Alachua County Democrats

Alachua County Democrats Provides updates and news from the Alachua County Democratic Party!

Headquarters of the Alachua County Democratic Party and the Alachua County Democratic Executive Committee (ACDEC)
Phone: (352)373-1730
Office Hours: M-F 12-3

Check out some of the great events we have going on this week! Hope to see you there. Check out our Solidarity Tech at h...
05/31/2026

Check out some of the great events we have going on this week! Hope to see you there. Check out our Solidarity Tech at https://alachua-dec.solidarity.tech/ for more information đź’™

The University of Florida’s official X account recently called DEI “discriminatory by design.” The post came as UF faces...
05/29/2026

The University of Florida’s official X account recently called DEI “discriminatory by design.” The post came as UF faces renewed scrutiny over its presidential search, a search that has been ongoing since former president Ben Sasse resigned in summer of 2024.

Again and again, UF’s presidential search has been shaped by whether a candidate is seen as sufficiently opposed to DEI. Last year, Santa Ono, then president of the University of Michigan, was selected as UF’s sole finalist before facing conservative backlash over his past support for DEI. He was ultimately rejected by the Florida Board of Governors.

Now, as UF moves forward with Stuart Bell, the same issue is resurfacing. Instead of focusing only on academic leadership, student life, research, and the future of Florida’s flagship university, the debate keeps returning to one question: Does UF’s next president oppose DEI strongly enough?

For students, faculty, and staff who value inclusion and equal opportunity, UF’s public attack on DEI sends a clear message. A university president should be chosen for vision, experience, and commitment to the entire campus community, not for passing a political litmus test.

If you are a UF student or alumni, let them know your thoughts at [email protected]

Thank you to everyone who attended our May Democratic Community Meeting! We were honored to have Patricia Farley, Presid...
05/28/2026

Thank you to everyone who attended our May Democratic Community Meeting! We were honored to have Patricia Farley, President of the Democratic Labor Caucus of Florida, James Ingle, Gainesville City Commissioner, and Jason Bellamy-Fults, Candidate for Florida State Senate, as our guest speakers.

Our next Democratic Community Meeting will be on June 16th. We hope to see you there!

On Friday, the "Victims of Domestic Violence and Dating Violence" Act was signed into law. Also known as the “Helping Ab...
05/26/2026

On Friday, the "Victims of Domestic Violence and Dating Violence" Act was signed into law. Also known as the “Helping Abuse Victims Escape Now” or HAVEN Act, the new law aims to update existing emergency response systems to help dating and domestic violence survivors escape their situations and seek help.

It orders the Florida Department of Management Services to create a web‑based alert system. This system would make it possible for users to request help through “a unique PIN number or code word and a randomly generated phone number.”

Alachua County’s Amy Trask wrote the Act after her own experiences with domestic abuse. Amy Trask is one of our Precinct Leaders, Chair of our Legislative Committee, and a current candidate for Florida House District 22. When HAVEN was introduced in the 2026 legislative session, Trask said the Act would ensure survivors are able to get help even “when speaking out loud could increase danger.”

The bill received bipartisan support in both chambers of the state legislature.

The HAVEN Act is a necessary update to the state’s emergency response procedures. The new law will give dating and domestic violence survivors in Florida more opportunities to receive the support they need starting on July 1st, 2026.

To learn more about how to write your own legislation, join our Legislative Committee for their next meeting on Thursday, June 18 at 6:00pm at the ACDEC Office.

SOURCES:
https://amytraskforflorida.com/haven-act-signed-into-law-expanding-protections-for-survivors-across-florida/
https://www.flhouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=82808
https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/politics/2026/01/07/local-rep-candidate-trask-steps-across-political-aisles-to-draft-four-bills/87672527007/

Attention Hawthorne Residents!! Your City Commission elections are being held on June 9th from 7am to 7pm at the Hawthor...
05/26/2026

Attention Hawthorne Residents!! Your City Commission elections are being held on June 9th from 7am to 7pm at the Hawthorne Community Center!

We will be knocking on doors and making phone calls starting this week to remind voters of the importance of voting locally.

To learn more about your candidates, how they will advocate for you, and to stay involved, join us for our Hawthorne Town Hall on Thursday, May 28th at 6:30pm at Da Spot.

This Memorial Day, Alachua Democrats remember and honor all of those who have served for our country. To those who prote...
05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, Alachua Democrats remember and honor all of those who have served for our country. To those who protected our freedoms and liberties at home and abroad, we thank you for your service.

The Gainesville City Commission voted 5-2 on Thursday to move forward with a plan to end roam towing and roam immobiliza...
05/22/2026

The Gainesville City Commission voted 5-2 on Thursday to move forward with a plan to end roam towing and roam immobilizations in the city.

If finalized, towing companies would no longer be allowed to patrol private lots looking for vehicles to tow or immobilize. Instead, businesses would need to contact their towing company directly when a vehicle is in violation. The change would also apply to immobilization devices such as boots and barnacles, which prevent a vehicle from moving while leaving it in place.

The Gainesville Police Department presented commissioners with two options: fully eliminate roaming practices or allow roaming only between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. at large multifamily residences. Commissioners ultimately supported ending the practice altogether. The ordinance still needs to come back with final language and pass two votes before taking effect.

City Commissioners also moved forward with updated towing and immobilization fees, including a maximum fee of $160 for trespass towing and $80 for immobilizations.

Thank you to the City Commission members who voted to protect Gainesville residents from predatory towing and immobilization practices.

Learn more here: https://www.mainstreetdailynews.com/news/gainesville-commission-votes-garbage-billing-towing-reforms

Photo from The Gainesville Sun

Happy Florida Emancipation Day!Every year, on May 20th, Florida celebrates the day in 1865 when people who were enslaved...
05/20/2026

Happy Florida Emancipation Day!

Every year, on May 20th, Florida celebrates the day in 1865 when people who were enslaved were officially declared free. On this day, the Emancipation Proclamation was officially read in Florida by Union officers, two weeks after the Civil War ended.

It is important that we continue to acknowledge our past so we can move forward toward a more equitable future for all Americans.

Image credit: Tallahassee Historical Society

Today we are spotlighting the Alachua County Democrats' committees! Each committee is extremely important to the functio...
05/19/2026

Today we are spotlighting the Alachua County Democrats' committees! Each committee is extremely important to the functioning of the Party as a whole, and they’re all made up of volunteers who care about building long term infrastructure for the Party.

Interested in joining? Scan the QR code or visit alachuademparty.com/get-involved/ for more information!

Address

901 NW 8th Avenue, Suite A-3
Gainesville, FL
32601

Opening Hours

Monday 12pm - 6pm
Tuesday 12pm - 6pm
Wednesday 12pm - 6pm
Thursday 12pm - 3pm
Friday 12pm - 3pm
Saturday 12pm - 3pm

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