History

The Young Democrats of Arizona is one of the oldest youth political organizations in the Western United States, and is also one of the largest in the country. Founded in 1933 as one of the early chapters of the Young Democrats of America, YDAz is the official youth arm of the Arizona Democratic Party and is the best place for Democratic activists between 14 and 36 years old.

The Young Democrats of Arizona trace their roots to 1896, when Sydney Osborn founded the Junior Democratic Warriors of Arizona. Osborn provided an excellent role model for Young Democrats and was elected as Arizona’s first Secretary of State when he was only 27. The organization continued to have highly accomplished alumni including Representative Mo Udall and several Presidents of the Young Democrats of America. Arizona’s Attorney General and the Governor’s Co-Chief of Staff are both former YDAz Presidents. Several members of the State Legislature are current Young Democrats, continuing Osborn’s legacy of serving their state at a young age.

Currently, YDAz has the largest list of supporters of any state YD organization and houses the two of the largest college chapters in America (ASU, UofA). Additionally, YDAz is on the forefront of innovating ways to organize high school students and “older” young Democrats – realizing that college students alone only represent a third of Arizona’s youth vote.