Missouri Young Democrats
2026–2028
Strategic Plan
Executive Summary
Our Unique Position
Missouri Young Democrats occupies a distinctive position in the state's political ecosystem. As the official youth arm of the Missouri Democratic Party with formal recognition from Young Democrats of America, MOYD serves as the bridge between grassroots youth organizing and the institutional Democratic establishment. Our President holds a voting seat on the MDP Chairman's Executive Committee, ensuring young voices are centered in party decision-making.
Our organizational structure encompasses three interconnected but operationally independent entities:
MOYD
Umbrella organization for all members aged 14-36, managing statewide operations, policy advocacy, endorsements, and party coordination.
MOCD
The collegiate affiliate organizing chapters at universities and colleges, developing campus leaders, and mobilizing student voters.
MOHSD
The secondary school affiliate engaging students aged 14-18 in civic education, preregistration drives, and early leadership development.
Strategic Priorities for 2026-2028
Pillar One
Mobilize
Engage young Missourians at unprecedented scale, growing from 400 to 2,500 members by 2028, registering 10,000 new young voters, and achieving 70% voter turnout among our membership in statewide elections.
Pillar Two
Develop
Cultivate the next generation of Democratic leaders through comprehensive training programs, mentorship networks, and pathways from membership to candidacy. Our goal: 50 young Democrats running for office by 2028.
Pillar Three
Organize
Expand our geographic footprint to establish active chapters in all eight congressional districts. We will charter 25 new chapters by 2028 and ensure every Missouri county has access to MOYD programming.
Pillar Four
Elect
Break the Republican supermajority in the Missouri General Assembly by strategically deploying our resources to flip targeted seats. Our 2026 goal: flipping 3 House seats and 2 Senate seats.
What Success Looks Like
By 2028, Missouri Young Democrats will have transformed from a recently-revived organization to the state's preeminent youth political force.
Mission, Vision & Focus
Mission
Missouri Young Democrats works to engage young Missourians in the political process, cultivate Democratic leadership, and help elect Democratic candidates who reflect the values and priorities of young people. MOYD empowers youth across Missouri through education, organizing, advocacy, and leadership development, building the infrastructure for sustained progressive change.
Vision
Missouri Young Democrats envisions a Missouri where the voices of young people are not only heard but centered in the fight for equity, opportunity, dignity, and democracy for all. We see a state where every young person has accessible pathways to meaningful political participation, where Democratic values of justice and inclusion prevail, and where the next generation of progressive leaders emerges from every corner of our state.
Focus Areas
Mobilization
We engage young Missourians through digital-first organizing, meeting them where they are on social media, on college campuses, and in their communities. We convert awareness into action through accessible on-ramps to participation.
Substance
We focus exclusively on building youth political power within the Democratic coalition. We do not duplicate issue-specific advocacy work; instead, we mobilize young people in support of progressive causes.
Operations
We complement our partners by providing what they cannot: scalable youth mobilization, a leadership development pipeline, and the authentic voice of a youth-led movement.
Letter from the President
Dear Fellow Democrats,
In January 2025, I had a conversation that altered the direction of my life and, I hope, will help change the future of Missouri. That conversation was with the Executive Director of the Missouri Democratic Party, asking a simple question: “What happened to Missouri Young Democrats?”
The answer was sobering. Missouri Young Democrats had effectively ceased to exist in 2018. For seven years, Missouri lacked an organized statewide young Democrats organization. Seven years where young people had no dedicated political home within the Democratic coalition. Seven years where our voices were absent from party decision-making. Seven years lost.
I couldn't accept that. Neither could the extraordinary group of young Missourians who answered the call when we began rebuilding. What started with a few organizing calls in my apartment has grown into something I could never have imagined: nearly 400 members across 61 counties, representing every corner of this state.
We chartered eight chapters, from established college Democrats clubs to brand-new county organizations. We built digital infrastructure that rivals organizations with ten times our budget. We hosted ten in-person events, including a rally at the State Capitol against gerrymandered maps. We generated over a million social media impressions.
And perhaps most importantly, we earned our seat at the table. MOYD is now officially chartered with Young Democrats of America. I hold a voting position on the Missouri Democratic Party Chairman's Executive Committee. When decisions are made about the future of Missouri Democrats, young people now have a voice.
But I will be honest with you: the hardest work is still ahead.
This strategic plan is our blueprint for the next three years. It is ambitious. It is comprehensive. And it is grounded in reality, built on what we learned in our first six months about what works in Missouri.
Missouri Young Democrats is back. And we are just getting started.
With Resolve and Hope,
Andrew Hartzler
President, Missouri Young Democrats
The Current Moment
Missouri's Political Landscape Demands Youth Engagement
Missouri stands at a crossroads. Once a quintessential swing state (the “bellwether” that voted for the presidential winner in every election from 1904 to 2004), Missouri has shifted dramatically rightward over the past two decades. Republicans now hold supermajorities in both chambers of the General Assembly (108-52 in the House; 24-10 in the Senate).
The 2025 legislative session demonstrated the stakes. Lawmakers passed restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors, new barriers to initiative petitions, and continued underfunding of public education.
The problem is not that young Missourians don't care. It's that no one has given them reason to engage.
The Opportunity Before Us
Our first six months proved the demand for youth political organization in Missouri. Without paid staff, without significant budget, without any existing infrastructure to build upon, we recruited nearly 400 members across 61 counties.
The 2026 midterm elections offer our first major test. Breaking the Republican supermajority requires flipping just three House seats and two Senate seats, achievable targets with effective youth mobilization in competitive districts.
Missouri Young Democrats will be the force that tips these scales. We are positioning ourselves as the youth mobilization arm of the progressive coalition in Missouri.
Strategic Advantage
Young People Are Our Superpower
Missouri Young Democrats is the only organization in the state built specifically to mobilize young people at scale for Democratic causes. Youth mobilization is our entire purpose.
We Rebuilt From Scratch
Unlike organizations carrying legacy systems and outdated approaches, MOYD was built in 2025 with modern tools and contemporary organizing methods. We can move faster and adapt more readily than established organizations.
Our Statewide Reach Is Unmatched
Within six months of relaunch, MOYD established presence in 61 of Missouri's 114 counties and all eight congressional districts. No other youth-focused organization in Missouri can claim similar geographic breadth.
We've Earned Institutional Standing
We are a chartered affiliate of Young Democrats of America with official recognition from the Missouri Democratic Party. Our President holds a voting seat on the MDP Chairman's Executive Committee.
Our Structure Enables Specialized Engagement
The MOYD umbrella encompasses Missouri College Democrats and Missouri High School Democrats as operationally independent affiliates. A high school sophomore and a law school student have different needs, and our structure serves both.
We Are Building for the Long Term
This MOYD has invested heavily in governance infrastructure: a comprehensive constitution, defined officer roles, term limits, transition procedures, and accountability mechanisms.
Goals & Strategies
Pillar One
Mobilize
Engage young Missourians at unprecedented scale, converting awareness into action through accessible pathways to participation.
Pillar Two
Develop
Cultivate the next generation of Democratic leaders through training, mentorship, and pathways from membership to candidacy.
Pillar Three
Organize
Expand geographic footprint through chapter development, ensuring every Missouri community has access to youth Democratic organizing.
Pillar Four
Elect
Break the Republican supermajority by strategically deploying youth mobilization in targeted races and supporting Democratic candidates.
Theory of Change
How We Create Political Change in Missouri
Problem
Young Missourians are politically aware and concerned about issues affecting their lives but feel disconnected from political processes and lack accessible pathways to meaningful engagement. For seven years, no statewide organization existed to channel youth political energy.
Strategy
Missouri Young Democrats rebuilds the infrastructure for youth political engagement through four integrated approaches: mobilizing through digital-first organizing; developing leaders through training; organizing communities through local chapters; and electing Democrats through targeted voter engagement.
Outcome
Politicians face visible, coordinated youth engagement that rewards responsiveness. Democratic candidates receive youth mobilization capacity. The Democratic Party integrates youth perspectives into decision-making. Young people see peers leading, running for office, and winning.
Impact
Increased youth participation shifts the electorate's composition, breaks Republican supermajorities, and advances policies aligned with young people's values. We build a generation of leaders who will shape Missouri politics for decades.
Strategy Implementation
Pillar One: Mobilize
Engage young Missourians at unprecedented scale through digital-first organizing
Strategy: Build Digital Organizing Infrastructure
Strategy: Data-Driven Outreach
Campus organizing blitzes at every public four-year institution by 2027
High school outreach with civic education presentations and voter preregistration drives
Relational organizing campaigns: each active member recruits three new members annually
Voter registration drives at campuses, community events, concerts, and high-traffic locations
Geographic targeting using data analysis to identify high-potential, low-membership areas
Pillar Two: Develop
Cultivate the next generation of Democratic leaders
Leadership Development
State Convention: Flagship annual event with workshops, keynotes, committee meetings, and networking (250+ attendees by 2027)
Leadership Academies: Multi-session training covering Organizing 101, Campaign Skills, Advocacy Training, and Communications
Mentorship Network: Pairing emerging leaders with experienced Democratic operatives and elected officials
Fellowship Programs: Paid positions for Communications, Organizing, and Policy
Candidate Pipeline
Systematic candidate identification through committee work and chapter leadership
One-on-one encouragement conversations with promising members
Connections with current officeholders to help envision pathways to candidacy
Target: 50 young Democrats running for office by 2028
Pillar Three: Organize
Expand geographic footprint through chapter development
College Democrat Expansion: Chartered chapters at all 8 public 4-year universities, outreach to private universities and HBCUs. Target: 15 college chapters by 2028.
High School Democrat Growth: Chapter chartering at interested schools (minimum 3 members), community chapters for areas without school options. Target: 50+ by 2028.
Chapter Resources: Bylaws templates, mini-grants ($100-500), promotional materials, VAN/Votebuilder access, and regular support.
Year-Round Programming: State Convention, regional socials, legislative session engagement, community service events.
Succession Planning: Every chapter officer identifies and develops potential successors with documented handoffs.
Pillar Four: Elect
Break the Republican supermajority through strategic youth mobilization
Targeted Electoral Programs
Competitive district identification: margins under 10%, significant youth population, viable candidates
Targeted voter registration in competitive districts
Relational organizing: peer-to-peer outreach within personal networks
Volunteer mobilization: canvassing weekends, phone banks, text banks, Election Day GOTV
Candidate Support
Endorsement program: questionnaire, committee vetting, 2/3 Executive Committee vote required
Campaign partnership: voter contact lists, volunteer recruitment, social media amplification
Independent expenditure campaigns: digital ads targeting young voters in competitive districts
Coordinated campaign participation within broader state party GOTV infrastructure
Organizational Structure
Governance That Enables Growth
Missouri Young Democrats operates under a comprehensive Constitution adopted July 27, 2025 and last amended November 10, 2025. This governing document establishes democratic governance, clear accountability, and structures designed to support organizational growth.
Statewide Officers
President: Chief executive, spokesperson, MDP Executive Committee voting seat
Vice President: Assists President, liaison to standing committees
Secretary: Maintains records, membership roster, meeting minutes
Treasurer: Manages finances, MEC reports, annual budget
Executive Committee
4 Statewide Officers + 7 Committee Chairs + 8 CD Representatives = 19 voting members. Meets biweekly on Tuesdays at 8 PM CT. Quorum: 50% + 1.
Powers include: implementing mission and strategy, managing operations, approving annual budget, voting on endorsements, filling vacancies, and ensuring Code of Conduct compliance.
7 Standing Committee Chairs
College Democrats
High School Democrats
Fundraising
Communications
Membership & Outreach
Political Affairs
Policy & Advocacy
Fundraising & Sustainability
Current Position
Raised as of December 2025
$1,200 raised at November event (9 attendees). No paid staff; all operations conducted by volunteers.
Goals
by November 2026
annually by 2028
Budget Allocation (Target $50,000)
| Category | Amount | % |
|---|---|---|
| Field Organizing | $12,500 | 25% |
| State Convention & Trainings | $7,500 | 15% |
| Digital Communications & Content | $6,000 | 12% |
| Chapter Mini-Grants | $5,000 | 10% |
| Endorsement/Advocacy Work | $5,000 | 10% |
| Technology & Infrastructure | $5,000 | 10% |
| Reserve & Contingency | $4,000 | 8% |
| Administrative/Compliance | $2,500 | 5% |
| Audit & Financial Transparency | $2,500 | 5% |
Metrics & Accountability
Pillar One: Mobilize
| Metric | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Members | 380 | 1,000 | 1,750 | 2,500 |
| Counties Represented | 61 | 80 | 95 | 100 |
| Social Media Followers | ~5,000 | 15,000 | 30,000 | 50,000 |
| Email Subscribers | ~500 | 3,000 | 6,000 | 10,000 |
| New Voter Registrations | 0 | 2,500 | 6,000 | 10,000 |
| Member Voter Turnout | N/A | 60% | 65% | 70% |
Pillar Two: Develop
| Metric | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Convention Attendance | 0 | 150 | 250+ | 400 |
| Leadership Training Completions | 0 | 15 | 350 | 500 |
| Young Dems Running for Office | 0 | 5 | 35 | 50 |
| Alumni in Elected Positions | 0 | 0 | 15 | 25 |
Pillar Three: Organize
| Metric | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active Chapters | 8 | 18 | 28 | 35 |
| College Democrat Chapters | 4 | 8 | 12 | 15 |
| HS Democrat Chapters | ~5 | 20 | 35 | 50 |
| County Chapters | 1 | 5 | 12 | 20 |
| Chapter Retention Rate | N/A | 70% | 80% | 85% |
Pillar Four: Elect
| Metric | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endorsed Candidates | 0 | 15 | 10 | 25 |
| Endorsed Elected | N/A | 10 | 7 | 20 |
| Door Knocks (election cycle) | N/A | 5,000 | N/A | 8,000 |
| Peer-to-Peer Contacts | N/A | 100K | N/A | 150K |
| Youth Turnout Increase | N/A | +10% | N/A | +15% |
Financial Metrics
| Metric | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Revenue | ~$1,500 | $50K | $75K | $100K |
| Individual Donors | ~30 | 300 | 500 | 750 |
| Monthly Recurring Donors | 0 | 100 | 200 | 300 |
| MEC Compliance | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Timeline & Milestones
2026 Implementation Roadmap
January through March
All-Member Meeting (Jan 7)
MEC Year-End Report filing (Jan 15)
Boone County Young Democrats launch (Jan 19)
"Respect MO Voters" Townhall support
College chapter road trip planning
College Democrats spring semester activation
Legislative session tracking and action alerts
HBCU outreach (Harris-Stowe, Lincoln University)
Legislative session lobby day
April through June
MEC Q1 Report filing (Apr 15)
Candidate endorsement questionnaires released
Regional leadership summits (KC, STL, Columbia)
Legislative session wrap-up and advocacy assessment
Summer organizing plan launch
Candidate endorsement decisions begin
Fiscal year budget adoption (by July 1)
July through September
MEC Q2 Report filing (Jul 15)
Primary election support
Camp Carnahan or similar training
Primary election day activities (August)
Back-to-school chapter activation
General election field program activation
Voter registration deadline push
October through November
MEC Q3 Report filing (Oct 15)
MEC 8-Day Pre-General Report (Oct 27)
Intensive GOTV operations
Election Day (November 3)
Post-election assessment
End-of-year giving campaign launch
2027 Overview
Q1: Legislative session engagement, chapter development, year-end report analysis
Q2: Inaugural State Convention (Columbia), leadership academy launch
Q3: Off-year local election support, training program expansion, municipal candidate recruitment
Q4: Local elections GOTV, 2028 planning, candidate recruitment for state legislature
2028 Overview
Q1: Legislative session, presidential primary engagement, spring voter registration
Q2: Expanded State Convention, intensive candidate support launches
Q3: General election field program (presidential + state races), maximum volunteer mobilization
Q4: 2028 General Election, evaluation of three-year strategic plan, 2029-2031 planning begins
Closing Statement
The Future Begins Now
Seven years of silence ended when Missouri Young Democrats returned in 2025. In our first six months, we proved that young Missourians will organize when given the opportunity: nearly 400 members across 61 counties, with presence in every congressional district, built entirely by volunteers with passion and determination.
This strategic plan charts our course for the next three years. It is ambitious: 2,500 members, 35 chapters, 50 candidates supported, a broken Republican supermajority. It is comprehensive, covering everything from digital infrastructure to candidate training to financial sustainability. And it is grounded in our organizational reality.
The Republican supermajority wants us to stay silent. They want young people to believe our votes don't matter, that Missouri is a lost cause, that nothing will change. They are counting on our apathy.
They have underestimated us.
Missouri Young Democrats is not just back. We are building something that has never existed in this state: sustainable, statewide infrastructure for youth political engagement that will outlast any election cycle, any individual leader, any single campaign.
But we are young. We are organized. And we are just getting started.
The future of Missouri democracy begins with us. That future begins now.
Missouri Young Democrats, Dustin Bax, Treasurer | moyoungdemocrats.org