The Illinois Democratic County Chairmen's Association (ILDCCA) is a grass roots organization comprised of the Democratic county chairman from each of Illinois' 102 counties. The ILDCCA is a driving force behind building the Democratic Party from the ground up with the basic mission of electing Democrats from the county courthouse to the White House.
The Democratic Party in Illinois is only as strong as the local party organizations that help spread the message of Democratic candidates and turn out the vote. The ILDCCA ensures that local parties have the tools they need to do this.
With all of the excitement surrounding Illinois' own Barack Obama being the President of the United States, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin winning overwhelmingly, and the election of several new Democratic Representatives, Democrats are voting in record numbers. In the 2008 Presidential Primary, almost 750,000 more people voted Democratic than in 2004. This huge increase was not isolated to one part of the state.
Chicago/Cook County Democratic Turnout:
City of Chicago and remaining parts of Cook Co.
2008 - 1,091,008 (Up 326,845 from 2004)
Collar County Democratic Turnout:
Five suburban counties surrounding Chicago
2008 - 400,759 (Up 208,059 from 2004)
Downstate Democratic Turnout:
Ninety-six counties outside of the Chicago Metro Area
2008 - 567,935 (Up 214,669 from 2004)
Statewide Democratic Turnout:
2008 - 2,059,702 (Up 749,573 from 2004)
To keep the momentum going, the ILDCCA is working with county organizations to identify new Democratic voters. One tool ILDCCA uses to accomplish this is the cutting edge web based voter file: the Illinois VoteBuilder. The ILDCCA has an exclusive contract with the Democratic National Committee to provide its voter file to Democrats in Illinois. VoteBuilder boasts the most accurate voter information available anywhere in Illinois to allow Democrats to identify and communicate with their voters. The voter file is continually being updated with new voter information which assists Democrats in their efforts to get elected.
Ultimately, the stronger local organizations are, the stronger the Democratic Party in Illinois will be. By continuing to focus on grass roots party building, the ILDCCA continues to help build increased Democratic majorities in the Illinois General Assembly and U.S. Congress, in addition to winning back the White House.
