SPRING 2026
As the days grow longer and brighter the Cumberland County Democrats encourage you to take advantage of the warming weather and spring into action. This spring, we hope you consider attending a protest, connecting with fellow Democrats at a local meeting, or expressing your thoughts by writing a letter to the editor or to your representatives to ensure your voice is heard.
The Cumberland County Democrats invite you to work with us to ensure that Cumberland County remains a great place to work, live and play in Pennsylvania. With your help, we can work toward a brighter future!
Note from the Chair
Support Primary Candidates and Unite for Victory in November
On Feb. 21 the Cumberland County Democratic Committee met and heard from more than 20 candidates for various offices. For about an hour and a half, these candidates made passionate cases for their candidacies and articulated a vision for addressing the affordability crisis, pushing back against the abuses of the Trump regime and improving education and other government services to make life better. The positive growth of our party is reflected in the quality of our candidates, and I am so excited for voters to hear their messages.
As we approach the primary election on Tuesday, May 12, I encourage you to enthusiastically support your preferred candidates. The primary is a vital opportunity to hear from voters and to have a discussion of our values and policy priorities. Healthy debate and enthusiastic advocacy are the hallmarks of a vibrant democracy, and we celebrate the diversity of perspectives within our party.
When it comes to the General Election in November, it is essential to remember that our greatest strength lies in unity. Once the primary concludes and our nominees are chosen, we must come together as one team — ready to support those candidates who will carry our banner forward. The stakes are too high to dwell on our minor disagreements, and the threats posed by continued GOP control of our government eclipse our intra-party differences. Our task requires all of us to stand shoulder to shoulder, regardless of whom we supported in the primary to ensure victory in November.
Let us commit to respectful dialogue, mutual support and a recognition of our shared vision for our community. Line up behind your favorite candidates now and get ready to support our nominees whomever they may be. Onward to victory!
— Matt Roan
chair@cumberlandcountydems.com
Commissioner’s Corner
The elections in Cumberland County this year are critical to our region, our state, our federal government and our democracy. We must defeat Scott Perry. We must put Democrats in the State House and Senate. We must have an effective and strong state committee, and we must have an army of precinct committee people on the ground doing the work of getting Dems elected.
Our democracy depends on the success of Democrats across the country this November. Plenty of eyes are on Cumberland County to see how we perform this year. People are counting on us. We must deliver and win elections. Many constituents have already reached out to me regarding elections in Cumberland County. The most-asked question so far this year? “Is my mail-in ballot safe?” The answer is, “Yes.” Cumberland County delivers a safe, fair, accurate and reliable election. Your mail-in ballot will be scanned upon receipt, and you will be sent a confirmation email. Your mail-in ballot will be held and counted at a secure location. Remember that you must place your completed ballot in the inner envelope, then sign and date the exterior of the outer envelope, which goes in the mail. If you do not do so, your ballot will not be counted.
As always, please call or email me with any questions or discussion. My personal email is vargas@comcast.net, and my personal cell is 717-571-3343.
— Jean Foschi
jmfoschi@cumberlandcountypa.gov
The South Central Young Dems enjoyed a holiday event at Consciousness Coffee in Lemoyne
Young Democrats Update
The South Central Young Dems held a strategic planning meeting on Feb. 28 to determine priorities for the year. Newly elected leaders are: Evan Ashby (president), Josh Smith (vice president), Josh Pease-Myers (secretary) and Adrian Garcia (treasurer). We are thrilled to report our membership continues to grow. The best way to keep up with us is through any of the links below:
— Katie Juliana
Cumberland County Dems have called out the inaction of the Pennsylvania state legislature as well as the inhumanity of the Trump administration in our local newspapers. Here are two published this winter in the Patriot-News.
The Legislature’s Secret Stash: Why Transparency Matters In an Election Year
On the same day Gov. Josh Shapiro presented his budget proposal, the Legislative Audit Advisory Commission refused to reveal the size of the surplus that lawmakers are sitting on.
This is just the latest example of the legislature’s arrogance in keeping money they don’t need and their indifference to the good it can do for our people.
Last year’s surplus was $300 million. It’s small compared to the total budget, but it’s enough to:
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Equip 245 rural hospitals with the seven most-needed pieces of medical equipment. These are the same hospitals that rural Republicans cry crocodile tears about whether they can survive the Republican assault on health care.
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Repair 2,500 homes through the phenomenally successful Whole-Homes Repair Program that lawmakers pretend they can’t find the money to continue.
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Fill 2 million potholes.
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Buy 750,000 laptops for students.
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Support local police with 3,750 police cruisers to replace worn-out vehicles or 85,714 encrypted radios to keep the bad guys guessing what police are doing.
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Buy for police 600,000 body armor plates for obvious reasons or 600,000 body cameras.
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Some combination of the above.
In this election year, get rid of those who lie to you and hoard your money. If they don’t meet our needs with our money, don’t give them your vote.
Tim Potts, Carlisle, Pa., published Feb. 6
‘I Don’t Care’ Has Become America’s Cruelest Motto
From our earliest days Americans embraced phrases that reflected the zeitgeist of the times: Don’t tread on me. Go west, young man. We can do it!
In the wake of the Jan. 7 shooting of a young mother in Minneapolis, a neighbor rushed to the scene to offer aid. When he announced that he was a physician, the ICE agent in charge denied him access to the dying woman and said, “I don’t care.” Surely this expresses the guiding principle of the current administration.
The words “I don’t care” have defined its behavior from the beginning when they cut funding to USAID, dooming untold numbers of desperate people worldwide. It was evidenced by the piles of food rotting in ports while those people starved. We heard echoes of it nightly as we watched gardeners, nannies, teachers and carpenters torn from their families — none bearing any resemblance to “the worst of the worst.”
This month, the Trump administration announced a freeze on roughly $10 billion in federal funding for child care, social services and cash assistance (TANF) in five Democrat-led states — California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York.
Lost your health insurance? I don’t care.
Concerned about leaving your grandchildren a befouled natural world? I don’t care.
Can’t afford groceries, rent, heating oil, child care, life? I don’t care.
When questioned about these issues or their inhumane policies, Donald Trump or any random member of his administration would predictably respond with a slick justification.
But boiled down to its essence, the true response would be just as that ICE agent said, “I don’t care.”
Sally Ker, Boiling Springs, Pa., published Jan. 26
CCDC Meeting Drew Dozens of Dems
The CCDC’s full county met Feb. 21 in a packed room at the West Shore Elks to hear comments from a strong slate of candidates for the primary election May 12. Attendees had the opportunity to meet and support candidates for the Democratic State Committee as well as the U.S. House of Representatives and state house and senate before and after the meeting.
Todd Crawley garners support at the meeting for his candidacy in the March 17 special election to fill the 193rd Legislative District seat in Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives. Crawley, former director of public and environmental health and safety at Harrisburg Area Community College, will face the GOP’s Catherine Wallen to complete the term of Torren Ecker, who resigned from the house.
Photo credit: Patrick Early
Join No Kings – March 28
A war is raging in Iran, gas prices are skyrocketing, and Trump and his minions are trampling on our rights and those of legal immigrants. It’s important for all of us to stand tall and protest. Below you’ll find several central Pennsylvania locations to make your voice heard.
Carlisle
4-6 p.m.
E. High St. and S. Hanover St.
Carlisle, PA 17013
Harrisburg
12:30-2 p.m.
Protest begins at 12:30 p.m., followed by a march through the city, starting and ending at the Capitol steps.
Capitol Steps, 501 N. Third St.
Harrisburg PA 17101
York
12-2 p.m.
Continental Square
1 E. Market St.
York, PA 17401
Hershey
2-4 p.m.
Chocolatetown Park
48 W. Chocolate Ave.
Hershey, PA 17033
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