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This past week I shared a post on Facebook about why I'm a member of the Democratic Party. In case you missed it, I'm joined the party because the party asked me to run for office.

By "the party", I mean two people. The first was Mike Gallagher, now leading the Missouri Democrats in St. Louis - but I knew him as the campaign manager for Colin Lovett, our District 100 candidate for the Missouri Legislature in 2022 and 2024. Lovett narrowly missed a win first by fewer than 200 votes, and then by fewer than 150. The second Democrat was Mark Boyko, who I didn't know at all - but should have known. I should have been following him. Mark is a current State Rep for the district where my brother and sister-in-law live.

Mike invited me for coffee just before Thanksgiving, 2025, and said Mark would join us. We talked about my volunteerism with Abortion Action Missouri where I live (Missouri Senate District 15 and House District 100). We talked about what it takes to run for office. We talked about what it would take to reorganize my life and serve my district in Jefferson City. They talked in very specific terms about the work I'd have to do to win, how much money I would need to raise, the ways the party supports candidates, and what candidates must do on their own. It was a lot to take in, but that meeting rang a bell in my mind that I could not un-ring.

I had a lot of conversations in the weeks that followed with friends and family, and each made me more confident and convinced to run. There was no question that if I ran it would be as a Democrat.

Three weeks later I was officially a Democratic Party member with my very own campaign committee registered with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Looking back, I wish I'd been a party member sooner. I wish I had more readily connected the dots between building grassroots power and supporting the only party that can counter the horrible Republican agenda in our State - their party is systematically defunding our schools, denying access to reproductive health care, giving tax breaks to the rich, and decimating the power of our vote. Those elected officials have broken faith with constituents time and again, and we have got to fight back and vote them out.

That is why we canvass and phone bank, and host meetings in our homes. That is why we find the courage to speak to our friends and neighbors about what we can do in our own zip codes to fight back against what feels sometimes like an avalanche of lies, abuse of power, and impunity. Working together, we can hold all of them accountable, but we must organize and bring many, many more people into this campaign and this movement. Even if you have never canvassed before, you are welcome to learn the ropes with my team.

EVENTS

Please share these dates within your network. We'd love to see you there - and please RSVP so that we can plan.

May 30 - Canvassing from 10am to 1pm from The Wolf Cafe

June 6 - Canvassing from 10am to 1pm from The Wolf Cafe

June 7 - Canvassing from 2pm to 5pm from The Wolf Cafe

June 13 - Canvassing from 10am to 1pm from The Wolf Cafe

June 14 - Canvassing from 2pm to 5pm from The Wolf Cafe

June 2 - House Party in Ballwin hosted by my friends, Bob and Cathy Pickard!

There are other ways to help that make a big difference. If you live in or near District 100, please consider hosting a campaign event for your friends and neighbors. I'm so thankful to my friends, Maggie, Barb and Debbie, for hosting a reception for me at Maggie's home this past week. Afterward, I received many, many messages of support. I'd like to share two examples:

"I was already impressed with you, but you went above my expectations. Can't wait to see/hear your interviews/debates. You've got my vote." -- Jean, Ballwin resident

"You have my vote and I mention you to my friends and people at the gym every chance I get." -- Ballwin resident

To find out more about hosting a campaign event, please contact Angela, angelabingaman@gmail.com

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