The Young Democrats' Movement is a private liberal organization in the USA devoted to the advancement of progressive Democratic ideals through education and activism among adolescents. The group is currently centered in Wilmington, Delaware

Wilmington, Delaware

Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...

, with membership numbers of almost 150 (http://www.powerset.com/explore/go/Young-Democrats-Movement) throughout Northern Delaware and extending as far as Pennsylvania. While the group is not officially part of the Democratic Party, it has gained recognition from such figures as Democratic Leadership Council

Democratic Leadership Council

The Democratic Leadership Council was a non-profit 501 corporation that, upon its formation, argued the United States Democratic Party should shift away from the leftward turn it took in the late 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s...

 Chair Harold Ford and Delaware Democratic Party Chairman John Daniello.

December 2006 - May 2007: Creation

The group was founded in December 2006 by Tim McBride, Helen Boyer and Read T. Scott after the three realized the need for a non-defunct high school-centered political organization. In January of the next year, an impromptu meeting was held at a local Panera Bread

Panera Bread

Panera Bread is a chain of bakery–café quick casual restaurants in the United States and Canada that sells breads, sandwiches, soups, salads, and other bakery items. Its headquarters are in Sunset Hills, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis.-Corporate history:In 1993, Au Bon Pain Co...

, an executive committee and a basic group platform was established. The first few months of the group's existence were mostly developmental with an initial estimated membership of roughly 50 people, most of whom were already active in local and/or national politics.

May 2007 - September 2007: Taking Off

After 4 months spent getting the group's name out to associates of the group's officers (most notably Delaware State Treasurer Jack Markell and Insurance Commissioner Matt Denn), the group launched a kick-off party at the home of Vice President Read Scott's on May 19, 2007, featuring Markell and Denn as central speakers. With upwards of 100 visually enthused attendees, the party was a success. It received local media coverage from several bloggers and WDEL host Al Mascetti, further cementing the group's legitimacy as an organization. Shortly after the party, membership saw a sharp increase. While evidence is sparse, it is generally accepted that the group saw about a 300% increase in membership by the end of June. Because of this increase in membership, the executive committee grew and drafted a charter that July.

At the same time, the group officers spent most of their time working with local campaigns. This created some controversy; the group was supposed to be supportive of the party at large, but there was a clear preference shown in the campaigns that group members volunteered for. To counterbalance this issue, the group worked to throw a second house party, this time at the home of Ranking Member Mat Marshall, at which candidates with little or no face time with the group would be given an opportunity to speak. Due to scheduling troubles with Lt. Governor John C. Carney, the date for the party remained largely tentative and promotion was not as strong as it had been for the May 19th party. As a result, attendance was lower. However, the group had solidified its legitimacy among party factions.

September 2007 - Present: Referendum Reform, YDA, and Beyond

YDM is now collaborating with elected officials such as Jack Markell and Chris Coons to reform the referendum system of school financing in The State of Delaware. In May 2008, the YDM, along with DYD and UD College Dems, organized their first reverse town hall forum. This event gave young people the opportunity to share their views on education with candidates for General Assembly.

Due to technical failures of their previous website, the YDM is now operating out of a new website ([ydmde.org]).

In early May 2008, the YDM Executive Committee unanimously approved a resolution declaring themselves the official state chapter of the Young Democrats of America High School Caucus

Young Democrats of America High School Caucus

The Young Democrats of America High School Caucus is the official national federation/organization of high school students in the Democratic Party of the United States...

. The YDAHSC's Executive Committee quickly approved their own resolution adopting YDM as their Delaware chapter.

Endorsements

The 2008 Democratic Primary

The Young Democrats Movement announced on January 31, 2008 of the unanimous endorsement by the Executive Committee of U.S. Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States. This statement was released on their website:

Barack Obama for President

"Our executive committee has unanimously approved the endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States. With Delaware participating in the crucial February 5th Primary, we wanted to let the people of our state know where the youth stand.

Come January 20, 2009 we want a president who will work to end the War in Iraq, bring universal health care to every citizen, improve our public education system, and preserve our environment. But most of all, we want a president who will restore our hope, a president who will, as John Kennedy did, require something from us, a president who truly lets us know that in America anything is possible. The Young Democrats Movement firmly believes that Barack Obama would be that kind of president.

We encourage all of you and your friends to volunteer and vote for Senator Barack Obama on February 5th"

In the 2008 Democratic Primaries for Delaware, YDM endorsed:

Karen Hartley-Nagle for U.S. Representative

Jack Markell for Governor

Gene Reed for Insurance Commissioner

Chris Coons for New Castle County Executive

Dr. Michael Katz for State Senate (4th District)

John McKenzie for State Senate (6th District)

All of the candidates, with the exception of Reed, won their races.

2010 Democratic Primaries
For the 2010 primaries, YDM Endorsed:

John C. Carney for U.S. Representative

Chip Flowers for Treasurer

Both candidates won their races and took office in January, 2011.

Officers

Name	Position	Time in Office
Tim McBride	Co-President	December 2006 - 2009
Helen Boyer	Co-President	December 2006 - 2008
Read T. Scott	Vice President	December 2006 - 2008
Mat Marshall	Ranking Member	January 2007 - 2009
Chaz Hoard	Secretary	January 2007 - 2008
Elisa Gill	Executive Committee	January 2007 - 2008
Felicia Puff	Executive Committee	January 2007 - May 2008
Frank Schadt	Executive Committee	January 2007 - 2009
Parker Wright	Executive Committee	May 2008 - 2009
Sudi Green	Executive Committee	May 2008 - 2009
Harrence Eagleton Berger	Intern	December 2006 - February 2007
Robert Pritchard*	Co-President	2009-
Holly Firlein	Co-President	2009–2010
Peter Andrews	Vice President	2009–2010
Jaimie Ermak	Secretary	2009–2010
Kevin Sun	Treasurer	2009–2010
Brendan McDermott*	Co-President	2010-
	Ranking Member	2009–2010
Panos Melisaris*	Vice President	2010-
Molly Cain*	Secretary	2010-
Stephani Stillwell*	Treasurer	2010-

* Denotes current Executive Board member