Local Democrats increasing in size, following elections
Following this month’s presidential election, Idaho has seen a large increase in Democrats trying to get involved. This includes involvement right here, in Bonneville County.
The Bonneville County Democrats have seen a growing number of people getting up off the couch and becoming active party members. Chairwoman Miranda Marquit said this is only the beginning of progress.
It has been two weeks since Donald Trump won the presidency and since then, Idaho Democrats have been quick to get involved.
Miranda Marquit is the chair of the Bonneville County Democrats. She said the party’s last central committee meeting doubled in size, from about 20, to now 40 attendees.
“People just showed up, and I’ve had dozens of requests coming to me personally, asking how they can help,” Marquit said.
The local party does not have a permanent headquarters but Marquit said as soon as enough funding is available, it will have one.
“We had a temporary headquarters. During the campaign season, we had people coming in every day to sign up to do volunteer work, so we had a lot of interest in having that headquarters and a lot of people commented on how nice it was to have a place to come,” Marquit said.
Right now, the party is hoping they can fill the precinct captain slots. In order to do so, you have to be a registered Democrat, Marquit said.
“It feels like our legislatures aren’t listening to us because they don’t feel like they have to. They’re not being challenged. So, that is one way that people are starting to volunteer as well, expressing an interest and running for office in a way where we are actually starting to be listened to in Boise,” Marquit said.
One woman who has shown a growing interest in getting involved in the local party is Lorie Donica Barber.
“The election was a surprise to me, as it was to a lot of people around the nation and you know, I just kept thinking ‘Why didn’t more people do something? Why didn’t other people get involved?’ and then I realized, ‘Why am I looking for other people to do it?’ I need to get involved. I need to be one of those who step up to do something about it, if I don’t like it.”
Barber is interested in helping the Democratic Party in Idaho coalesce.
“I’m also very interested in running for office, on the local level, maybe for City Council, maybe for the school board. I’m just very motivated to do something, take some action to increase diversity, to increase plurality, which is really what created the republic and that’s what keeps the republic strong,” Barber said.
Of the 116 elected officials in Idaho, not counting Supreme Court justices, 18 percent are Democrats.
The next meeting of the Bonneville County Democrats is set for Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. It will take place in the Idaho Falls Public Library.
