Granted, this step seems like a big one to swallow—especially since yesterday I just asked you to call your representative. But hear me out—I’m gonna tell you exactly how to do this. Let’s begin.
First, the problem.
“The DNC has been worthless.”— last interview with Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid
The Democratic National Committee had made great strides under the Howard Dean years, but Debbie Wasserman-Shultz has managed to turn it back into a coastal-centric, part-time effort that is more concerned with the issues of millionaire donors than with the diverse, working-class voices of the party. The awful trajectory of the DNC can be blamed on the mentality that DWS brought from the progressive-hating Florida state party.
(I’m not exaggerating. Despite losing every statewide election the past few years, our leadership is now attacking the reformers!)
The DNC needs a complete and total overhaul, and I’m not waiting for them to fix this mess.
The appointment of this person or that person as DNC chair is NOT the answer. The issues are too big and systemic, and it won’t address the larger issue of the ineffective state parties. The solution isn't going to be top-down. If you really want to impact change at the DNC, the solution has to be bottom-up. Daily Kos is the premier progressive community in this nation. If we are going to fix what has to be fixed, we need to start taking over … TODAY.
How to takeover the DNC? Like everything else, it starts with grassroots.
Your journey begins at the precinct level.
Your very first step is registering as a Democrat (if your state has party registration). Did that? GOOD! You are about halfway there! Next, find out what precinct you are in. Your Voter ID card will have on it the precinct number, or you can visit your Board of Elections website to see the precincts. Even my tiny Seminole County in Florida has an interactive map.
Then on to step three … see if your precinct is organized. Here is where things get interesting.
Every county Dem party has a website. Use it to contact your county chair or your county secretary and ask when the monthly party meeting is held. Attend the meeting and find out if your precinct is organized.
You will have ONE of THREE options:
- If it’s not organized … great! You become precinct captain! The Nassau County Dems has a list of responsibilities, but this works everywhere. It’s essentially contacting the registered Dems and independents in your neighborhood—inviting them to attend meetings, recruiting volunteers, or at the very least, listening to their concerns and making sure they have a voice. The more participation you have, the easier time you will have.
- If the precinct is organized and the current captain is on the ball … also great! You can be a good ally and make sure you fight the anti-Trump agenda.
- If, as is unfortunately often the case, the precinct is organized but the precinct leader is NOT on the ball … okay—it’s time for you to take over!
It’s time to run. PPLSWAR gives you a step-by-step rundown on how win the office—including what to do if your county Dems won’t support you. (Remember, voting info is public information.) His list is too lengthy to reprint here, and I urge you to give it a read.
Essentially, running for precinct captain/chair is like any other election—canvassing, getting turnout, making your case. Remember that these are DEMOCRATS you are campaigning for, and progressives always, always, always have the advantage over the wimpy, establishment Democrats.
Once you win your seat, you become a member of your County Democratic Party Executive Committee. NOW you have a vote in local party affairs, determine what issues/candidates to support, and influence how donations are spent.
Not only that, but YOU now have a voice/vote in shaping the state party!
Controlling the state party is key. The vast majority of the DNC—a little more than 70%—are selected by the state parties.
Bottom line: if we can transform the state parties into activist hotbeds of progressivism, it won’t matter much who the DNC chair even is. We’ll have effectively taken over!
Okay, you have your action item. Take at least the first few steps today to becoming precinct captain and let’s burn this thing down!
You’ve done #5, yesterday (and if you didn’t, do that today as well). Tomorrow, let’s move to #3!
I promise, that will be a fun one!
Action Plan:
#5. Call your Representative Immediately (Continue the flood!)
#4. Start taking over the DNC
#3 Make the Resistance Visible
#2. Donate to those who will suffer
#1 (D-Day) Vote in the midterms dammit