Huntington Beach Kickoff Rally and Campaign Canvass · Democratic Party of Orange County

# Let's Flip HB Blue!

**Join Congressman Robert Garcia,** Chris Kluwe for Assembly, Chris Duncan for State Senate, the Surf City 4, ProtectHB, the Democratic Party of Orange County, and the Orange County Young Democrats for a kickoff canvass in Huntington Beach!

The great blue wave is coming. Let's go!

## Event Flow:

- Welcome & brief program
- Canvasser training (for those who may be new to canvassing)
- Dispatch to the field!

Sasha Abramsky has spent a career bearing witness to what happens when power stops answering to people.

As The Nation's Western correspondent and author of American Carnage, he has tracked DOGE not as a cost-cutting experiment gone wrong, but as something more calculated — the deliberate hollowing out of the institutions that make democracy function.

The Hungarian Playbook

Viktor Orbán didn't seize power overnight. He:

• Defunded agencies

• Captured courts

• Silenced watchdogs

• Installed loyalists

Until the architecture of accountability simply collapsed. Sound familiar?

The Good News

The blueprint for resistance is just as clear. What stopped authoritarianism before — and can stop it again:

• Robust civic engagement

• An informed electorate

• The willingness to fight for every institution — from your local food pantry to the federal agencies that keep your air clean and your food safe

Sasha brings both the unflinching diagnosis and the roadmap for what comes next.

This is not a moment for despair. It is a moment for action.

Come hear it firsthand and get a signed copy of the book.

Four Laguna Beach Democratic candidates have been endorsed by LBDC and the Democratic Party of Orange County (DPOC) and we look forward to supporting them to the finish line in November.  

But, we’re not done! Now it’s time to take a position on two ballot measures in Laguna Beach.  In the November election, we will be voting to renew the School Bond that was passed with Measure R in 2001.  We will also be voting on a measure to enact City Council term limits.  

There will be more information coming shortly on how we vote on a position for the measures and we will be sending out a position statement for both measures by Monday for your review.

Reminder:  As always, only Members In Good Standing will be allowed to vote.

Lastly, we are offering an In-Person or Zoom option to attend the meeting.  We have also changed the location for the in-person meeting to:

Susi Q Community Center,

380 3rd Street, Laguna Beach.  

Time

Tuesday, June 30

7 – 8pm PDT

Location

Virtual event

Join from anywhere

About this event

Join acclaimed Hollywood screenwriter and Democratic messaging strategist Billy Ray for an exclusive training on how Democratic candidates can break through the noise, connect with voters, and win in 2026.

FREE Candidate Messaging Workshop

Tuesday, June 30 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Via Zoom

Open to all Orange County Democratic candidates and Democratic Club members.

Time

Saturday, June 27

9:30am – 1:30pm PDT

Location

This event's address is private.
Sign up for more details.

About this event

Join us in Irvine, CA to kick-off our general election canvassing!

Hot off a primary win, we need your help to send Dave back to Washington.

We'll be talking to our neighbors about what needs to be done to bring down prices & hold the corrupt accountable. All experience levels are welcome! We will provide training for first time, or out-of-practice volunteers.

The location will be shared with RVSP's.

Bring your Patriotic Pups and Meet us at the Lifeguard Tower at Main Beach for Check-in at 10 a.m. Dress up! Celebrate with us. $20 for Laguna Beach Dem Club members/$30 for Non-Members. Join our club in raising funds to support our 2026 Election efforts!

🌈Lavender Dems OC Drag Bingo Fundraiser🌈

General Admission: $80, includes s drinks and lunch taco bar

Join the Lavender Dems on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at Tin Lizzie Saloon in Costa Mesa, CA, for an afternoon of entertainment, meaningful progress, and a celebration of love and inclusivity! The doors open at 11 AM.

🌟 Featuring the unshaven sweetheart of SoCal, Mx Long Beach Pride 2024 & 2026, the BEARDED MARTHA STEWART!

Get ready for a day of glamour, laughter, and fabulous bingo rounds - tacos, cocktails and prizes 🌟

Join us as we introduce LBUSD Candidates Dr. Joan Malczewski and Shaheen Sheik-Sadahl! Our candidates will talk about what is driving them to run for the LBUSD Board and how they will make a difference in our school system! MIGS, be ready to vote to support our two candidates for DPOC Endorsement!

We will also have a re-cap of the June 2nd Primary with Ryan Dake, VP of the South County Community College Board of Trustees.

Join Sue Kempf and Alex Rounaghi for a special

Katrina Canvassing Kickoff

Katrina can win the election on June 2, 2026

Supervisor Katrina Foley will be re-elected if she gets 51% or more of the vote in the Primary.  This means she does not go the General election andwe can focus on other races in November.  

Let’s do what we can and get this done.  Please register below and join us on May 24.  Location will be provided upon RSVP.  

Explore the 2.5 Mile Walk Route

Saturday April 25, 2026 at 10 AM Main Beach, Laguna Beach

About the Walk

Join Us for The Earth Day 2026 Walk on Common Ground in beautiful Laguna Beach, CA for a 2.5-mile coastal loop walk starting and ending at Main Beach. The walk takes you through the stunning Heisler Park coastline to Fisherman’s Cove and along PCH to Thalia Street before returning to Main Beach. Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Laguna Beach Chapter invites friends, neighbors, and citizens concerned about our climate, air & water to celebrate our shared planet and commit to action in addressing climate change.

Organized by the Citizens’ Climate Lobby Laguna Beach Chapter, this nonpartisan event brings together people across the political spectrum who care about our changing climate. The event will be from 10:00 am to 12 noon on Saturday, April 25, 2026 — Earth Day weekend — our walk together is to raise public awareness of our shared problem and the many available solutions.

🌍 Earth Day — 56 Years of Action

Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970, when 20 million Americans took to the streets to protest the impacts of 150 years of industrial development that had left a growing legacy of serious environmental harm. Organized by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, that first Earth Day is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement.

The results were historic. By the end of 1970, Congress created the Environmental Protection Agency and passed the Clean Air Act. The Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and other landmark environmental laws soon followed. What began as a day of protest became a turning point for environmental policy in America and around the world.

Walk with us on April 25, 2026 to celebrate Earth Day and rededicate ourselves to the mission of improving our environment through action by everyday citizens of the Earth.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby

Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) empowers everyday people to bridge divides and build political will for effective climate solutions in Congress.

CSEA & LaBUFA One District, One Community Rally

JOIN LABUFA, CSEA, AND LBUSD FAMILY FOR A COMMUNITY RALLY

APRIL 16TH AT 4:00 PM - 550 BLUMONT ST

On April 16th, Laguna Beach school staff and families will come together to show what it means to put students first.

Walk with us down Park Avenue to Main Beach. Stand together and share your voice in support of students.

Location provided upon registration

APRIL 8, 2026 at 6:00PM

The School Board Election Needs our Attention!

We have three seats on the LBUSD School Board up for election this November.  So what’s the problem?  We simply want the best people, with the credentials and lived experience, to oversee our schools with the intent to secure our kids with the best education.  That’s what student’s deserve.  We, as voters, decide who those school board members should be, which makes us, as voters, responsible for the most important job in our community.  Which means we, as voters, need to understand exactly what the school board does and why we all need to be involved, not just parents, in deciding who will be on our future school board.

And that’s why you need to join us on April 8 for a panel discussion with LBUSD school board members Drs. Jim Kelly and Joan Malczewski, and FUEL President Shaheen Sheik-Sadahl. The panel will dig into the role of the school board and answer the question of why we all must care about school board elections.  

Though a non-partisan role, school boards have become ground zero for political agendas because that’s where we are shaping the future generations.  Control education, control the future.  We don’t want to say  “Oops, I didn’t see that coming” on November 3, 2026, when the final results of the school board election are announced. Let’s educate ourselves so we make the best choice for our next school board members and for the students who will live with the results.  

Join us for a presentation with Bob Page, Orange County Registrar of Voters. He will explain how the registrar's office ensure election integrity, the security of the voting process and accuracy in ballot counting.

NO KINGS ·Main Beach, Laguna Beach· NO KINGS

Time. Saturday, March 28. 11am – 1pm PDT

Location. Main Beach. Laguna Beach, CA 92651

About this event

We have the power and are claiming it together. No Thrones. No Crowns. No Kings.

What began in 2025 as a single day of defiance has become a sustained national resistance to tyranny, spreading from small towns to city centers and across every community determined to defend democracy. Our peaceful movement is bigger than ever.

When our families are under attack and costs are pushing people to the brink, silence is not an option. We will defend ourselves and our communities against this administration’s unjust and cruel acts of violence.

On March 28th, rise up, take to the streets, and say it loud: no thrones, no crowns, no kings. We’re not watching history happen—we’re making it. Join us.

A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events.

Accessibility

This event meets ADA standards

Accessible restrooms

Wheelchair ramp

Notes from the organizer: No sticks or poles

Have accessibility questions? Reply to your registration email to confirm your requirements or request more information.

Join us for our March meeting as we gear up for action and organize our efforts! We'll be crafting posters for the No Kings protest on March 28th — bring your creativity, enthusiasm, and plenty of energy. Poster-making materials will be provided, so just come ready to create and collaborate.

Continuing our monthly “Meet the Candidates” series, we will hear from Robert Mestman, an Orange County Deputy District Attorney and former a criminal prosecutor, who is running for Judge Seat #13. Robert, whose father immigrated from South America, lives in Huntington Beach with his wife and two children. His wife, a refugee from Vietnam, is a public interest attorney.

📅 March 12 2026

🕐 6pm check-in, meeting begins at 6:15

📍 340 St. Ann’s Place, Neighborhood Congregational Church

Snacks will be provided! Spread the word and bring a friend. Democracy is a team sport. 💙

Join us for an exclusive event featuring Greg Cope White, veteran, author, screenwriter and LBGTQ+ advocate.

The author and former marine served the country in the closet. Now, amid Pete Hegseth’s anti-L.G.B.T.Q. military and Trump’s militarization nationally and internationally, Cope White is speaking out!

Greg Cope White, author of The Pink Marine, was a gay Marine when it was illegal to be gay in the military.  His book is an inspiring memoir of his journey from scared teenager to extraordinary soldier.

LBDC's Joe Moreno, also a Marine veteran, also gay, sits down with Cope White, dives into the gripping tale behind “The Pink Marine”,  and discusses the military of today under the Trump-Hegseth regime.  Topics will include:

• What drove him to become the best, in an environment he didn’t think he belonged, 

• What Pete Hegseth’s military means for LGBTQ+, women and people of color, and

• Trump’s military tactics to authoritarianism in the U.S, and the geopolitical influence on the world stage. 

This is more than just an author talk – it's a rallying cry for persistence and a chance to hear from those who've lived it.  Be part of the conversation. Be inspired. Be there!

About The Book

The Pink Marine explores stereotypes about courage, patriotism, and who “belongs” in America’s story. His life and book testify that love of country doesn’t belong to authoritarians waving flags while undermining rights—it belongs to those willing to tell the truth, confront bullies, and fight for everyone’s dignity. In a moment when democracy is slipping toward authoritarianism, The Pink Marine offers us a vivid reminder that the most patriotic act is not silent obedience, but brave, persistent resistance.

An adaptation of The Pink Marine is now a NETFLIX original series—BOOTS

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We are also kicking off our monthly “Meet the Candidates” series and will hear from Janet Keo Conklin,  Endorsed Candidate for Orange County Assessor. A County Assessor is the person who figures out how much homes, land, and businesses are worth in the county. The Assessor’s job is to make sure property taxes are fair and based on accurate information.