More Democracy in the Democratic Party

Join Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) calling for more democracy in the Democratic Party. We were founded in 2004 with the goal of bringing the Democratic Party back to its progressive ideals—to remake it into a true People’s Party. The DNC’s “Unity Reform Commission” met on December 8th, and voted in favor of several important changes to revitalize the Democratic Party. Now, the full DNC will vote on these reforms. As the critical midterm elections approach, we must do all we can to empower and energize the voters who make up the Democratic base. It’s up to us to make the Democratic Party more democratic.

If you can get to Chicago, please join PDA, RootsAction and several other progressive groups at an informational picket line in front of the hotel where the DNC will be meeting. When: Anytime between 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Friday or Saturday, August 23-25. Where: In front of the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 151 E. Upper Wacker Dr., Chicago 60601. Click here to sign up and see more information on the Facebook event page. If you can’t get to Chicago, please pitch in with your time and/or money to support our organizing for a more Democratic Party:

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With critically important DNC meetings coming up this week in Chicago, we must act now! If you can make it to Chicago to join our coalition’s informational picket, please send an email with “Chicago DNC PDA” in the subject line to DNCupdate@rootsaction.org so you can get the latest information. Our close friends at RootsAction shared the following text with us:

This is an issue of democracy.

During the 2016 election campaign, more than half of the superdelegates (party officials and Democrats in Congress or state offices) committed themselves to Hillary Clinton nearly three months before a single voter had cast a ballot in a primary or caucus—thus sending a message that party elites had already put their thumbs on the scales.

Now there’s a proposal that would prevent superdelegates from casting a vote on the first ballot at the 2020 Democratic National Convention—unless one of the candidates has already secured enough democratically elected “pledged” delegates in primaries and caucuses to win the nomination outright. (The party’s national convention hasn’t had a second ballot in more than 60 years.)

The informational picket line is co-sponsored by RootsAction, Progressive Democrats of America, the Adelante Progressive Caucus of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, the Progressive Caucus of Democrats Abroad, the California Democratic Party’s Progressive Caucus, and the California Democratic Party’s Veterans Caucus.

Please tell your friends about this opportunity to help make some very good history!

If you have any questions or would like more information, please email us at: DNCupdate@rootsaction.org

Thank you!

With best wishes,

The RootsAction.org Team

Here are additional points to consider:

“I have long believed there should be no superdelegates,” Senator Tim Kaine, Hillary Clinton’s runningmate and a former chair of the Democratic National Committee, wrote to current DNC chairman Tom Perez. “These positions are given undue influence in the popular nominating contest and make the process less democratic.”

We agree that superdelegates are undemocratic, and they have a negative impact by causing disillusionment (through de facto disenfranchisement) thereby suppressing base voter energy and turnout. That’s why we consider superdelegates a major obstacle to successfully nominating popular and effective candidates who can lead the Democratic Party to victory. Help PDA and our allies minimize the negative impact of superdelegates.

In solidarity,

Mike Hersh for Mike F., Deb, Judy, Donna, Dr. Bill, Janis, Dan, Kimberly, Bryan, and Shayna—your PDA National team

P.S. PDA cordially invites you to join us welcoming Senator Liz Warren to an exclusive organizing call 7:30pm ET / 4:30pm PT TOMORROW Thursday, August 23rd. Phone number: (712)-770-4160 Access code: 307379#

We don’t ask for dues. We rely on small donations from people like you. If you’ve donated before, now is the time to sign up to make automatic monthly “sustainer” contributions. If you’re already a sustainer, we appreciate your help! If you can, please consider increasing your donation by giving another amount per month.

No spare change to help us make change? Then join the PDA Phone Team making easy, effective calls from your own home with Mike “Phone Guy” Fox. We’re here to help you make progress in your state and locality! If you need help organizing a new PDA chapter or energizing your existing chapter, please contact PDA Field Coordinator Dan O’Neal.

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