yay to all of the young people!

I realize the following press release is from Sunday, but I thought I'd post to let y'all know about all of the young people that have been involved in the delegate selection process. Turns out there are 49 of us under 30 at this year's convention! That means there are more of us than some of the state delegations combined.

The photo on the right is from Monday's delegation breakfast. Crystal Strait, board member for the Young Democrats of America and California superdelegate, is talking to us.

PRESS RELEASE
California Young Democrats
For Immediate Release: Sunday, April 13, 2008

CALIFORNIA YOUNG DEMOCRATS
WIN DELEGATE SEATS TO DENVER CONVENTION
INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY

The California Young Democrats (CYD) turned out to vote in droves today to support their candidates of choice to represent them in Denver at the Democratic National Convention, August 25-28, 2008. Over 300 California Young Democrats campaigned to be selected as delegates. While the California Democratic Party has not issued official results, we're reporting that dozens of California Young Democrats were chosen to represent their Congressional Districts around the state.

"I'm extremely fortunate that I'll have the opportunity to be a committed Obama delegate," said Taylor Honrath, a 22-year old from Orange County who won an Obama delegate seat in Congressional District 46 against 30 other male candidates. "Barack Obama is an inspiring figure for people from all age groups and backgrounds and I'm really excited that I'll get to be a delegate voting for the next President of the United States." Honrath continued, "Without the support of my friends and family my victory would not have been possible." Honrath was one of the 900 purged and then reinstated Obama delegate candidates.

"I am extremely proud and honored to be one of many young democrats across the state to be elected as a Clinton delegate to the Convention. Running for delegate was an amazingly strenuous, but fun, process," said Paula Villescaz, a 19-year old from Sacramento who is a student at the University of California, Berkeley and campaigned for Hillary in New Hampshire, Texas and California. "Across the state and country I met thousands of young people excited about Hillary. In Denver I won't just be representing Californians, but those young people everywhere that really believe in Hillary Clinton."

"We're very happy that all of the young activists in California were given the opportunity to run for delegate seats to the Denver Convention," said Rocky Fernandez, President of the California Young Democrats. "This is the year of the young voter, and we're showing that young people are the margin of victory for Democrats and that these newly engaged young activists have brought their friends and family into active participation in Democratic Party politics."

CYD urged many of its members to get active on the presidential campaigns, and lobbied the state Party to set an ambitious 10% youth goal for its delegation. This is the highest state goal in the nation and it looks like that goal was met and exceeded today.

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***Young Democrats from all parts of California were elected to be delegates and alternates to the DNC Convention. To arrange an interview contact Claire Conlon, cconlon@youngdems.org.

The California Young Democrats is the official youth arm of the California Democratic Party, comprised of progressive people ages 14-35. The California Young Democrats are committed to creating a bloc of young voters who will elect Democrats for an entire generation. Using proven Peer to Peer campaign methods, Young Democrats have made significant differences in races all over California. Young Democrats in California work everyday to promote social justice, women's rights, peace and stability in the world, and many other progressive values.