Sam Hens-Greco Steps Down As Chair of ACDC

Sam Hens-Greco has announced he is stepping down as the Chair of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee after a period of dedicated service and steady leadership. In his letter, Sam reflects on the challenges and opportunities the party has navigated during his tenure, expresses gratitude to committee members and volunteers, and reaffirms his commitment to strengthening Democratic values across the county.

Sam’s departure marks a significant transition moment for the ACDC. His emphasis on collaboration, transparency, and expanding grassroots engagement has shaped the direction of the organization in meaningful ways. As we move forward, we remain grateful for his hard work and the time he devoted to advancing Democratic efforts throughout Allegheny County.

Below is the full text of Sam's letter.

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Dear Committee Members and Friends:
I want to thank you for your extraordinary work this past election. The results across Allegheny County were remarkable—from the Supreme Court to School Boards.
I also want to express my deepest gratitude for your unwavering commitment to the Allegheny County Democratic Committee. As Chair, my goal has been to steer the ACDC toward a true grassroots model—one that welcomed every person ready to go door to door to elect Democrats up and down the ballot.
Now, with the successes of this election behind us, and with time to do some careful reflection, I have decided that I will not seek re-election as the ACDC Chair in June 2026.
I strongly believe in developing and making space for new leadership. That is why I will be stepping down as Chair as of January 5, 2026. I am confident that ACDC Vice-Chair Kate Garfinkel will provide wise and capable leadership as she assumes the role of Chair in January.
Kate, the Co-Chair of the 2024 Kennedy-Lawrence Dinner, has served as Vice-Chair since early 2025. She played a central role in creating our 2025 Strategic Plan. Under her leadership, fundraising has grown significantly, our administrative structure has strengthened, and support for local committees has expanded. The ACDC is stronger, financially and organizationally, and Kate deserves enormous credit for that success.
We are also fortunate to have an exceptional core team of volunteers, committee leaders, and staff who have forged a well-deserved reputation for the ACDC across Pennsylvania and nationally.
Our Executive Director, Nebraska Grayson, has demonstrated extraordinary expertise and commitment in leading daily operations and offering astute political guidance. Nebraska is supported by an outstanding team of volunteer leaders who meet weekly to help coordinate strategy.
I am incredibly proud of what we have built together. Every success that I can highlight has a single common denominator: a strong team executing a coordinated, thoughtful plan. None of this progress would have been possible without your support and commitment.
The work we have done together has strengthened our position locally, statewide, and nationally. Our mission remains the same: organize, expand participation, and ensure that every community has a strong Democratic voice ready to elect our Democratic candidates.
I am deeply grateful for the confidence and trust that you have given me.
Thank you for everything you do—every conversation, every door knocked, every call, every hard choice, and every shared victory. Together, we have proven what grassroots leadership can achieve.
With respect and appreciation,
Sam R Hens-Greco, Chair

Key Accomplishments Achieved Together
Vote By Mail
• Allegheny County has become a statewide leader in the Vote by Mail (VBM) space. In 2022, we started a VBM Program that has paid significant dividends and will continue to have a substantial impact on future elections. This November, more than 32% of all “YES” votes were cast by mail.
Grassroots Development
• Since 2022, the primary emphasis of the ACDC has been to build and support a grassroots operation where committee members are engaging with friends and neighbors and getting out votes for Democratic candidates. The ACDC’s responsibility has been to provide the resources to help members be more effective.
• We have provided wider access to VoteBuilder along with trainings, led by Karen Hassan (Crescent), that have allowed committees to design local, targeted strategies with remarkable results.
• Through the Strategic Revitalization Plan, new members have been recruited to join inactive or under-represented committees. Since January 2025, more than 100 new members have attended a new member training.
Financial Strength and Stability
• Our financial health has never been stronger. We have established a professional fundraising system, including weekly call time, a recurring donor program, and diversified revenue sources.
• The Kennedy-Lawrence Dinner is now revitalized as a major fundraising event with greater attendance with an expanded scope of recognizing local activists and community leaders.
• More than 120 recurring donors are contributing over $2,000 monthly with an average donation of $15, laying the groundwork for long-term financial stability.
• The School Board Candidate Cookie Table, started in 2022, has awarded more than $10,000 to over 75 candidates across Allegheny County, successfully flipping several school boards in 2023 and 2025.
• We are reinforcing our core values with actions like the 2025 Endorsement Day Stuff-a-Truck Foodbank Drive led by Vice-Chair Kate Garfinkel.
Organizational Strength, Ranked Choice, and Remote Voting
• We have a strong organizational foundation that provides responsive, accessible and accurate information to committees and candidates. The ACDC has become a hive of activity with robust volunteer participation. Our office has become a hub for voter outreach during the special and general elections and the VBM “Chase” during the recent general and special elections.
• Our office doors are open to candidates and elected officials for meetings and planning sessions. The Young Democrats of Allegheny County, led by President Lauren Williams, hold their monthly meeting in our office.
• ACDC Treasurer Rob Collini has held treasurer trainings and assisted committee treasurers with financial reports. Holiday Adair (Mt. Lebanon) oversees the management of the committee list, Colleen Cooke (West Deer) leads our volunteer recruitment, and John Engberg (22nd Ward) provides data analysis.
• We hold frequent meetings with aspiring candidates seeking information and advice, hired field organizers in 2023 and 2025, and have held seven special elections, incorporating ranked choice and remote voting.
Voter Guide, Communications & Outreach
• Every Primary since 2023, we have mailed/texted the ACDC Primary Voter Guide to over 200,000 Democrats.
• Every month, the Chairs and Vice-Chairs meet on Zoom for an informational session with the Chair and guests.
• Every week, Cathy Poole (Franklin Park Chair) publishes an email with upcoming events and information
• Every day, Britt Meidenbaur (Bethel Park Chair) manages the ACDC social media presence.