A guide to CoCo Dem events in June and beyond.

In this Columbia County Progress podcast episode, viewers hear a detailed conversation about CAFOs—concentrated animal feeding operations—and the questions they raise for local communities.

The discussion does not present this as a simple fight between “farm” and “anti-farm.” Instead, it focused on how to support agriculture while also protecting water, public health, nearby residents, and the long-term quality of life in Columbia County and across Wisconsin.

One of the most effective ways to win elections is also one of the most personal: talking with people you already know. That strategy is called friend banking, and it is a simple, powerful form of relational organizing. On Wednesday, June 10, from 5:00-6:30, CoCo Dems will host a Friend Bank Training at the CoCoDems Office, 315 DeWitt St, Portage to help volunteers learn how to put that strategy into action.

A plain-language summary of an update from Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition volunteer organizer Nicole Gabrail on the coalition’s plan for an Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) to bust up gerrymandered districts in Wisconsin. Article and video derived from her March 14, 2026 presentation at the CoCo Dems monthly meeting.

What was originally supposed to be one piece in the Watertown High School Wind Symphony’s spring concert became something much bigger: A community statement about art, inclusion, and the refusal to let fear-driven politics silence students’ work. Watch the video and read our article about the issue by reading more.

At a recent meeting with a small group of CoCo Dem members, Nick Oestreich, Regional Organizing Coordinator from the Democratic Party of Wisconsin laid out a clear challenge for all of us: if we want to win, we have to get better at talking with people who are still reachable. That means moving beyond frustration and into action. Nick’s message was practical and energizing: stop wasting precious time trying to “win” arguments with the loudest extremists, and focus instead on the voters we can actually move—independents, disaffected Republicans, inconsistent Democrats, and people in our own networks.

Senator Erin P. Murphy delivered a powerful, deeply personal call to action grounded in democracy, courage, and community. Speaking as a Wisconsin native and Minnesota Majority Leader, she connected her family roots, nursing career, and political journey to the values that shape Democratic organizing: standing up for people, doing the hard work, and believing change is possible.

Have you heard folks talking about getting Neighborhood Action Teams (NAT) started around the county? Maybe at one of the recent monthly membership meetings? Let me tell you about the NAT running in Columbus. I hope you’ll want to get something started near you.

The U.S. Supreme Court has recently issued pivotal rulings that significantly alter the landscape of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), moving from a period of protection to new, stricter interpretations of racial representation.

April was volunteer appreciation month. We give them thanks here.