FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

demarcus@nationaldmo.org

Democratic Municipal Officials Conclude 2025 Summit in Durham, NC with Renewed Focus on Local Leadership

Durham, NC — The Democratic Municipal Officials (DMO) hosted its 2025 National Summit in Durham, North Carolina, from September 18 – 20, convening hundreds of Democratic mayors, councilmembers, school board members, and other local leaders from across the country for three days of training, strategy sessions, and networking.

“Local officials are on the front lines of democracy, and this Summit reaffirmed DMO’s commitment to connect, elect, and empower them,” said Cheyenne Davis-Eubanks, Executive Director of Democratic Municipal Officials. “Durham provided an ideal backdrop for this year’s Summit, a city with a vibrant community and a forward-looking approach to leadership. Our members are leaving inspired and prepared to lead with purpose back home.”

This year’s Summit offered a robust program of workshops and panels designed to equip local elected officials with practical strategies to address challenges in their communities. Sessions focused on advancing innovative policy solutions, building stronger communications and digital outreach strategies, strengthening community engagement, and fostering collaboration among municipal leaders.

Networking engagements throughout the Summit gave officials opportunities to share best practices, forge partnerships, and build the supportive relationships needed to govern effectively. From interactive trainings to candid conversations on the future of municipal leadership, attendees left with new tools to better serve their constituents.

“The DMO Summit is more than just a gathering, it’s a launchpad for action,” said Glendale, WI Mayor Bryan Kennedy, President of the DMO Board of Directors. “When we bring together Democratic local leaders from across the country, we create a space to connect, share ideas, and inspire one another. These conversations don’t end in the conference rooms — they carry back to our communities, shaping policies and strengthening democracy at the local level. That’s the power of DMO: connecting, electing, and empowering leaders to turn shared learnings into real-world impact.”

“Durham was proud to welcome the 2025 DMO Summit to the Bull City,” said Durham, NC Mayor Leonardo Williams, Treasurer of the DMO Board of Directors. “As local leaders, we know that the work of building stronger, more inclusive communities starts in our neighborhoods and city halls. Hosting this Summit allowed us to showcase Durham’s spirit of innovation and collaboration while connecting with colleagues from across the country who share a vision for progress.”

The choice of Durham as the 2025 host city highlighted the city’s role as a hub of innovation, progress, and collaboration — a fitting location for advancing DMO’s mission to connect, elect, and empower Democratic municipal officials nationwide. 

Democratic Municipal Officials is the DNC Association for local elected officials who personally identify with the values of the Democratic Party. The organization holds three seats on the Democratic National Committee, and advocates for the thousands of local elected Democrats across the United States.

For more information about Democratic Municipal Officials and future events, visit nationaldmo.org.

###