Statement on the Presidential Election

Juan Ulloa
Chair, Ward 2 Democrats

With the dawn of a new day, unfortunately the presidential election was not decided in favor of Democrats. While the result is disheartening we must dust ourselves off, reassess and move forward.

I could not be prouder of all the Ward 2 residents who committed themselves to the Harris-Walz, and local, campaigns over the last several months. Whether it was calling, texting, writing letters or canvassing out-of-state, Ward 2 and the District of Columbia made its presence felt this campaign season.

Our Local Election Results

As residents of the District of Columbia we live at the epicenter of national politics. However, we cannot take our eyes of our local election results. As the saying goes, “All politics is local.” I wish to congratulate all of the winners of our local Ward 2 elections. In particular I wish to highlight Councilmember Brooke Pinto, United States Senator-Elect Ankit Jain, Ward 2 Member of the State Board of Education Allister Chang and all our incoming Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners, especially John Fanning and Howard Garrett, who serve Ward 2 Democrats so ably. These are not just elected officials, these are our neighbors who have chosen to serve their Ward and the District.

Ward 2 Dems Stands Ready

Ward 2 Democrats stands ready to engage with elected officials at all levels of government to educate and inform our neighbors in the years ahead. Democrats are increasingly diverse in their views and backgrounds. As an organization Ward 2 Democrats welcomes you all. In our diversity and difference of opinion, I wholeheartedly believe we can find common ground.

While I expect challenges ahead, the best way to meet it is with knowledge. We must become better informed about how government works and what is taking place at the local and federal level. A well informed, active electorate is a force to be reckoned with and until statehood (or increased self governance) is achieved we must fight to make sure our wishes are heard and acted upon.

I am the American born son of immigrants who lived under a dictatorship. For my parents voting in elections was obligatory despite the outcome being predetermined. My parents left this world decades later as American citizens — Democrats — who instilled in my brother and I a reverence for the right to vote. While the results of the presidential election sting, this morning I hold my head up high. I did my duty, I voted, but today there is more work to be done.