For Immediate Release:
Monday, March 23, 2026

Contact:
Erika Caldwell, Communications Director
press@ildcca.org

IDCCA Kicks Off 2026 Blue Wave With Announcement of 10th Annual Candidate Training Boot Camp 

Springfield, IL – The Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association (IDCCA) announced today it is officially accepting applications for its 10th Annual Boot Camp training to equip down-ballot candidates, campaign staffers, and local Democratic Party leaders with the necessary tools to win in the 2026 General Election and beyond.

Over the past decade, the IDCCA Boot Camp has trained more than 1,700 Democratic candidates and campaign staff. Countless alumni have run for offices including County Board, County Clerk, Sheriff, School Board, Park Board, State House, State Senate, and local judiciaries and nearly 300 of them have won those elected offices – cementing the program’s  role as a vital training ground to sustain Democratic success across the state.

This tenth anniversary training  will be a one-day intensive held in coordination with the National Democratic Training Committee (NDTC) on Saturday, May 16th in the Bloomington Normal area.  Democratic Party leaders see this year’s program as having outsized potential to change the landscape of local politics in Illinois. IDCCA Executive Director Dan Kovats said, “This year’s Boot Camp couldn’t be more timely. The results of the Primary Election highlight a clear and distinct point: A Blue Wave is coming to Illinois. Voters are hungry for real change and it’s starting to click that the GOP simply cannot deliver.”

He continued, “But stepping up and delivering is what Democrats do best, so we’re going to harness this enthusiasm and get our local Democratic candidates ready to win and ready to serve their communities. And our game plan doesn’t stop at Election Day – we’ll be teaching Democrats all across the state, seeking any level of elected office, how to build and sustain the long-term infrastructure that can ensure a long-term trajectory of progress on the issues that affect everyday Illinoisans.”

The Boot Camp serves IDCCA’s long-standing mission to strengthen Democratic infrastructure statewide by providing practical, hands-on training in core campaign skills such as voter contact, messaging, fundraising,  communications strategies, volunteer recruitment, and digital organizing. Along with its long standing partnership with the NDTC, this year the IDCCA will bring in their partners at the Democratic Party of Illinois to train attendees on data, voter targeting and field infrastructure.

“Local Republicans are ineffective and disorganized, their approval ratings continue to plummet and all the while our party is on a glide path to substantially  improve the lives of every Illinoisan. So I’m excited for this year’s Boot Camp, I’m excited for November and I’m excited to watch Democrats sweep up seats for cycles to come.”

Those  interested in applying for this year’s Boot Camp can visit https://traindems.org/in-person/370/10th-anniversary-bootcamp-idcca-ndtc to register. IDCCA staff will provide final details once registration has been completed.

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