For more than a decade, I’ve written about progressive action on Daily Kos. I have encouraged readers to participate in the key goal of the site: more and better democrats serving at all levels. Over the last few months, Bernie Sanders has energized young and new voters with a simple message: our party and country need a revolution of ideas and leaders.
In order for those things to be true, we need to do more than just talk about it, we have to actually be the kind of change that is needed. That is why today, here and shortly in mailboxes throughout the state, I’m declaring my intentions to serve as the Democratic National Committee Person for the State of Kansas.
The role of Democratic National Committee man/woman is an often misunderstood one outside of party insiders. Because of that lack of familiarity with the role, I feel it’s important to start out with what your Democratic National Committee person does – or can do – for you.
The chairperson of the DNC (currently U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida) is elected by vote of members of the Democratic National Committee. The DNC is composed of the chairs and vice-chairs of each state Democratic Party Committee, two hundred members apportioned among the states based on population and generally elected either on the ballot by primary voters or by the State Democratic Party Committee, a number of elected officials serving in an ex-officio capacity, and a variety of representatives of major Democratic Party constituencies.
For many, the role of Democratic Committee person is honorary; a position not used to advance policy changes, but to ratify what Washington D.C. wants to do. We cannot afford to continue with that model. I intend, if elected, to use the position to work for bold changes in our state and national party.
I ask Kansas state committee persons who will vote on April 30 to consider these changes I support:
- I intend to propose a bylaws change asking that our party leadership super delegates (this position is one of Kansas Super Delegates) be proportionally bound to the outcome of the presidential primary or caucus. I believe Super Delegates who are party officers should be bound to the will of the voters within their states. The current process in Kansas leaves our super delegates unbound. I believe it is time for this to change.
- I plan to be a loud voice for changes in our current caucus system. We must make great strides in order to be the party of inclusion, and that means working diligently toward a system that promotes more involvement in the process and a more accountability for the results. I plan to advocate significant changes in our caucus system for all states. We must work harder to make sure that younger persons, working poor, and others can vote for our standard bearer without paying the poll tax in the forms of childcare, transportation, lost wages and more.
- It is time for the national party to embrace a 435 district strategy. We are a national party, not a regional one. As I look to Kansas I see growing opportunities in the southwest, where populations are younger and minority culture thrives. We need to encourage the national party to not just focus on areas they can win, but build for the future and provide tools for those who are willing to till the rocky soil and make it fertile for Democrats again. We must do more than just say we are part of the 50 state strategy.
- We have become a party where only the wealthy can serve in many of the key roles within our party. We must work hard to build a party strong enough that in the future, a person of lesser means can consider serving as a state party officer or National Committee person.
- While the president or party leader nominates the Democratic National Committee chair, recently Debbie Wasserman Schultz, it is up to the Democratic National Committee Men & Women to vote and support their nomination. This is normally a rubber stamp event. But I believe we must move beyond that, and we must be willing to ask questions of future leadership and get answers.
- Democratic National Committee persons have direct involvement in the selection and handling of state lodging in a national convention. Kansas Democrats recently learned that due to site selection, the cost of attendance for Kansas delegates to the national convention will be around $600 a night in hotel expenses to stay with the state party. We must work harder to make sure that more hopeful delegates can attend the national convention, and that means working to make it affordable for the average individual to go. For 2020, we must do better, work harder, and think more about rank and file Democrats to make sure their attendance isn’t an economic impossibility.
With these issues in mind, I am excited to announce my candidacy for Kansas Democratic National Committeeman. I look forward to continuing this conversation with Kansas Democrats over the coming weeks. If elected, I look forward to working hard on behalf of Kansas Democrats to make our voice heard and respected on the Democratic National Committee.
Democratically,
Chris Reeves
P.S. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I welcome the opportunity to speak with you.
I notified state officers and elected officials this afternoon of my decision. I would like to thank so many of them for encouraging me to consider doing so, and for the representatives and elected members who have sent such encouraging, thoughtful messages in response, especially Representative Winn, who’s bold stand for justice in our state house last year was one of the inspiring moments for me to serve when asked.
II will be spending the week, as normal, working to help recruit candidates and raise awareness for our state and local candidates. On Thursday night, I will return to Southwest Kansas to discuss how we help build the party of the future.
I thank all of you for your support and well wishes everywhere, and as always, I remain implacable in my opposition to closed doors and a firm believer in being as transparent as possible in my goals.
EDIT: Some have noted that my use of the KDP logo implied endorsement. That was neither the intent nor purpose, it was meant to notate this was an intra-party office. As a result, I have changed the photo to highlight some of the work we did on behalf of the party. Pictured above is the only voter registration drive with a spanish-language outreach conducted in Southwest Kansas in 2014, I am proud of the efforts members of Daily Kos, my wife & I and others put into events like this. You can read more about it here: www.dailykos.com/...