The DeKalb County Democratic Party will choose its candidates by a local primary on May 1, 2018.

The primary will be held to nominate candidates for the county-wide offices of County Mayor,

Circuit Court Clerk, Road Supervisor, Sheriff, Register of Deeds, County Clerk, Trustee, and for the county commission in each of the seven districts (two per district for a total of 14). 

The Democratic Party has a long history of expanding voting rights and opening participation in the political process beginning with the Presidency of Woodrow Wilson (D) during which the long struggle for women’s right to vote culminated with the passage of 19th Amendment in 1920 and later with the leadership of Lyndon Baines Johnson (D) the Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965.

Voting is the fundamental principle of a Democracy.  The Democratic Party has long advocated that access to voting should be made easier not more restrictive with what amounts to voter suppression laws.  The Democratic Party specifically advocates for early voting laws, automatic voter registration, same day voter registration, ending partisan gerrymandering, and making Election

Day a national holiday.

In March, 2017, the DeKalb Democratic Party held an open meeting with all interested Democrats in the county invited to discuss whether we should select our candidates a) by convention with officers and executive committee members of the Party selecting candidates or b) by primary during which all Democrats would have a voice by voting to select candidates.  The community of people who attended the meeting voted to continue to use the primary means for selecting candidates.  They value the role of the citizen voter to act in the general interests of the county. 

Anyone interested in running for one of the county offices should contact Jordan Wilkins, Chair of the DeKalb County Democratic Party, at either a) jwilkins16@yahoo.com  or b) 615-597-7231.