At his Columbus fundraiser this past Sunday, August 23, Democratic CD 6 Candidate Brad Smith and WI Assembly District Representative Maureen McCarville talked extensively about the MGS/BECI 765 transmission line (Becky) slated for our area.

Brad caught up with Dekorra resident and CoCo Dems member RDell Johnson to talk about the impact of the project on our area. As a teacher in the Sauk Prairie School District, RDell is especially concerned about the impact of the transmission line on the rural school where teaches.

Join the Columbia County Democrats in Columbus, Lodi, and Portage as we rally for our local candidates after the recent primaries! Now that our leaders are chosen, it’s time to inform our community about who will be on the ballot. We need your energy to champion our candidates and their vision for a brighter future, especially against divisive ideas and outside influences.

This Tuesday, August 11 is election day for the Democratic primary election in Wisconsin. We found this great little article in the newsletter from the Waukesha County Democratic Party that offers a few pointers and answers a few questions about voting in this Tuesday’s election.

A guide to CoCo Dem events in July and beyond.

We are looking to fill a couple of shifts at the CoCo Dems office for July 17 and July 25. If you’re interested, please read on.

There is a new organization based in Lodi called Lodi Forward. Who is Lodi Forward, and what are we about?

Lodi Forward is an inclusive group of proactive residents promoting the common good while moving our community toward a more just and equitable future.

Long time Democratic advocate and hard working volunteer for the cause, Mary Ellen Ruesch talks about her past, getting involved with the democratic party, and how coming full circle is discovered by happenstance.

The Columbia County Fair is coming up July 29th–August 2nd, and we need you to help make it a success. Please sign up today to volunteer for a shift at the Fair.

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.

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.

On Saturday, May 23 we’re calling on members, volunteers, and supporters to join us as we head into Columbia County communities to help Democratic candidates collect the nomination signatures they need to get on the ballot. This is where campaign season truly begins: With conversations at the door, energy in our neighborhoods, and people coming together to build something bigger than themselves.

From The Lincoln Project and Rick Wilson’s Against All Enemies, we present Wilson’s “The elephant in the room.” From one of the stalwart defenders of democracy and anti-Trump crusaders, Wilson’s sometimes coarse language reveals one of the greatest minds working to unseat Trump and preserve our democracy. In this recent episode that means stern words from Wilson for the Democrats along with sound strategies for them from this long-time political insider.

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.

Here is the listing and information about CoCo Dems events this month and beyond (at least what we’re aware of).

The deadlines are approaching to register. Help elect democratic lawmakers and shape the positions and future of the party by becoming a delegate to the Sixth Congressional District and/or the Wisconsin Democratic Party State Convention.

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.