger for the sense of common decency and common purpose that makes life worth living. The monster bill signed into law on July 4 makes it more important than ever to reach for the ideals set forth in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights that bind us together. We need to stop being reactive and start talking about what we are for, a government that works for the people; United We Stand.

Alice Wadsworth

Platte County Democratic Central Committee News

The PCDCC joined Platte City Indivisible and the WDC on July 17th in honoring Congressman John Lewis with a Good Trouble rally followed by a social gathering at Rapidos in lieu of our regular Central Committee meeting.

The June 19th meeting included: a report on the KC Pride Fest and plans for Parkville’s 4th of July Parade, an announcement about the return of Camp Carnahan, a conference for potential candidates and campaign workers that was held the weekend of July 12th, and formation of a committee to explore plans for a Platte County Democratic Fall Family Event.

Platte County Federated Women’s Democratic Club News

The Platte County Democratic Women’s Club met on July 15th at the Midcontinent Library Green Hills Library. The interest was great for the guest speaker was Josh Smead, candidate for Missouri’s 6th Congressional District. Josh spoke about the issues most important to him as a candidate: family, freedom and our future. He said he had attended Camp Carnahan and found it very helpful. He has already begun visiting clubs and committees around the 6th District which extends across the northern part of the state from Kansas City to Hannibal.

Northland Democratic Club & Respect MO Voters News

The Northland Democratic Club met on July 15th at the ACA Club. Guest speakers included two candidates for Kansas City, Missouri‘s City Council: Rebeca Amexcua-Hogan, candidate for the 4th District, and Tiffany Moore, running for the 6th District at large.

The third speaker was Mary Moeller from Respect MO Voters. Respect MO Voters was started by Toni Easter and represents a six-county area around Kansas City made up of 10K bipartisan members across the state. If passed, the Respect Missouri Voters Amendment will do the following.

• Protect past initiatives: Prohibit the legislature from proposing or passing any changes to voter-approved initiatives unless by an 80% bipartisan supermajority vote in both chambers.
• Protect our constitutional freedom: Prohibit the legislature from putting any constitutional amendment on the ballot that would make the initiative process more difficult.
• Unbiased ballot language: Require clear, fair, accurate ballot language so voters understand what they’re voting for.

Their initiatives include Amendment 3, Reproductive Rights; Proposition A, Paid Sick Leave and Increasing Minimum Wage; protecting the citizen initiative process; opposing the attempt to redistrict Missouri’s congressional districts mid-decade; and supporting Platte County’s Children’s Services Fund.

For more information about Respect MO Voters: https://respectmovoters.org/.

MO-KS Women’s Leadership Forum News

The Women’s Leadership Forum was held at Unity Temple on the Plaza on June 24th. The forum was hosted by the Chair of the Missouri Democratic Committee, Russ Carnahan and the Chair of the Kansas Democratic Committee, Jeanna Repass, with video messages from Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II and Congresswoman Sharice Davids. The featured speaker was Ken Martin, the new Chair of the Democratic National Committee. He provided a much-needed message of hope and plans for organizing to win in all 50 states at all levels of government.

“We believe organizing is not something that begins six months before Election Day — it is the core, continuous work of political engagement and civic leadership. Our programs will not be reactive or transactional. They will be year-round, embedded in community, and designed to create momentum, not just respond to it.” Ken Martin, Chair, Democratic National Committee

Ashley Aune’s Legislative Update

Missouri State Representative Ashley Aune, District 14 and House Minority Leader Missouri House Democratic Caucus provided a legislative update at the Green Hills Library on July 10.

See her latest Capitol Report here.