Because they didn’t run alone, because Democrats challenged across the board, at every level … “A Blue Wave washed through Jefferson County on November 3 taking out some of the most anti-democratic politicians in West Virginia.”

Marching, rallying, protesting and door knocking for justice, compassion and democracy for two years turned into victory in Jefferson County for Democrats.

Democrat Jenny Thacker won her race for Delegate. Shepherdstown activists really stepped up for her. 

Democrat Lucia Valentine won her race for a delegate district that includes parts of both Jefferson and Berkeley Counties. Lucia already knows and understands the legislature. She has lobbied professionally for our environment there.

Regina Dyer, a Democratic newcomer to running for office won another delegate seat  in Jefferson County beating Wayne Clark. 

Lanae Johnson, Democratic leader, won an incredibly important seat on the Jefferson County Commission. Lanae’s leadership helped strengthen Regina step out into her own power.

Mary Margaret Mickey Reagan won the biggest Democratic victory in Jefferson County beating former County Commission Chair Steve Stolipher who has been leading the sell out effort to sell off Jefferson County for ticky tack suburban cul-de-sacs and every industrial project that would enrich developers.

A Blue Wave washed through Jefferson County on November 3 taking out some of the most anti-democratic politicians in West Virginia. 

Here, the Blue Wave was created and lifted by strong, remarkably reliable and consistent anti-MAGA mobilizations, actions, sign waving, community engaging protests against the fascist tendencies of the Trump Republican Party.

“Come election season, many of the protestors turned into door knockers and political operatives pushing past protests to win political campaigns.”

Starting right after Trump’s inauguration, the West Virginia Eastern Panhandle lit up with protests and regular demonstrations in Charles Town, Shepherdstown, Martinsburg and Berkeley Springs.

We challenged MAGA and local fascists with our signs and our presence,  our courage, our decency and consistent message that we all should be doing better than we are.

We fought against data centers, ICE raids and local involvement, environmental degradation and out of state corporations trying to run West Virginia through our GOP Governor who is from New Jersey.

Come election season, many of the protestors turned into door knockers and political operatives pushing past protests to win political campaigns.

We have shown in Jefferson County that Democrats don’t need labels but focus on policy and bettering the lives of all of us.

The biggest issue of this campaign was data centers and the state Democratic Party missed it, refusing to come out strong and hard and consistent against the GOP data centers.

Our state party has much to improve:

– We need candidate training and strategy to win

– Activist training on door knocking

– We need a West Virginia Democratic message. We went through the campaign without a message when our Republican Governor is hated by his own party.

Our Jefferson County Democratic Association headed by Troy Miller kept our foot on the gas pedal with consistent and strong messaging including a very strong economic message.

Our state Democratic Party and our entire national party must lift up and fight for the policy we voted for:

– Economic progress for all working families – lifting wages and unions

– Returning to all women the absolute rights and autonomy of their own bodies

– Resisting racism, misogyny and all bigotry

– A care system that works for orphans and abused children

– A humane jail system.

One of the strengths of our Democratic wins and entire operation is the leadership of women. All our candidates in Jefferson County were women.  Our entire country  needs women leadership. Turns out white, male domination doesn’t win elections.

New Delegate Jenny Thacker spoke for all of us on the Democratic side, “Thank you for opening your doors, sharing your concerns, and telling me what you want. Most importantly, thank you for placing your trust in me and giving me the opportunity to turn those conversations into meaningful action.”

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A version of this piece appeared in the “Spirit of Jefferson”, Jefferson County, West Virginia