Political Calendar: Week of January 1, 2023

Send notices of your events to blogforarizona@gmail.com. Editor’s Note: Due to the covid-19 coronavirus pandemic and CDC recommendations for social distancing, many events are still being held virtually online. We are doing our best to update the calendar, but you should check with event organizers prior to attending any event to confirm the status. 

Political Calendar for the Week of January 1, 2023:

Sunday, January 1: Happy New Year!

Inauguration Day

Thursday, January 5, 10:00 a.m.: Katie Hobbs Inauguration as Arizona Governor, at the Arizona State Capitol Mall, 1700 West Washington Street,Phoenix. (Directions and Parking Maps). The Inaugural ball is being held on Saturday, January 7th, 2023 and tickets are available for $150 each. To reserve your ticket, please use this order form. (Sales end on Jan 7, 2023).

Friday, January 6: Anniversary of the MAGA/QAnon Seditious Insurrection to overthrow American democracy. Never forget, never forgive, and hold every one of them accountable at law.

Saturday, January 7, 8:00 a.m.: The 2023 Arizona MLK Youth Celebration, at Phoenix College, 1202 W Thomas Rd, Phoenix. This year’s theme is “Walking in the Footsteps of Dr. King: Civic Engagement For Democracy” – will feature speakers, workshops for K-College and entertainment. For information, call Dr. Westenberg at 602-330-3249. Please RSVP.

Saturday, January 7, 11:00 a.m.: Greater Huachuca Area Democrats meeting virtual on Zoom (soon at a designated restaurant in Serra Vista). Meet the first Saturday of each month. For more information, please email newghadc@yahoo.com, or phone (520) 329-2253.

Saturday, January 7, 3:30 p.m.: LD 18 Winter Blast Happy Hour, at Brother John’s, 1801 N. Stone Avenue, Tucson. Buffet from 3:45 -4:45 p.m. , cash bar, games and more! Let’s celebrate and enjoy the camaraderie, conversation and company of fellow LD18 Democrats. Invite your friends! Get your tickets here while they last. Tickets are $25 per person, please pay by December 30. ALL payments are final – maximum capacity is 150.  For more information please contact Mary Keerins at lapisAZ@outlook.com.

Special Announcements:

Green Valley Democrats Current Events Discussion Group

Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m.:  Green Valley Democrats fka Democratic Club of the Santa Rita Area meets on Zoom at 10:00 – 11:30. To join the Discussion Group please send your name to  santaritadems@gmail.com. Join us at the weekly meeting of the Democratic Headquarters Current Events Discussion Group. We’ll talk about some of the major events of the previous week, including but not limited to political topics, and try and go behind the news for a deeper understanding. For more information, please contact Jean Vickers jean.vickers@cox.net.

Drinking Liberally

Third Wednesday of each month, 6:00 p.m.: Drinking Liberally at The Shanty, 401 E. 9th Street, Tucson. We need to know by the morning of each meeting approximately how many folks will attend. Please RSVP to tucson@drinkingliberally.org. Informal but thoughtful conversation. As a reminder, The Shanty does not serve food (yes, there is popcorn), so please feel free to bring your own or order in, all allowed at The Shanty. There is no obligation to order anything–but as a thank you to our host, I hope everyone will order at least one drink(alcoholic or otherwise).

Sunday, January 8: Tucson’s January 8 Memorial of the mass shooting on January 8, 2011.

Monday, January 9, Noon: Opening day of the First Regular Session of the 56th Arizona Legislature. “No man’s (or woman’s) life, liberty or property are safe while the Legislature is in session.” Inaugural State of the State address from Governor Katie Hobbs.

Monday, January 9, 4:30 p.m. PT: College Football National Championship Game, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. TCU v. Georgia.

Monday, January 9, 5:30 p.m.:  Legislative District 19 meeting. Meet the second Monday of each month. For more information please contact Chair Matthew Boyd at mboyd4347@gmail.com.

Monday, January 9, 6:30 p.m.: Democrats of Oro Valley meeting. Meet the second Monday of each month. For more information see our Facebook page or demsov.org.

Monday, January 9, 7:00 p.m.: Democrats of the Highlands at Dove Mountain meeting, in the Dove Mountain Clubhouse Catalina Room II, 4949 W. Heritage Club Blvd., Marana. For more information see our Facebook page.

Tuesday, January 10, Noon: Democrats of Rim Country meeting, at Tiny’s Family Restaurant, 600 Arizona Hwy. 260, Payson, AZ. Meet the second Tuesday of each month. For more information please email us at info@democratsofrimcountry.com.

State of The State – Tucson

Tuesday, January 10, Noon: Tucson Metro Chamber of Commerce State of The State with governor Katie Hobbs at the Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Avenue,Tucson (The closest parking lot to the Event is Lot B. Entering form Cushing Street). Tickets: $125, Deadline to register: January 4, 2023, 12 p.m. SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES AVAILABLE

Tuesday, January 10, 3:30 p.m.: Saddlebrooke Democrats meeting, at SaddleBrooke Activities Center, 64518 E. Galveston Lane (Saddlebrooke). Meet the second Tuesday of each month. For more information please contact Steve Groth at (520) 385-6686 or check our web site. SaddleBrookeDemocrats.org.

Tuesday, January 10, 5:00 p.m.: Democrats of the Picture Rocks meeting, via zoom. Meet the second Tuesday of each month. Contact us by email at dems4prandav@gmail.com for more information.

Tuesday, January 10, 6:30 p.m.: Legislative District 23 meeting. Meet the second Tuesday of each month. To access the Zoom link for these virtual meetings, please join our email list. Join us for our monthy happy hour on the last Friday of every month at 6:30 p.m. Email contact form.

Wednesday, January 11, 6:30 p.m.: Marana Dems & Friends meeting. To request the Zoom meeting invitation send an email to: marana.demsandfriends@gmail.com. Meet the second Wednesday of each month. Visit our Facebook Page.

Wednesday, January 11, 5:30 pm.: Legislative District 21 meeting. Meet the second Wednesday of  each month. For more information, please contact Jacqui Bauer, Chair at azld21democrats@gmail.com.

Thursday, January 12: The Yuma County Democrats meet the second Thursday of every month, currently on Zoom due to the Pandemic. Meetings are open to the public. For information on how to attend sign up for our newsletter or email info@yumademocrats.com.

Thursday, January 12, 5:30 p.m.: Pima County Democratic Party Nucleus Club meeting, at the DoubleTree – Reid Park Hotel, 445 S. Alvernon Way, Tucson. Meet the second Thursday of each month. Non-members will be asked to make a contribution of $20 at the door or in advance. For more information, contact Nucleus Club at Pima County Democratic Headquarters (520) 326-3716.

Thursday, January 12, 5:30 p.m.: Pima County Democratic Party Disability Caucus meeting, at Direct Center, 1001 N. Alvernon Way, Tucson. Monthly meeting of the Disability Caucus. Open to the public. For more information please contact Contact Carol Brown (520) 325-9874.

Friday, January 13, 7:00 a.m.: 37th Annual Arizona MLK Celebration. Celebrate the 37th Annual Arizona MLK Awardees! The event, co-chaired by 2017 Calvin C. Goode Lifetime Achievement Award honoree Valerie Churchwell, will recognize the 2023 recipients of the Calvin C. Goode Lifetime Achievement Award and Living the Dream Award. The 2023 Arizona MLK Celebration will be a ticketed event held in-person. To register, call 602-513-8311.

Saturday, January 14, 9:30 a.m.: Tanque Verde Valley Democrats meeting. Featured speakers are Tucson Mayor Regina Romero and Pima District 1 Supervisor Rex Scott. Usually meet the second Saturday of each month. For more information visit our web site. Tanque Verde Valley Democratic Club.

Saturday, January 14, 10:00 a.m.: Mule Mountain Democrats meeting, at the Community Y, 26 Howell Avenue, Old Bisbee. Meet the second Saturday of each month. For more information e-mail Sandy Hummingbird at sandyhummingbird@cs.com, or visit our web page Mule Mountain Democrats.

Saturday, January 14, 10:00 a.m.: Coconino County Democratic Party meeting, at the Murdoch Community Center, 203 E. Brannen Avenue, Flagstaff. Also on Zoom. Meet the second Saturday of each month. For more information please call (928) 214-0393 or email info@ccdem.org, or viit our web page coconinodemocrats.org.

Saturday, January 14, 1:00 p.m.: Sun City Democrats of Oro Valley meeting, in the Navajo Room of the Activity Center, 1495 Rancho Vistoso Blvd., Sun City. Meet the second Saturday of each month. For more information lease contact Maureen Salz mosalz@outlook.com.

Saturday, January 14, 3:00 p.m.: Green Valley Democrats fka Democratic Club of the Santa Rita Area meeting.  For more information please see our Facebook page or greenvalleydemocrats.org.

Sunday, January 15, 5:00 p.m.: Democrats of the Red Rocks Annual Meeting, at St. Andrews Church, 100 Arroyo Pinon Drive, West Sedona. This will be a Hearty Celebration Pot Luck Dinner!Enjoy the camaraderie of your fellow Dems, listen to inspiring speakers and share hearty homemade dishes! Please email Margaret.connery@hotmail.com and let her know which of the following meal components you plan to bring: A) Hearty Main Dish B) Hearty Side Dish or C) Celebratory Dessert. Beverages will be provided. (Please note that there will be no DORR Breakfast in January!!)

Sunday, January 15, 6:00 p.m.: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Candlelight Service, at the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, 1401 E Jefferson St, Phoenix. The annual Arizona MLK Candlelight Concert features an all-ages choir, hymns, student scholarships awards and speeches from local leaders and community members. Please RSVP.

Monday, January 16: Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday (observed). The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday is an official day of service and celebrates the civil rights leader’s life and legacy.

Arizona MLK Celebration March & Festival – Phoenix

Monday, January 16, 9:00 a.m.: 2023 Arizona MLK Celebration March & Festival, March from Pilgrim Rest Church to Hance Park, 1401 E Jefferson St, Phoenix. Following the march from Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, starting at 9am, the community will celebrate during a festival at Margaret T. Hance Park. The festival is from 10am-4pm, and located at 1202 N. 3rd Street, in downtown Phoenix. Please RSVP.

Tucson MLK Celebration in The Park

Monday, January 16, 10:00 a.m.: Tucson MLK Celebration in The Park, at Reid Park Outdoor Performance Center, 900 S. Alvernon Way, Tucson. Bands, choirs, musicians, praise teams, praise dancers, rap artists, singers , spoken word, step teams. etc.  For more information please call Terry Thomas, at (520) 282-3536. Food, retail and information vendors pease call Donna Liggins at  (520) 237-7806.

Tuesday, January 17, 10:30 a.m.: Democratic Women of Southeastern Arizona meeting, at Rothery Education Center on Fry Boulevard, Northern most building closest to Veterans Park, Sierra Vista. Meet the third Tuesday of each month. For more information email us at dwseaaz@gmail.com​ Visit our web page. Democratic Women of Southeastern Arizona.

Wednesday, January 18, 6:00 p.m.: Graham County Democratic Party meeting. Meet the third Wednesday of each month. Meet via Zoom. For more information. please visit our web page, or visit our Facebook Page.

Wednesday, January 18, 6:30 p.m.: Legislative District 17 meeting. Meet the third Wednesday of each month. For more information please contact Larry Waggoner, Chair at lwaggonernew@comcast.net.

Wednesday, January 18, 6:30 p.m.: Copa City Democrats meeting, location varies. For more information please contact Constance Jackson at jcksconniejean@aol.com.

Thursday, January 19, 10:00 a.m.: [No Meeting] Democrats of the Red Rocks Breakfast on Zoom. Free.  Register in Advance. Meet the third Thursday of each month. Visit our web page.

Thursday, January 19, 6:30 p.m.: Yavapai County Democratic Party meeting, details TBA.

Friday, January 20, 6:00 p.m.: Gila County Democratic Party general meeting, at the Gila Dems Office, 110 E. Bonita Street, Payson, AZ. Meet the third Friday of each month. For more information please visit our web page, or Facebook Page, email us at info@gilacountyazdems.org, or call our office 928-363-1808.

Saturday, January 21, 10:00 a.m.: Pima County Democratic Party African-American Caucus meeting, at Grace Temple Baptist Church, 1020 E. 31st Street, Tucson. Meet the third Saturday of each month. The caucus is not exclusively for African-Americans, all are welcome to join. For more information please contact Connie DeLarge at cdelarge@dmyl.comor (520) 241-8408.

Saturday, January 21, 1:00 p.m.: San Tan Valley Democrats meeting, meet virtually. Meet the third Saturday of each month. Please email group for details: chair@stvdems.com, or phone: 480-630-9092.

Saturday, January 21, 1:30 p.m.: Copa City Democrats meeting. Meetings are every third Saturday of the month. Receive the link through Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/2963579027298825, or email Tony at comedyschools@hotmail.com.

Sunday, January 22: Chinese New Year – Year of The Rabbit.

Monday, January 23, 6:00 p.m.: Legislative District 20 meeting. Meet the fourth Monday of each month. For more information please visit our LD 20 website.

Tuesday, January 24, 4:30 p.m.: Democratic Club of the Saddlebrook Ranch meeting, at 59680 E. Robson Circle, Oracle. Meet the fourth Tuesday of each month. Pease contact Matt Nelson at SBRDems@gmail.com, or (651) 414-1334.

Tuesday, January 24, 6:30 p.m.: Legislative District 18 meeting. Meet the fourth Tuesday of each month. For more information please contact Larry Bodine, Chair at chair@ld18dems.org.

Wednesday, January 25, 11:30 a.m.: Democratic Women of the Prescott Area meeting, New Time and Place! The Resort at Prescott. Details TBA. Funds raised through this event support Democratic Women of the Prescott Area. Cost of Luncheon $25.  Cancellations for reservations must be received 24 hours in advance! Attendees will be billed if they cancel on the day of the event. Meet the fourth Wednesday of each month. Visit our web page.

Wednesday, January 24, 5:00 p.m.: Legislative District 19 meeting. Meet the fourth Wednesday of each month. For more information please contact Matthew Boyd, Chair at mboyd4347@gmail.com.

Thursday, January 26, 6:30 p.m.:  Casa Grande Democrats meeting. Meet via Zoom, so please call this number or send an email to this contact information to receive a registration link: (520) 251-8247 or demsofcasagrande@gmail.com. Meet the fourth Thursday of each month. Please visit our web page.

Saturday, January 28, 10:00 a.m.:  Northern Cochise County Democratic Club meeting at the Raphael-in-the-Valley Episcopal-Lutheran Church, 730 S. Hwy 80, Benson AZ.Meet the Fourth Saturday of each month. For more information please contact Kathy Suagee at soprano_58@hotmail.com. Visit our web page Northern Cochise County Democrats.

Friday, January 27, TBA: Arizona Democratic Party Hall of Fame Dinner, save the date. Details TBA.

Arizona Democratic Party Biannual Reorganization Meeting

Saturday, January 28, 9:30 a.m.: Arizona Democratic Party Biannual Reorganization Meeting (fully virtual). We will be reorganizing the Arizona Democratic Party at this meeting. That includes voting for a new Party Chair and the rest of party elected officers. Reminder, only State Committee members can vote for a new Chair. If you are a PC but not a State Committee member, you cannot vote. If you need a proxy, you can fill out this form. We look forward to seeing everyone virtually and will continue to share more information as the meeting gets closer. You can refer to www.azdem.org for any updated information.

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Wednesday, February 8, 8:30 a.m.: Environmental Lobby Day at the State Capitol, sponsored by the Sierra Club, Grand Canyon Chapter. We will be meeting in person at the legislature, but also livestreaming the speakers and making every attempt to connect people to meetings with legislators virtually and in-person. We will have a program in the morning, tables with information on various groups and actions, and we will be meeting with legislators. Please RSVP Here.

Sunday, February 12: Lincoln’s Birthday.

Sunday, February 12, 12:30 p.m. PT: Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Tuesday, February 14: Valentine’s Day/Arizona Statehood Day.

Tuesday, February 14: MLB Pitchers & Catchers report (earliest report date).

Monday, February 20: President’s Day (observed). George Washington’s Birthday.

Tuesday, February 21: Mardi Gras.

Monday, February 24: MLB Cactus League Spring Training games begin. Schedule.

Saturday, February 25, 11:00 a.m.: The Tucson Peace Fair and Music Festival returns this year. Stay tuned for event info: https://www.tucsonpeacecalendar.org/peace-fair/.