Cal Berkeley Democrats is the official arm of the Democratic Party at UC Berkeley, founded in 1960. Members phone bank, canvass in battleground states, write letters for local campaigns, register students to vote, and vote on candidate endorsements together. The club also hosts guest speakers, policy discussions, and publishes a political opinion journal called The Smart Ass. Members can apply to be deputies or fellows under board directors to take on bigger leadership roles.
300
Over 300 volunteering hours (2025, Proposition 50 campaign)
1960
Founded
Events They Host
California Democratic Party Convention
Club encourages members to attend and helps coordinate registration. Cal Dems assisted with some costs via their Slack channel.
Reproductive Justice Rally with YDSA
Co-hosted rally with YDSA on October 6, 2022, noon to 1pm.
Intro to Berkeley Politics with Telegraph for People
Co-hosted event introducing local Berkeley politics, September 19, 2022.
Antisemitism on the Left (panel)
Co-hosted with ASUC Senator Ronit Sholkoff. Featured Rabbi Adam Kelman and Professor Ethan Katz. Virtual training, discussion, and Q&A panel.
Phone Bank with Rep. Barbara Lee
Special phone banking event with Congresswoman Barbara Lee for Biden/Harris, October 27, 2020.
General Meeting: Derek Chauvin Trial (guest speaker event)
Featured guest speaker Jacari W. Harris, executive director of the George Floyd Memorial Foundation. April 15, 2021.
General Meeting: Campaign Basics
Featured Valentina Connell (campaign manager) and Eli Cousin (press assistant) speaking on campaign fundamentals and careers. April 22, 2021.
Canvassing in Nevada for Kamala Harris
Members traveled to Nevada to canvass for Kamala Harris in 2024.
Proposition 50 volunteer campaign
Over 300 hours of volunteering logged in 2025 to pass Proposition 50.
Member Experiences
Election Night Watch Party
Members gathered to watch 2020 election results together. November 3, 2020.
General Meeting: Speed Dating
Social/icebreaker general meeting. September 1, 2022.
Candidates Forum Watch Party
Members watched a local candidates forum together and discussed. September 8-15, 2022.
Professional Development Workshop series
Two-part series with resume, cover letter, and interview tips, plus a past president guest speaker sharing political job resources. March 2021.
Local Campaign Letter Writing Party
Members wrote letters for local campaigns at a general meeting. September 29, 2022.
General Meeting: Elections and Social (end-of-semester)
End-of-semester social where board candidates presented, followed by a social gathering. April 29, 2021.
Annual Banquet
Listed as an annual club event.