Welcome back, Saturday Campaign D.I.Y.ers! For those who tune in, welcome to the Nuts & Bolts of a Democratic campaign. Each week we discuss issues that help drive successful campaigns. If you’ve missed prior diaries, please visit our group or follow Nuts & Bolts Guide.
This week, in Chicago, Illinois, the DNC meets to discuss the Unity Reform Commission. This commission is designed to look at the Democratic primary and caucus system, as well as to work on changes to super delegates, delegate counts, as well as an array of other issues.
Before we get to the Unity Commission meeting—and I encourage you to ask questions about that meeting in the comments, I want to talk about things that are and are not possible as a result of the Unity commission.
Ready to learn more about what may be ahead as a party? Let’s go.
Super Delegates
When we talk about the Unity commission, few issues come up as frequently as Super Delegates. There are many proposals that were put forward to the Unity commission to consider. These proposals include the elimination of super delegates, binding them to outcomes of a state, reduction of super delegates, make them nonvoters in the first round, and a mix of hybrid plans.
No topic comes up as frequently as Super Delegate reform, but the issue is not as clear cut as people think. While the assumption is that one side wants none and the other wants to keep all, the Unity commission has to deal with many factors that go beyond a simple black-white analysis of what to do next.
Super Delegates, which right now are composed of groups like DNC members, federally elected and statewide elected, were originally seen as a way to reward those who work hard within the party for their work and to make sure in the case of a tie or a three-way split going into the convention, they could help break the logjam.
In 2016, advocates for Bernie Sanders argued that Super Delegates corrupted the system, and called for either their removal or reduction. At the 2016 convention, the Bernie Sanders team argued against complete elimination and instead in favor of significant reduction of unpledged Super Delegates.
The Unity commission continues to debate possible solutions but is moving toward a reduction of total super delegates and consideration of tying state DNC members to the outcome of their state.
Caucus & Primary Methods
There are several concerns that have been submitted to the committee about caucus & primaries. These involve who can participate, the schedule of when they occur, and how we can get more people involved.
One of the key items you hear from some advocates is a need for “open” or “same day” registration process for some advocates. Other items of concern that have been brought up include better access to the disabled, changing the process and voting method of a caucus, and changing the order of the primaries and caucus.
When we talk about things that are possible and not possible, this is the category with the most obstacles. Many of the issues that are sought by advocates on both sides do not fall under the umbrella that a national or state party can impact. In most states, the guidelines for primary participation or for when the primary/caucus occurs is set by the state legislature and a matter of statute.
As a result, while the Unity Reform Commission could make suggestions, many of the solution steps to address advocates within this area are beyond their ability to address and will be up to the state legislature to resolve.
Terms of the commission
The commission will issue a report to the DNC at the winter meeting next year. There will be a discussion which occurs at the DNC meeting to occur in Las Vegas, Nevada this September. This discussion will not reflect, to my understanding, the final report on the issues discussed by the Unity Reform Commission but will allow member input of those who could not participate in the three scheduled Unity meetings.
Have questions?
By the time you read this, I will have spent the day discussing the Unity commission with members in Chicago, and will have attended the forums for the weekend. If you have questions about how the process went, or you want specific questions answered, please, ask in the comments below!
Next week: Bad campaign deals
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Nuts & Bolts: Building Democratic Campaigns
Contact the Daily Kos group Nuts and Bolts by kosmail (members of Daily Kos only). You can also follow me on twitter: @tmservo433
Every Saturday this group will chronicle the ins and outs of campaigns, small and large. Issues to be covered: Campaign Staffing, Fundraising, Canvass, Field Work, Data Services, Earned Media, Spending and Budget Practices, How to Keep Your Mental Health, and on the last Saturday of the month: “Don’t Do This!” a diary on how you can learn from the mistakes of campaigns in the past.
You can follow prior installments in this series HERE.
