About MDF/YDM

Highlights from MDF's history:

Late 1991: A small group of young Democrats, mostly very recent college graduates, begins holding meetings with State Party Chairman Steve Grossman.
1992: First convention writes platform. A few weeks later, the first organizational meeting elects the first board and adopts a charter.
1992: MDF endorses candidates and works on their campaigns. Thirty-year-old Cheryl Jacques defeats Senate Minority Leader David Locke, a crucial part of the five-seat swing in the state senate that shifts most Beacon Hill power away from the Republican governor and to the Democratic legislators, who can now override vetoes in both chambers.
1993: MDF works on its first special election. Hal Lane becomes the first Democrat ever to represent Holden. While he is not a YD, he will be succeeded by an MDF board member, David Bunker.
1993: MDF provides crucial grassroots support for the state's new motor voter law.
1994: MDF works for Senator Kennedy and other Democrats. The November election was a disaster for the national Democratic Party but a non-event in Massachusetts as incumbents of both parties were largely successful in winning re-election.
1995: MDF becomes the official Massachusetts affiliate of the Young Democrats of America.
1995: MDF works successfully at the Democratic State Convention to increase the number of youth seats at future Democratic State Conventions as well as the Democratic State Committee.
1996: MDF works to elect Jim McGovern and John Tierney to Congress. Their victories over Republican incumbents gave Democrats all twelve Massachusetts seats in Congress.
1997: MDF helps to pass a new state gun control law, one of the toughest in the nation.
1999: After years of effort, MDF finally helps to pass a state student loan tax cut.
1999: MDF Chairman Evan Rauch is elected YDA treasurer.
2000: With a sizable paid campaign staff, MDF is very active in the New Hampshire campaign for the Gore/Lieberman ticket as well as various campaigns in Massachusetts.
2000: Mark Falzone, one of MDF's first committee chairs, becomes the second MDF board member to be elected to the state legislature.
2001: Former MDF Chairman Clinton Bench is elected YDA Secretary.
2001: Democratic State Convention gives MDF and the College Democrats of Massachusetts two representatives each on the Democratic State Committee.
2002: MDF forms first regional chapter on the North Shore.
2002: MDF works with Mass NOW to help defeat the antigay Super DOMA initiative.
2002: MDF helps YD Jamie Eldridge become the first Clean Elections candidate to be elected to the legislature.
2003: Clinton Bench is elected to one of YDA's three seats on the Democratic National Committee.