Next Membership Meeting: April 22, 2026

7pm-9pm
RSVP HERE on Zoom

​Heart of LA Democratic Club Statement on Allegations of Sexual Assault by Eric Swalwell

April 10, 2026
Heart of LA Democratic Club Statement on Allegations of Sexual Assault by Eric Swalwell​​The Heart of LA Democratic Club stands with the women who have come forward with allegations against Representative Eric Swalwell, and with all survivors of sexual harassment and assault and who have been pressured or coerced into sexual relationships with people who hold positions of power. Sadly, this is not the first time we have issued a statement like this, or the second, or the third. And it’s not the first time that someone who claimed to be an ally to women has failed us.

We are a feminist Democratic club, which means that we work to ensure that women are treated fairly and equally. We elevate women’s voices and advance policies that protect women’s rights and promote safety and equity in our communities, workplaces, and across all levels of politics. We support feminist women and allies at every level of leadership who share and advance these values.

Supporting women cannot coexist with harassment or assault. Belief in bodily autonomy cannot coexist with violating it. And allyship cannot coexist with expecting women to stay silent to protect a powerful man, a movement, or a political party. This is a standard that applies to all elected officials, candidates, and allies.

Feminism is not a brand, it’s not a slogan, nor a thread on social media - it is a system of values, which is important and vital even when elections are over and the cameras stop rolling.

For too long, women have been intimidated into remaining silent about harm that they have experienced to protect more powerful men. Accountability requires confronting this conduct directly and without exception.
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For the integrity of the California gubernatorial race and in respect of those who have come forward, Congressman Swalwell should immediately withdraw his candidacy.

For resources and support related to sexual assault and sexual violence, please visit the Heart of LA Democratic Club’s Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention page. 

Dear friends,
As we move into 2026, we wanted to check in with our community and offer a reminder that there is still time to renew your Heart of LA Democratic Club membership for the year ahead. Your continued involvement helps sustain our work and our collective voice.

This year has already underscored why feminist organizing matters. From failures of accountability to threats to women’s safety and rights, we are entering a pivotal moment ahead of the November 2026 midterms. There is much to do, and our mission continues to guide every endorsement and advocacy effort.

We continue to see how power operates without accountability, transparency, or regard for human life and dignity. Those who hold power continue to lie to us, even when the truth is visible in plain sight. This year has begun with no shortage of difficult and unsettling national news. From the crisis surrounding Venezuela, to the killing of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis by an ICE agent, to the continued failure to release the full Epstein files, we are once again witnessing systems that protect those with power while placing women and vulnerable communities at risk. These moments are not isolated. They are connected, and they demand a response grounded in values and advocacy.

This is why feminist organizing matters. Feminism is not limited to one issue or one policy fight. It is a commitment to equality, justice, and accountability across every system that shapes our lives. It means reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy, but also economic justice, fair wages, affordable healthcare, safe workplaces, and freedom from violence. It means access to quality education, affordable childcare, and the support families need to thrive. It means protecting healthcare rather than dismantling it, and ensuring families have food security rather than taking meals away from poor children. It means clean air, safe working conditions, and taking care of Mother Earth. It means rejecting cruelty in policy and practice, and pushing back when Trump and his allies target women, immigrants, LGBTQ+ communities, and anyone who does not fit their narrow vision for the country. It means transparency in government, the rule of law, and the expectation that no one is above it.
As we look toward the November 2026 midterms, there is much to do. Heart of LA Democratic Club endorses Democrats, and we take that responsibility seriously. As we begin our 2026 endorsement process, we return to our mission to guide us. The first question we ask Democratic candidates is simple and intentional: do you consider yourself a feminist? We ask this because our endorsements are guided not by party alone, but by a demonstrated commitment to equality in both policy and practice.

On January 28, we will come together for our membership meeting. At this meeting, members will vote on endorsements and board elections for the coming year.

Renewing your membership for 2026 ensures you can fully participate in these decisions and helps keep Heart of LA Democratic Club a strong voice for women and equality at every level of government. It allows us to endorse with purpose, organize with clarity, and respond when accountability is absent and advocacy is urgently needed.

Thank you for being part of this community and for standing with us in moments that demand both courage and care. If you have not yet renewed your membership, we hope you will do so and continue this work alongside us.

With gratitude and resolve,
Your friends at
Heart of LA Democratic Club
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P.S. Renewing your 2026 membership now helps power our organizing, endorsements, and advocacy in a critical election cycle.

Endorsement Requests

Candidates seeking endorsements, please fill out this form
ENDORSED!  HLA Dems are proud to announce our membership endorsement of 
MAYOR KAREN BASS 2026 AND LA CITY ATTORNEY HYDEE FELDSTEIN SOTO 2026

Calendar and Events

Heart of LA

Founded in March 2017, the Heart of L.A. Democratic Club was created in recognition of the growing awareness within the Democratic Party that women are not but absolutely should be fully and equally represented in local, state, and national politics. The Heart of L.A. Democratic Club is open to all Democrats who subscribe to the club’s goals and purposes regardless of their gender identity.

The mission of the Heart of L.A. Democratic Club is to help make the Democratic Party and its elected officials responsive to, and responsible for, the needs of all people, particularly, though not exclusively, women in our community. In addition to endorsing candidates and organizing for those candidates, the Heart of L.A. Democratic Club actively participates in issues advocacy, community outreach, and voter education.

Our club’s monthly meetings feature guest speakers such as Democratic elected officials and candidates, and experts in policy areas of interest to women - including reproductive justice, homelessness, voter registration, immigration, criminal justice reform and more.​

Gun Violence


​Please join us NOW and DEMAND ACTION AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE TODAY. 
​Check out our resource page
​
Contact your elected officials and demand they pass gun control measures now.  
Get involved and donate to help end gun violence.  Here are links to selected advocacy groups:
​Here's more: 
Gun Violence Archive:  http://www.gunviolencearchive.org/

Abortion in the United States:
Dobb's, Roe v. Wade, and What You Can Do Now
The Conservative right-wing Supreme Court's Dobbs decision that struck down Roe v Wade, denying abortion healthcare to millions of American women.  Now nearly half of the states have some type of abortion bans.  This has increased the burden on people, especially those with low incomes and from marginalized communities, to carry unwanted pregnancies to term.

Click here for things YOU CAN DO to help fight back TODAY

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