This previous weekend the Democratic Nationwide Committee (DNC) voted in all new officers, together with chair and vice chair positions.
“The Democratic Occasion is the celebration of working folks, and it’s time to roll up our sleeves and outcompete all over the place, in each election, and at each degree of presidency — and this new era of DNC management is hitting the bottom working to guard each American from Donald Trump’s agenda,” mentioned Ken Martin, the newly elected DNC Chair.
Martin has served because the chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Occasion since 2011. He replaces former DNC Chair Jaime Harrison, who served from 2021 to this 12 months.
After the crushing lack of former Vice President Kamala Harris to President Donald Trump within the 2024 presidential election, information retailers reported that Harrison didn’t plan to run for an additional time period as chair. Trump gained bigger shares of Black and Latino voters than he did in 2020, when he misplaced these teams to Biden, in line with AP VoteCast. In a parting interview with the Related Press (AP), Harrison shared his ideas on recapturing the Black and Latino vote, former President Joe Biden, and what Democrats may’ve performed higher.
“Folks suppose, properly, it’s nearly turnout within the Black neighborhood, proper? It’s nearly turnout with this group. No, it’s not. It’s extra than simply turnout. It’s about persuasion. You need to persuade folks why you’re the greatest particular person for them,” mentioned Harrison. “You need to discuss to them concerning the points which can be essential to them. You need to present them that you simply actually are preventing for them, and which means having these particular person conversations, however having focused conversations particularly geared in direction of the folks that you simply’re speaking to.”
Harrison mentioned that Democrats had been “constructing a race for Joe Biden” earlier than the inevitable change occurred, and though he did certainly have a “horrible debate efficiency,” he was ready to stay by him as a candidate. He rationalized that regardless of being federally indicted, Republicans didn’t collectively name for Trump to step down, so there was no purpose Dems ought to’ve. “That’s my regular default, is that you simply stick by your folks, proper, significantly individuals who have labored laborious on behalf of the celebration,” mentioned Harrison.
Harrison mentioned Biden poured tons of cash into ensuring that he and Harris, in addition to Democrats in all states, had assist and sources. It felt like a betrayal to his “quarterback” when others referred to as for him to drop out of the race, mentioned Harrison.
“From ripping away entry to well being care, shifting to boost the price of pharmaceuticals, and destroying good-paying jobs, America’s hardworking households are already feeling the ache of Trump’s agenda — particularly in Black communities throughout the nation,” continued Martin. “Democrats received’t let Trump get away with it. It doesn’t matter what Trump and his billionaire cupboard throw at us, Democrats will not be simply ready to struggle the battles, however to win the battle — by no means leaving the aspect of working households.”
There’s a number of folks of coloration elected to management positions on the DNC like Reyna Walters-Morgan, who’s now the vice chair for Civic Engagement and Voter Participation (CEVP), and Malcolm Kenyatta, who can be in a vice chair position.
Walters-Morgan is an organizer, legal professional, and voting rights advocate. After regulation college, she hung out in non-public apply and as a senior legal professional on the Social Safety Administration. Later, she labored as a regional voter safety director in Ohio and managed NC’s nonprofit voter safety efforts. For nearly 5 years, she was the voter safety director on the DNC. She can be a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Kenyatta is at the moment the primary overtly LGBTQ+ particular person of coloration and one of many youngest folks elected to the Pennsylvania Basic Meeting in 2018. In 2022, he turned the primary overtly LGBTQ+ particular person of coloration to hunt a U.S. Senate seat in American historical past. In April 2024, he made historical past once more as the primary overtly LGBTQ+ particular person ever nominated for statewide workplace by a serious political celebration in Pennsylvania.
