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Communities Not Cages Protest Rally

COMMUNITIES NOT CAGES PROTEST RALLY

WHEN:  Saturday, April 25th, 2026 -- 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
WHERE:  Route 31 at McCullom Lake Road, McHenry

Join Indivisible McHenry County for our peaceful roadside protest rally, "Communities Not Cages" national day of action. Parking is available at the northeast corner of that intersection. Please do not park in front of businesses; let's leave those spaces open for their customers. This event is part of a nationwide day of action to oppose the Trump administration's expansion of ICE warehouse detention centers and its attack on the due process rights of immigrants and all Americans.

The Department of Homeland Security is moving to lock thousands of people in massive detention warehouses — disappearing them from their families, their lawyers, and their communities. We're taking to the streets to make it clear that we stand for dignity, justice, and the rule of law.

We'll gather to:

• Show visible, public opposition to ICE detention expansion and the criminalization of immigration
• Stand in solidarity with detained immigrants and the communities fighting to protect them
• Demand that our elected officials defend due process for everyone

Bring a sign. Bring your neighbors. Bring your voice.

Registration is appreciated so we'll know how many attendees to expect, but it's not required. Register here:
https://www.mobilize.us/disappearedinamerica/event/935375/

This action is part of the Communities Not Cages National Day of Action organized by the Disappeared In America campaign and partners including Detention Watch Network, Public Citizen, The Workers Circle, MoveOn and many others.

Visit Indivisible McHenry County on Facebook.

For more information:  [email protected]

Huntley Area Democrats April Meeting

All Democrats are cordially invited to the April meeting of the Huntley Area Democrats, covering both Kane and McHenry Counties.

Miki Powell, St. Charles township chair, will share her volunteering story, and what other townships are doing.

The IBEW Hall is located in front of the Jewel, just south of the Wendy's, and north of the Taco Bell.  You can enter the building either on the west or the east sides.

WHEN:  Wednesday April 22nd, 2026 -- 1:00 to 3:00 pm
WHERE:  IBEW Hall - Training Hall - 13300 Illinois Route 47, Huntley

Donations to the Grafton Food Pantry will be most gratefully accepted.

For more information, please reach out to [email protected].

Amin Karim - Celebrating Immigrant Stories with JIm May

AMIN KARIM - Celebrating Immigrant Stories, with Emmy Award-winning storyteller Jim May and friends

WHEN:  Sunday, May 31st, 2026 -- 1:00 to 4:00 pm
WHERE:  Steel Heart LTD, at the House of Seven Gables, 10308 US Route 14, Harvard

Democratic County Treasurer candidate Amin Karim cordially invites you his "Celebrating Immigrant Stories" event with Emmy Award winning storyteller Jim May and his friends, with featured guests County Clerk Candidate Bill McNeese, and County Board candidate Christine "Christy Stevens" (District 8). Other candidates will also be invited to participate.

This is a free event, soft drinks and coffee will be provided.  Bring a picnic lunch, and a lawn chair and come enjoy a celebration of the experience and contributions of Immigrants to our country and our communities.

The event will include professional storytellers and will include an open mic opportunity for attendees to participate. As well as other Democratic candidates to meet and greet.

Having come to America as a young adult, Amin Karim has his own story to share, and he looks forward to celebrating the richness of the diverse backgrounds of all Americans.

Here's the event on Facebook.

Visit Amin Karim at aminkarim.com or on Facebook.

For more information contact Terry Kappel at 779-302-6212 or [email protected].

Dee Darling's Community Blood Drive

COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE
Hosted by Dee Darling, candidate for McHenry County Board, district 1

WHEN:  Saturday, May 2nd, 2026 - 9:30 am to 2:00 pm
WHERE:  First United Methodist Church, 500 North First Street, Cary

Donate blood, save lives.  One pint can save up to three lives.  Because of an ongoing need in our area for platelets and blood there is an increased need for donors. Please go online or scan the QR Code to schedule your appointment. Every drop counts.Your simple act of kindness can make a world of difference.

Click here to reserve your spot.

Visit Dee Darling at vote4darling.com or on Facebook.

For more information contact Regina Rakoncay at [email protected]

Serenata Para El Futuro

Friends for Veronica Garcia-Martinez presents ...

SERENATA PARA EL FUTURO

Dinner and Mariachi Fundraiser
With special musical guest Juan Diego Rojas

WHEN:  Friday, May 1st, 2026 -- 6:30 to 8:30 pm
WHERE:  Burritos Guacamole 3, 1330 East State Street, Sycamore

Join us for an evening of great food, music and community in support of Veronica Garcia-Martinez's campaign for the Illinois House in district 70.

Dinner includes a sizzling fajita buffet with flavorful rice, beans, salad and warm tortillas.  Cash bar.
Suggested donation $75.

Get your tickets here.

Visit Veronica at veronica4il.com or on Facebook.

Amin Karim Coffee with the Candidates - Featuring Bill McNeese and Edward "Bud" Bowie

Amin Karim Coffee with the Candidates - Featuring Bill McNeese and Edward "Bud" Bowie

WHEN:  Saturday, April 18th, 2026 - Noon to 2:00 pm
WHERE:  The Other Side Cafe & Sober Bar, 135 Beardsley Street, Crystal Lake

Meet and Greet event with Democratic candidate for County Treasurer Amin Karim and his special guests County Clerk Candidate Bill McNeese, County Board Candidate (Dist. 4) Edward "Bud" Bowie, Democratic Party District Chair (Dist. 4) Nancy Schietzelt. Free event with free coffee.

For more information:  Terry Kappel, [email protected] 779-302-6212

Sweet Dundee: Cake Decorating

SWEET DUNDEE:  CAKE DECORATING 
A Benefit for Suzanne Ness

WHEN:  April 11th, 2026 -- 6:00 to 8:00 pm
WHERE:  East Side Cafe, 311 Barrington Avenue, East Dundee

Get your tickets here.

Learn how to stack, frost, create borders, writing, flowers and more.  Join Katie Debus, the wickedly talented cake decorator of Sweet Dundee, and Suzanne Ness, our awesome Democratic state representative in the 66th district.

All proceeds benefit Citizens for Suzanne Ness. Tickets are $100 and include the cake + decorating supplies. Additional donations welcome and appreciated. Beverages and snacks available for purchase from East Side Cafe.

*Bonus: Rep.Ness' birthday is April 7th! Let's bake her a cake!

Visit Suzanne at citizensforsuzanneness.com or on Facebook.

For more information:  Chloe Troub at [email protected].

Votes, Goats & Good Trouble

VOTES, GOATS & GOOD TROUBLE

WHEN:   Saturday, May 2nd, 2026 -- 2:00 to 5:00 pm
WHERE:  Twins Farm, 6191 Shattuck Road, Belvidere

Please join us for this family-friendly event, which will help raise funds for candidates including Paul Nolley for Congress (16th district), Sarah Mertens for State Senate (35th district), Peter Janko for State Representative (69th district), Chris Stevens for McHenry County Board (district 8), Amin Karim for McHenry County treasurer, and Bill McNeese for McHenry County Clerk.

Meet the candidates, play farm games, enjoy your neighbors, pet the animals.  $10 per voter, includes a taco lunch.

For more information please contact Pat Lawlor ([email protected]) or Tracy Rangel ([email protected]).

Campaign Launch for Deanna "Dee" Darling for County Board

CAMPAIGN LAUNCH FOR DEANNA "DEE" DARLING FOR DISTRICT 1 COUNTY BOARD

We're thrilled to invite you to the official campaign launch of Deanna "Dee" Darling for McHenry County Board!

This campaign is built on values that matter: keeping housing costs within reach, protecting our public schools, stewarding the land and resources we love, spending your tax dollars wisely, and defending the county services our families count on every single day. The launch party is your chance to meet Dee, learn more about her, and find out about ways to help get her elected. Become part of something bigger than any one election.  Together we will make a difference!

Asking for a $15 donation per person - pizza & pop will be served. To pay you can scan the QR code, pay cash at the event, or click the campaign Donation Link at secure.actblue.com/donate/vote4darling  If you cannot attend and would like to donate to Dee's campaign, please follow the ActBlue link above.

Please visit vote4darling.com to learn more about Dee or would like to find out more about ways to help with Dee's campaign.  Contact Dee's campaign at [email protected].

Here's the event on Facebook - please share.

WHEN:  Saturday, April 11th, 2026 -- 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
WHERE:  Galati's Hideaway, 800 Feinberg Court, Cary

County Convention 2026

If you are a Precinct Committeeperson elected in the MARCH 17th Primary, this meeting is for you. 

The Democratic Party of McHenry County will meet at 7:00 p.m., April 15th at McHenry County College in the Conference Center.

This meeting serves as the biennial County Convention, at which officers are elected to lead the party for a two-year term. Only precinct committeepersons elected at the March 17, 2026 primary are eligible to vote at this meeting. In accordance with the party's constitution, the positions to be elected at this meeting are:

• Chair
• Vice Chair
• Treasurer
• Secretary
• General Counsel

In addition, the precinct committeepersons of each of the nine County Board Districts are to elect a District Chair by assembling in a caucus after the officers are elected.

Nominating procedure

The nomination of any officer or district chair shall be made by nominating petition, signed by no less than three elected members of the Central Committee, designating the office sought and presented to the presiding officer of the County Convention. Officers shall be elected by a majority of the weighted vote of the elected members of the Central Committee present at the County Convention, and district chairs shall be elected by a majority of the weighted vote of the elected members of the Central Committee from their respective districts who are present at the County Convention. The weighted vote of a precinct committeeperson is the number of Democratic ballots pulled in your precinct in the March 17th, 2026 primary. 

The order of elections at the County Convention shall be county chair, vice chair, treasurer, secretary, general counsel, and the district chairs in numerical order of their districts.

The nomination petitions can be found by clicking on the images below:

Upon adjournment a brief regular meeting of the Central Committee will take place.

If you have any questions regarding the convention, please email Ruth at [email protected].

Pollwatchers Rights Poster

A poster showing clearly what pollwatchers can and can't do.

Pollwatcher Credentials - the two types

Showing examples of the two types of pollwatcher credentials -- issued by the county clerk, or issued by the Illinois State Board of Elections

Pollwatcher Credential Envelope

When you enter the polling place, you sign your credential(s) in the presence of one of the election judges, who then places it in this envelope, and you sign in as a pollwatcher on a line on the envelope.  When you leave you sign out.  You can sign in again, then, without needing a new credential.

ISBE Pollwatcher's Guide

Illinois State Board of Elections - Pollwatcher's Guide - published 2022 - Eight easy pages, very clear and complete.

2026 Primary Polling Places

Here's information on all the polling places in McHenry County, Illinois, for the 2026 General Primary Election, on March 17th, 2026.

Nabeela's 27th Birthday Fundraiser

NABEELA'S 27th BIRTHDAY FUNDRAISER

WHEN:  Friday, April 10th, 2026 - 6:00 to 8:00 pm
WHERE:  Topgolf Schaumburg, 2050 Progress Parkway, Schaumburg

The awesome Nabeela Syed, currently our Democratic State Representative in the 51st district, is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination for State Senator in the 26th district.  

Please join her and a crowd of supporters at this fundraiser in honor of her 27th birthday, and in celebration of her campaign for State Senate. Individual tickets are $100, and 26th Senate District Resident tickets are $50. We will have appetizers and a cash bar.

Reserve your ticket(s) here.

Visit Nabeela at nabeelasyed.com or on Facebook.

For more information:  Claire McCall at [email protected].

McHenry County Precinct Viewer & District Map

Find your precincts and districts fast!

Be a Board Reporter

Board Reporters are our eyes and ears.

Illinois State Legislators - Quick Links

Here's quick links to find your Illinois State Senators and State Representatives and their contacts.

Getting Your Action ID

Here's how to get your logon on the main tool we use for door-knocking.