We Believe
We embrace the mission and message of the Democratic party that anyone, from any walk of life, should have a fair shot at the American Dream.
We believe that cooperation is better than conflict, unity is better than division, empowerment is better than resentment, and bridges are better than walls.
Our Goals
ELECT DEMOCRATS
ADVOCATE FOR RURAL ISSUES
PROTECT THE VOTE
Our top priority is electing Democrats who share our values and will work hard to represent all of Orange County Virginia.
PROTECT THE VOTE
ADVOCATE FOR RURAL ISSUES
PROTECT THE VOTE
Voter education, voter registration and voter protection are key to the success of any democracy. We work to protect your right to vote.
ADVOCATE FOR RURAL ISSUES
ADVOCATE FOR RURAL ISSUES
ADVOCATE FOR RURAL ISSUES
Rural and small town Virginia voters matter! And their issues matter. Orange County Democrats work to ensure those issues are addressed by our elected officials and candidates for office.
Of Special Note
Operation: Primary Postcard Power!
Join us for a collective action to activate Democratic voters! We're launching a postcard campaign to encourage our Democratic voters to participate in the upcoming primary on June 17th. (Early voting starts May 2)
We'll be gathering at Orange County Democratic Committee HQ at 111 Chapman Street in Orange on two Wednesdays to add our positive messages to pre-printed postcards, and to adhere labels and stamps. We have 3000 cards, so many hands make light work. Click here to sign up for a postcard party on May 7 or May 14.
If you cannot attend but wish to support this effort, please consider donating toward the purchase of postcard stamps. You can select your quantity and make a donation quickly via credit card at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/postcard-power.
If you'd prefer to pick up postcards and labels and prepare the mailing at home, just get in touch with Ellen at 540-222-3439 by text or call.
Join us in this simple yet powerful act of democracy. Let's show the power of community action, one postcard at a time. Together, we can ensure voters are informed and ready to cast their ballots.
OCDC Monthly Meeting on May 10, 2025
Please join us on Saturday, May 10 at 10am for our monthly meeting at the OCDC office. Come for coffee and conversation at 9:30am.
Our invited speakers are Victor Salgado, candidate for Lt Governor, Jason Capelle, candidate for the Board of Supervisors in District 1, and Donna Waugh-Robinson, a member of the Orange Town Council.
Contact OCDC for the Zoom link if you wish to attend virtually.
June 17 Democratic Primary Information
See below for a list of candidates running in a primary and links to their websites. t. Gvernor, so she is our candidate and no primary is needed.
In HOD62, Sara Ratcliffe was the only Democrat to file and will be our candidate with no primary required. In HOD63, Forrest Miller was the only Democrat to meet the petition submission requirement and so no primary will be needed.
The Democratic primary to nominate candidates for Lt. Governor, Attorney General and House of Delegates will be held on Tuesday, June 17 from 6am-7pm at your usual voting location. Note the following dates leading up to the primary:
- May 2 - June 14 - Early voting period. Open M-F from 8am-5pm and Saturdays, June 6 and 13 from 9am-5pm at the Orange County Office of Voter Registration and Elections at 130 N. Madison Road, Orange.
- May 27 - Last day to register to vote in the primary or to make changes to your address or other pertinent information.
- June 6 - Last day to request an absentee ballot be mailed to you.
- June 17 - Vote at your usual polling location.
Check below for a list of candidates running in a primary and links to their websites. You can also watch a Lt. Governor forum with 5 of the 6 candidates on YouTube here.
The Fairfax County Democrats asked each candidate to submit a 100-word statement for their website. You can read the statements from the Lt. Governor candidates here, and for Attorney General here.
Democratic Primary candidates
Here are the six Democratic candidates running for Lt. Governor
Here are the two Democratic candidates running for Attorney General
On the Ballot for November!
Democratic Candidate for Governor
No primary needed
Democratic House of Delegates Candidates
No primary needed
We Welcome New Volunteers and Members
Please use our signup form here to be added to our mailing list for committee updates, our monthly e-newsletter and campaign notices. Please click here to join us as a member or to renew your membership.
Our office in Orange is open by appointment, please get in touch with us by email to arrange a time to stop in at ocvadems@gmail.com.
OCDC Blog
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Thank you for your interest in our committee and in electing Democrats! We'll keep you informed about our events, meetings, campaign activities and more.
Photo Gallery
OCDC members are active in the community, support our candidates and advocate for policies that reflect our values.
Enjoy these photos from 2025. and, below that, from 2023-2024 and 2018-22.
OCDC Photo Gallery 2025
Shannon Taylor, AG candidate, at April OCDC meeting
OCDC PHOTO GALLERY 2023-24
Election Day 2024
OCDC Photo Gallery 2018-2022
Wilderness Crossing Development Updates
April 10, 2025
PEC reports that the Orange County Circuit Court judge accepted their amicus curiae brief in support of the plaintiffs, as well as another from partners in the Wilderness Battlefield Coalition. These briefs will now be part of the record the judge considers when he rules on whether the case should proceed to trial. The amicus brief argues that the public is entitled to a transparent process when our elected officials contemplate far-reaching land-use decisions, which can transform the region and the landscape.
While PEC does not expect to learn if the case will proceed to trial until early summer, the judge — in a nod to the attendees in the gallery — acknowledged the case had generated a great deal of public interest and that the concerns raised were important. He said he will carefully consider all the information in front of him and issue a reasoned, fair decision within the bounds of the law.
March 20, 2025
The first hearing was held at the Orange County courthouse to consider a request from the defendants to have the case dismissed. We are awaiting the judge's decision.
May 1, 2024
It was announced today that The National Trust for Historic Preservation has named the Wilderness Battlefield Area to their 2024 list of The 11 Most Endangered Historic Places, due to the threat of development (from the Wilderness Crossing proposal) around the battlefield. This is notoriety that may help in the effort to push back on this development. You can read more here on the NTHP website.
April 23, 2024 - NEWS CONFERENCE ON MAY 1ST
The American Battlefield Trust sent out a notice that there will be a special announcement regarding the Wilderness Crossing development at the 1781 Wilderness Run Winery on May 1 at 10am. RSVP is requested - click here for more information.
November 17, 2023
The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) has received a partial response to their lawsuit against Orange County for FOIA violations. Orange County government has released copies of the Non-Disclosure Agreements signed in 2022 by OC staff and 4 members of the board of supervisors "for the benefit of Amazon, LLC." So if you suspected all along that the Wilderness Crossing development would include Amazon warehouses and/or data centers, it looks like you were right. Thanks to PEC for pursuing this on behalf of the citizens of Orange County.
Background
On May 24, 2023, the American Battlefield Trust, Central Virginia Battlefields Trust, Inc., Friends of Wilderness Battlefield, Inc., and several Orange County and Spotsylvania County residents filed a legal challenge to the recent approval by the Orange County Board of Supervisors of the rezoning of the the Wilderness Crossing property. The lawsuit cites several violations of state constitutional and statutory law and county zoning ordinance, including procedural errors, lack of required submittals and findings, and failure to comply with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, among other errors. You can read the filing here and a press release from the Piedmont Environmental Council here.
Contribute to OCDC
Your investment in OCDC supports our efforts throughout the year to engage with voters, share our policy messages and support our candidates. Show your support for our Committee with a one-time or monthly contribution. Click here to donate.
