• 6:45-7:30 pm private reception
• 7:30-8:30 pm general reception

At Ireland’s Four Courts (1 block from Courthouse Metro; 2051 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201; map, click here).

RSVP online, click here.

We need to do everything to keep this year’s crop of Tea Party extremists out of the state Senate. With the Governor’s mansion and the House of Delegates both controlled by Republicans, our majority in the Senate is the only thing standing in the way of the Tea Party’s extreme ideological agenda that will cost us jobs and decimate the Commonwealth’s education system.

We can’t let these radical Tea Partiers turn back all the progress we’ve made. Please join Senator Al Franken and Congressman Jim Moran and Congressman Bobby Scott for a reception on Tuesday, November 1st – your support will help give Virginia Democrats the resources and grassroots energy they need to prevent a Tea Party majority in the state Senate.

If you can’t make it, please consider contributing online, even just $5 can make a big difference this November.

Senator Al Franken, Congressman Moran and Congressman Scott are appearing at this event only as special guests. Senator Franken, Congressman Moran and Congressman Scott are not asking for funds or donations.

Congressman Filner has represented California’s 51st district in the San Diego area for 10 terms, following distinguished service in San Diego city government. He spoke powerfully about his early participation in the 1961 Freedom Rides. As an 18 year old Freshman at Cornell University, Filner was compelled to join the Freedom Rides by the Mothers Day firebombing of a Trailways bus carrying Freedom Riders. He recounted his father’s role in liberating the concentration camps at the end of World War II and his father’s subsequent role in helping support the early efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King to expand the civil rights struggle in the mid-1955. He urged the dinner guests to continue to engage in non-violent action to bring greater justice to our society.

Congressman Moran spoke about the current political situation and the importance of continued vigilance in bringing attention to the record of Republicans in the current Congress. Congressman Moran highlighted the need for Eighth District Democrats to do all they can to help maintain the Democratic majority in the Virginia Senate.

Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille welcomed the dinner participants to Alexandria and highlighted the importance of the election ahead. Many Northern Virginia Democratic leaders participated in the dinner, including State Senators Mary Margaret Whipple, Janet Howell, George Barker and Toddy Puller. Delegates Mark Sickles, Patrick Hope, Ken Plum, and Charniele Herring were among the House of Delegates members participating in the dinner. Many current and former local elected officials participated in the dinner.

Eighth District Democrats were pleased this year to have many Young Democrats participate in the dinner, including a number of YDs from the Washington-Lee High School Young Democrats Club, who ably assisted with dinner registration responsibilities.

The Eighth District Democratic Committee thanks its supporters for their participation in the dinner. Watch your e-mail for the 19th annual dinner in September, 2012.

Kaine for Senate 2012 launched a brand new campaign website at KaineForVA.com.  The new site is a testament to the early investment supporters have made in this campaign.

KaineforVA.com is more than a place to learn about Governor Kaine — it’s going to be a central hub to reach out to new constituencies and interact with voters through fresh and engaging technologies. Click here to take a look at the new website, KaineForVA.com.  And make sure to check it out on your phone!

In addition to harnessing the power of social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube that have become essential parts of any modern political campaign, the new site has a couple of features that put it a cut above the rest.

• Mobile.  Check out the site on an iPhone, Android, or Blackberry, and you’ll notice that it looks totally different. With more Americans using smart phones every day, the new mobile site will help reach them.  Nearly 60% of smart phone users won’t return to a mobile site if it is difficult to use – the investment in a mobile site will bring supporters back to the site time and time again.  Also, look for a series of mobile ads being launched now — they will help to reach more supporters.

• Español. Virginia’s Hispanic population has nearly doubled in the past decade.  In an effort to communicate with members of the community who may be English language learners, a Spanish version of the website has been deployed.  Governor Kaine is fluent in Spanish, and he wants to make sure he is reaching out to native Spanish speakers, both on- and offline, who call Virginia home.

Please take a moment now to look at the new website, KaineForVA.com. Whether you use your smart phone to read emails and surf the net, prefer Twitter and Facebook to stay in touch, or turn to your PC to read news updates, this campaign is going to be where you are.

The Governor and would love to hear what you think — and he’ll be looking for your comments on Twitter and Facebook.

1. Virginia would change radically if the McDonnell-Cuccinelli Cantor Republicans take over the Senate
   In less than three weeks Virginia voters will go to the polls and make decisions that will affect the future of our Commonwealth and the families who live here. If Republicans are successful in taking over the state Senate they will have complete control of our government and free rein to advance their backward agenda – unless we spend the next 20 days doing everything we can to stop them and elect our Democratic candidates. To read Chairman Brian Moran’s rundown of what’s at stake and how you can help click here. To read an Associated Press column on the many radical right-wing laws that would go through if Republicans have full control of our government click here.
2. McDonnell’s Department of Education credits President Obama for saving or creating more than 7,000 jobs
   As President Obama visited Virginia again to talk about his plan to put more Americans back to work and more money in their pockets, Governor Bob McDonnell’s Department of Education told the Huffington Post that the President has already saved more than 7,000 jobs in Virginia. Maybe McDonnell’s thank you card got lost in the mail. To read about the jobs that President Obama saved in Virginia click here.
3. Jason Flanary signed Norquist’s anti-tax pledge before he didn’t
   Controversy erupted this week in the 37th Senate District race (incumbent, Democrat Dave Marsden) about whether Tea Partier Jason Flanary did or did not sign Grover Norquist’s anti-tax pledge. During the primary Flanary seemed all too eager to bow to Grover and kiss the ring, but now that he’s running in a general election against a results-oriented leader like Dave Marsden, Flanary seems to have changed his tune. Luckily, Norquist isn’t letting him off the hook. To read more about the right-wing spat between Flanary and Norquist click here.
4. DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz stresses the importance of keeping the state Senate this year
   At the recent DPVA reception in Arlington DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, DPVA Chair Brian Moran and U.S. Reps. Jim Moran and Gerry Connolly urged all Virginia Democrats to do everything they can to get out the vote for our Democratic candidates in the Senate and the House of Delegates this year. To view a video of each leader talking about this year’s elections click here.
5. Virginia communities brace for McDonnell’s budget cuts
   Governor Bob “McGimmick” McDonnell has dropped his self-congratulation over the “budget surplus,” and has replaced it with dire warnings of looming budget cuts to state agencies that could further damage education, transportation and other core services. To read more about the potential for new budget cuts to Virginia communities click here. To read statements from Democratic leaders across Virginia urging the Governor to put middle class families ahead of the Tea Party click here.

• Friday, October 28th
• 2:30-3:30 private reception
• 3:30-4:30 general reception

At the home of Dorothy and Terry McAuliffe (7527 Old Dominion Dr, McLean, VA 22102; map, click here).

Virginia’s General Assembly elections are only three weeks away, and we need to do everything to keep this year’s crop of Tea Party extremists out of the state Senate. With the Governor’s mansion and the House of Delegates both controlled by Republicans, our majority in the Senate is the only thing standing in the way of the Tea Party’s extreme ideological agenda that will cost us jobs and decimate the Commonwealth’s education system.

We can’t let these radical Tea Partiers turn back all the progress we’ve made. Please join President Clinton and Terry McAuliffe for a reception on Friday, October 28th – your support will help give Virginia Democrats the resources and grassroots energy they need to prevent a Tea Party majority in the state Senate.

If you can’t make it, please consider contributing online, click here – even just $5 can make a big difference this November.

RSVPs preferred by noon on October 27, 2011: online (direct, click here or VASenateDems.com) or phone (Will: 804-396-3961).