Santa Barbara County Democratic Party Elects New Chair Following Special Election
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 3rd, 2025
Santa Barbara, CA — The Santa Barbara County Democratic Party is proud to announce the election of Christian Alonso as its new Chair after a special election held on January 2nd, 2025.
Alonso was elected by the Party’s central committee members following the departure of Party Chair Darcél Elliott after many years of dedicated service. As Chair, he will be responsible for steering the Party’s strategic vision, mobilizing volunteers, and advancing Democratic values across Santa Barbara County.
“We find ourselves in challenging times to say the least,” said Alonso. “With Trump returning to the White House and Republicans in the majority, we face unprecedented threats to the values we hold dear — from abortion rights and racial justice to climate action and LGBTQ+ rights. Now more than ever, we must lock arms to protect vulnerable people in our communities and uphold the integrity of our democratic institutions. I am honored to lead our Party in this fight alongside our dedicated members and volunteers.”
Alonso formerly served as the Director of Public Affairs at Planned Parenthood California Central Coast and President of the Santa Barbara Young Democrats. Currently, he lives in the City of Santa Barbara with his fiancé Clayton and works in the local technology industry.
The Party expressed gratitude to Darcél Elliott for her years of service. Under her leadership, the Santa Barbara County Democratic Party made significant strides in voter engagement and electoral success, and the organization looks forward to building on that foundation.
“I am so thankful to Darcél for all she has done for me personally, the party, and our community over her distinguished career,” said Alonso. “We wish her the very best on the next phase of her journey and we are ready to move forward with the strong foundation she has helped us build.
About the Santa Barbara County Democratic Party
The Santa Barbara County Democratic Party is dedicated to promoting progressive values, supporting Democratic candidates, and ensuring that the voices of all communities are heard in the democratic process. Through grassroots organizing, voter education, and coalition-building, the Party works tirelessly to strengthen democracy at the local level.
For more information, please contact:
info@sbdems.org