It’s another Saturday, so for those who tune in, welcome to a diary discussing the Nuts & Bolts of a Democratic Campaign. If you’ve missed out, you can catch up anytime: Just visit our group or follow Nuts & Bolts Guide. A few times a year this entry switches to cover the Democratic Party itself, and this week I am in San Francisco, where the Democratic National Committee is holding the summer meeting, which will discuss issues facing the party as well as provide members a chance to talk to one another about how to better organize our states, shape the primaries and caucus for 2020, and how do we beat Trump.
Beyond Trump, though, the party meets to discuss how we build a better party for the future. This week I’m going to just point out some of the major items being discussed, and take all questions in comments about what comes next for Democratic efforts 2020!
Climate Debate
In a vote of 17-8, the DNC Resolutions Committee motioned against support for a debate on climate change. The room erupted in protest from the Sunrise Movement who came out in force—and while that happened, other DNC members began looking at more ways to make sure that climate change was a key part of our discussions.
Among ideas I’ve heard this weekend:
- A commitment that all debates have at least one segment on climate change
- A commitment to have general election debates feature a climate change component
- Online forums that would not put multiple candidates on stage for advocacy groups
Superdelegate change has major effect
The change in superdelegates—to make them, well, not super, has definitely had an effect on the DNC meeting prior to primary season. In the past, this meeting would be attended by all the candidates hoping to win some quick delegate votes. This time around? While Cory Booker, Tom Steyer, Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris and Andrew Yang showed up in person, several campaigns including Joe Biden sent along surrogates instead. Few stayed any lengthy period of time, though if you wanted to have a drink with Yang, it was certainly an option.
Why? Because the change in the way in which we select our candidate means that the voters in all states truly have the final say—and that’s a good thing.
In fact, candidates noted that this change made for a more productive process — that they would reach out to the people directly to build their campaigns.
Diversity on display
Speaker Nancy Pelosi kicked off the Democratic breakfast on Friday with the pronouncement that our diversity is our strength, and unity is our power. She pointed out that all candidates running are better than Trump, and that we as a party recognize how dangerous it is to continue down the path of an irrational leader.
Speaker Pelosi also took time to point out that Democratic efforts succeed the more we welcome diversity. “Sharing diverse experience is the melting pot that makes a stronger America” she told a group in the crowd.
Expanding to include youth
As we head into the final days of the DNC meeting, members of the High School Democrats of America will be pushing for their inclusion as representatives within the DNC. Part of the pitch of HSDA is simple: Democratic efforts must do more to help young people, age 17 and 18 right now, get registered and help them vote.
Turning out a voting block which traditionally has poor turnout could make a major change in elections, contend HSDA representatives, and showing High School Democratic groups that the party supports them is a way to reward and promote them for all of their efforts.
Do you have questions about the DNC meeting? Or where the party is headed? As below!