My friends, last night was a historic victory for Democrats and for democracy. The American people saw two years of brutal ICE raids, rising costs of living, pointless conflicts abroad, the alienation of our allies, rampant corruption, and the pointless persecution of our most vulnerable- and they made their dissent heard at the ballot box. Around the country we saw a bold rebuke of the Trump Administration and a clear mandate for the Democratic Party to face the challenges of our moment. This has happened before. From the Great Depression to the Great Recession, Americans have looked to the Democratic Party to meet the trials of history and lead America through them, and from the Great Depression to the Great Recession, Democrats have done just that.

However, the national shift was not felt here in Alabama. Despite meaningful gains in many districts compared to the previous elections, despite a solid campaign by Doug Jones and Democrats down the ballot, Alabama Democrats fell short of victory. The Tuscaloosa County Democratic Party worked hard. Much was asked of our members, and much was delivered by them. I will ask more.

Now is not the time to rally around our gains, pat ourselves on the back, and swear we’ll “get them next time.” Now is not the time to pretend that we should be happy about the voters we registered, the rallies we held, the protests we conducted, and the campaigns we ran. We did not register enough. We did not rally enough. We did not protest enough. We did not campaign enough.

Alabamians were clearly not inspired by our efforts, and to pretend otherwise is to perpetuate a cycle of defeat that we have been stuck in for as long as I have been alive. We will not hang our heads at this fact. We will not snivvle and sulk. We will fight.

The Tuscaloosa County Democratic Party will lead the way to the future by raising up candidates that are fighters. That inspires action. That dare to take hard stances on issues rather than dither around the edges of progress with the promise reforms will come eventually if only we believe hard enough. The lesson we must learn, that we will learn, is that bold, progressive fighters can win in the reddest of districts. Bold, progressive fighters can flip the reddest of states. Alabama needs fighters, and the Tuscaloosa County Democratic Party will deliver them.

I am calling on our members to redouble their efforts in the coming months and years. I offer you hard toil. I offer you struggle. I offer you long days and late nights. My beloved Marine Corps does not promise a rose garden, and neither do I. Yet, when the work is done, we will raise up champions that can not be defeated. We will build campaigns that will make the nation take notice. We will win the future.

I am calling on the fence sitters, the “wait and see” voters, the timid, the small, the downtrodden. I am calling on those who feel ignored and forgotten. I am calling on those who did not do enough. I am calling on you. Take up this cause of progress. Find strength and camaraderie in this future we will build together. Put your hand to this task with me, and we will build a movement you can be proud of. Bend your back to this work with me, and when it is done you will see the glory of all you have accomplished.

Come, fight alongside me,

J.W. Buchwalter, Chairman of the TCDP

Tuscaloosa County Democratic Party doesn’t have a formal membership, anyone wishing to become involved with the TCDP is easy. All that is required is you share our Democratic ideals, support the TCDP and Democratic candidates! 

We meet every third Saturday from 10am-12pm at the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse Annex between US Highway 69/43 N ( Lurleen B Wallace Blvd N) and US Highway 69/43 S (Lurleen B Wallace Blvd S ) and use the parking lot on 8th Street.