The Biden Harris Years

DemDaily: Download on the DNC Fall Meeting

October 10, 2023

An energized Democratic National Committee (DNC) met in St. Louis, Missouri last week in its last meeting before the Democratic nominating convention next August in Chicago, Illinois.

The Fall DNC meeting of roughly 1,000 national committee members, state party leaders, donors, press and guests at the Marriott St. Louis Grand was headlined by Vice President Kamala Harris, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, among others.

See DemDaily: Your Guide to the Democratic National Committee 10/3/23

Four days of state party, caucus and council meetings culminated in Saturday's general session, where delegates from each state, DC and the territories met to vote on official party business.

Chief among those were the recommendations by the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee (RBC) regarding the status of the revamped 2024 presidential primary calendar, which was adopted earlier this year.

Under DNC rules, no state can hold a presidential primary or caucus before the first Tuesday in March. Those previously exempted were Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, which were granted "waivers" and allowed to hold their contests in early primaries as representative states of each region of the country.

Under the new review process, which gives preference to battleground states, electoral diversity and union representation, that order was reshuffled -- kicking Iowa to March 5 and upending its coveted "first in the nation" caucus status, mandated by state law and held for five decades.

The proposed Democratic presidential primary calendar for 2024, as adopted at the February Winter DNC meeting in Philadelphia, begins in South Carolina on February 3, and was to be followed by New Hampshire and Nevada on February 6, Georgia on February 13 and then Michigan on February 27.

Any state party defying the sanctioned new order risks penalties from the DNC, such as limiting the state's number of delegates to the national convention.

While South Carolina, Nevada and Michigan have met party requirements to join the new early lineup, Georgia, Iowa and New Hampshire, which are under state Republican control, have faced legal obstacles to moving their primary dates.

In Georgia, Republican Secretary of State and chief election official Brad Raffensperger balked at changing the state's Democratic presidential primary in 2024, mandating it be held the same day as the GOP -- March 14.

Iowa Democrats managed to appease both state law and the DNC with a proposal to hold their in-person state caucus on January 15, (the same day as the Republican caucus) strictly to conduct party business, but vote for president separately by mail. Ballots would be sent out January 12, but results would not be released until March 5, known as "Super Tuesday," when thirteen other states hold their Democratic primary. Iowa's plan was conditionally approved by the RBC in St. Louis.

Presidential primary elections are run by state and local governments, while caucuses are private, in-person events that are run directly by the political parties themselves. All states run primaries with the exception of Iowa, Wyoming and three territories that hold some form of caucus.

Similar to Iowa, New Hampshire's state constitution mandates that they hold the country's first primary and state Republican leaders, including Secretary of State David Scanlan, have made it clear that the 103-year old tradition is not going to change.

The RBC on Friday gave Granite State Democrats, who also oppose their placement in the DNC's reshuffled calendar, an additional 30 days to produce a plan that complies with the new schedule or face potential penalties. If they still hold their primary ahead of South Carolina, then party rules would prohibit presumptive nominee President Joe Biden from being on the ballot in New Hampshire as it would be an unsanctioned state. In that case, Democratic party leaders have said they would mount a write-in effort on the president’s behalf.

Scanlon, who has not yet set a date for New Hampshire's presidential primary, has already said it will not be in compliance with the DNC calendar.

In another state party dispute, the RBC agreed with a September hearing assessment that the Alabama Democratic Party (ADP) discriminated against key party constituencies by eliminating non-Black minority caucuses under new bylaws adopted in May. ADP leadership also improperly and without notice imposed a $50 qualifying fee to enter the May meeting, creating barriers to voting. ADP Chair Randy Kelley was given until November 28 to develop new bylaws for approval by the DNC.

Other Party Business

In addition to the presidential primary calendar vote, DNC officers reported on various "housekeeping matters" regarding finances, operations and resolutions.

DNC Treasurer Virginia McGregor reported record-breaking early investments into the state parties and the 2023 elections, including $1.5 million for the Virginia legislative races, six-figure funding in key 2023 gubernatorial races this Fall, and support for the Wisconsin state party leading up to the critical victory in the state supreme court race last April. She elaborated on the expanded staff in communications, messaging and field, saying, "wherever the Republicans are gathering, we are going to be there too."

DNC Finance Chair Chris Korge, who is also the Finance Chair for the Biden Victory Fund, reported that they have launched the largest ever joint fundraising committee in the history of either party. In the second quarter, after just six weeks of fundraising, they raised $72 million -- more than double what Donald Trump raised and three and a half times what Ron DeSantis raised. The successful results of the 3rd quarter, said Korge, will be reported in the next week.

Be It Resolved

Nearly two dozen resolutions were passed by DNC members. Although not officially enforceable, they are a reflection of the party's overall agenda, positions and priorities.

They included praise for President Biden’s “historic first term," citing his lowering of prescription drug costs as well as his climate and economic agenda.

Others championed reproductive rights, gun violence prevention, the right to vote, and First Amendment rights at stake under the assault on public libraries, while celebrating the American Worker and Labor, and Hispanic Heritage Month.

Resolutions were also passed honoring the Life and Career of Jerry Apodaca, Jennie Lou Blackton, Bill Bradbury, Ada Deer, Thomas Reilly Donahue Jr., Brian J. Donnelly, Daniel Ellsberg, Joe Garcia, Roy Herron, Aleita Huguenin, Joseph Eugene Kernan III, Mel Herbert King, Gloria Molina, John W. Olver, Isabel “Belle” Ortiz, Daniel Payne, John L. Reed, Bill Richardson, Randall Robinson, Patricia Schroeder, Randy Seiler, Charlie Stenholm, Jesse Tafalla Jr., Sandra Sue Tenorio, David Van Os, Eugene “Buzzy” Peltola Jr., Peg Yorkin

DemDaily: Download on the DNC Winter Meeting

February 6, 2023

An energized Democratic National Committee (DNC) met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania last week to celebrate one historic election and change the history of the next.

The Winter DNC meeting of over 1,000 national committee members, state party leaders, donors, press and guests at the Sheraton Downtown Philadelphia was headlined by visits from an exuberant President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

2024 Presidential Primary Calendar

After three days of state party, caucus and council meetings, the delegates from each state, DC and the territories met to vote on official party business, including the 2024 presidential primary calendar.

At the close of Saturday's three-and-a-half-hour General Session, delegates approved the recommendation of the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee (RBC) to reshuffle the early primary window for the first time since 2008, upending Iowa's coveted "first in the nation" caucus status, held for five decades.

Under DNC rules, no state can hold a presidential primary or caucus before the first Tuesday in March. Those previously exempted were Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, which were granted "waivers" and allowed to hold their contests in early primaries as representative states of each region of the country.

Under the new review process, the nominating order gives preference to battleground states and those with diverse electorates, including ethnic, geographic and union representation.

While not eliminating caucuses -- private, in-person events run by the political parties themselves -- the process also favors states that conduct a primary, which are elections run by state and local governments and exercised by 92% of the states.

Last year, the RBC met with 20 states over 11 meetings, with "the goal of yielding the best calendar possible for our party and to produce the best nominee...we wanted a calendar that would reflect who our party is now and not what our party was then," said DNC RBC member Bishop Leah Daughtry. "This was about acknowledging ...that Black and Latino voters are the committed base of our Party and deserve to have a say in the crafting of who our nominee is."

The new presidential primary calendar for 2024 begins in South Carolina on February 3, followed by New Hampshire and Nevada on February 6, Georgia on February 13 and then Michigan on February 27.

The plan, however, is not without challenges. While South Carolina, Nevada and Michigan have met party requirements to join the new early lineup, Georgia and New Hampshire, where the legislatures are controlled by Republicans, must overcome legal obstacles to moving their primary dates.

In Georgia, Republican Secretary of State and chief election official Brad Raffensperger has endorsed an early primary in 2028 but has balked at changing the state's Democratic presidential primary in 2024 without the GOP agreeing to move its primary.

New Hampshire's state constitution mandates that they hold the country's first primary, and "state Republican leaders have made clear that will not change," said State Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley. "We hope the DNC will join us in understanding this reality, and work with us to elect - not punish - Democrats in our state."

Both states have been granted an extension until June 3 to confirm that they can hold a primary on their assigned date. If any state chooses to jump ahead of the new order, it could face penalties imposed by the DNC, such as limiting the number of delegates the state sends to the national convention.

Similarly, candidates who chose to campaign in unsanctioned states can incur party penalties, including limited access to debates, statistical data, and financial resources.

Candidates who are victorious in the early primary states have a major advantage in momentum and money, often forcing other contenders to drop out before they can advance to the remaining primary calendar. In 2020, South Carolina propelled Biden to victory, and its new status as the nation's first contest is likely to deter primary challengers to Biden in 2024.

Other Party Business
In addition to the presidential primary calendar vote, DNC officers reported on various "housekeeping matters" regarding finances, operations and resolutions.

Breaking Records

DNC Finance Chair Chris Korge reported that the DNC raised twice as much money as any other midterm cycle in history. That includes over $100 million from major donors and $170 million from more than 900,000 grassroots donors, with an average contribution of $29.

DNC Treasurer Virginia McGregor reported a historic investment of over $90 million "in the field" in 2022, driven by "the largest, biggest, and best team ever" of 300 staff.

A total cash transfer of $37 million was made to the DSCC and DCCC, the largest ever during a midterm, and over half a million Democratic volunteers and staffers from 12,000 campaigns utilized the DNC's national voter file.

Be It Resolved

Nearly two dozen resolutions were passed by DNC members. Although not officially enforceable, they are a reflection of the party's overall agenda, positions and priorities.

They included praise of President Biden’s “historic agenda” and accomplishments, and recognized Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Leader Steny Hoyer and Whip Clyburn, Black History Month, labor, the young vote, the COP27 environment team and the efforts of DNC Caucuses and Councils in the midterms.

Others supported Ukraine, Statehood for DC, and protecting Americans’ voting rights, while condemning “all forms of white nationalism and the rise of extremist religious ideologies,” impropriety by elected officials and “Republicans’ extreme, anti-choice agenda.”

Among those that did not make it out of committee was a resolution calling for the Party's commitment to eliminating outside “Dark Money” during Democratic primary elections.

Resolutions were also passed honoring the Life and Career of Jim Bowen, Reverend Calvin O. Butts III, Ashton B. Carter, Dr. Geoffrey E. Clark, Mayor Terrence Culbreath, Governor James “Jim” Florio, Delegate Sheila Hixon, Senator Gary LaPaille, Secretary Betty McCain, Representative Donald McEachin, Judy Reardon, Connecticut State Representative Quentin “Q” Williams, Rosalind “Roz” Wyman and Geraldine Boykin.

DemDaily: Download on the DNC Summer Meeting

September 13, 2022

A reinvigorated Democratic National Committee (DNC) met in National Harbor, Maryland last week, buoyed by a shift in the political landscape that has provided hope for holding on to Congress heading into the final stretch of the 2022 midterms.

The Summer meeting of over 1,000 national committee members, state party leaders, donors, press and guests at the Gaylord National Convention Center was headlined by visits from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, both of whom spoke passionately of the high-stakes in November.

The official agenda was largely without controversy, reflecting the standard party business of resolutions, reports, council meetings and caucuses.

Be It Resolved

Resolutions are statements put forward by DNC members as affirmations of the national Party's positions and values. They are not officially enforceable, but a reflection of the party's overall agenda and priorities.

Among the nearly two dozen passed, were resolutions praising President Biden's leadership and his Administration's accomplishments in passing a historic agenda.

These include the American Rescue Plan, COVID response, healthcare funding, Infrastructure funding, the nomination of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, CHIPS and the Science Act, the veteran's PACT Act, the bipartisan Safer Communities Act to curb gun violence, the Inflation Reduction Act, deficit reduction, job growth, and student loan relief.

Additional resolutions reaffirmed commitments to reproductive justice, American workers, veterans, a humane immigration system, and addressing poverty, systemic racism, and the threat of nuclear weapons and exposure.

Among those that did not make it out of committee was a resolution calling for the Party's commitment to eliminating outside “Dark Money” during Democratic primary elections.

Millions have been spent in the midterm primaries by non-profit "special interest" organizations, which are not required to disclose their donors, to advocate for or against a candidate. Although a longstanding legal practice, a record amount has been spent this year in an effort to defeat progressive candidates challenging more moderate incumbents in the primaries.

Instead, a separate resolution was passed that more broadly condemns the use of dark money and encourages passage of Senator Sheldon Whitehouse's (D-RI) DISCLOSE Act.

Also shelved was a resolution opposing a push by Senator Joe Manchin III (D-WVa) to overhaul the nation's permitting process for energy infrastructure. The resolution would have been at odds with Senate leadership who agreed to speed up the process in exchange for securing Manchin's vote for the Inflation Reduction Act, which tipped passage of the unprecedented climate and healthcare legislation.

Breaking Records: DNC Finance Chair Chris Korge reported that between January 2021 and July 2022, the DNC raised $255 million, more than any midterm cycle in history - with months still left to go. That includes over one million donors, 60% of which are women. "Teacher" was the number one reported occupation. DNC Treasurer Virginia McGregor reported on historic investments in state parties, grassroots infrastructure, voter registration and electoral programs, including the largest ever midterm tech and political organizing team.

2024 Presidential Primary Calendar

In addition to "housekeeping matters" regarding the general rules and bylaws that govern the national and state parties, the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee (RBC) reported on the status of the presidential primary calendar.

Under current DNC rules, no state can hold a presidential primary or caucus before the first Tuesday in March. Those exempted are Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, which are granted "waivers" and allowed to hold their contests in early primaries as representative states of each region of the country.

For the first time since the 2008 cycle, the criteria for determining which states go first in the pre-primary window has been revamped, putting Iowa's coveted "first in the nation" nominating status, held for five decades, in question.

Under the new review process, all states need to reapply for their place in the nominating order based on a framework that gives preference to battleground states and those with diverse electorates “including ethnic, geographic (and) union representation.” While not eliminating caucuses, the proposal would also favor states that conduct a primary, the process exercised by 92% of the states, a core consideration.

The RBC, however, will not make its recommendation until after the mid-term elections, when cooperation from the winning elected officials who will oversee each state's election process in 2024, can be assessed.

Call to the Convention!

In addition to minor changes to the delegate selection process, DNC members approved the official "Call to the Convention," which dictates all rules, committees and procedures involving the 2024 Democratic Convention.

While the decision on which major city will be awarded the convention will not be made until after the November elections, committees for the top four contenders were ever-present at the DNC meeting, hosting spirited convention pitch parties Friday night in hopes of influencing the final decision.

Receptions were hosted by Atlanta, Chicago, Houston and New York. The Republican National Committee has already chosen Milwaukee, Wisconsin as the site of the 2024 GOP convention.

Resolutions were also passed honoring the Life and Career of Zahra Abbas, Madeleine Albright, Clifford Alexander, Greg Andrews, William Bilton, Vic Fazio, Jimmie Lou Fisher, Saúl González, Joe Grandmaison, Reynolds Keith Honold, C. Anthony “Tony” Jackson, Abe Jenkins, Johnnie A. Jones, Sr., Buddy Leach, Gerald W. McEntee, Norman Mineta, Ruth Ann Minner, John Ralls, and Elaine Schuster.

DemDaily: Download On The DNC Winter Meeting

March 14, 2022

An energized Democratic National Committee (DNC) met in Washington, DC last week for its first in-person meeting in two years in what felt like a homecoming and, at times, convention-like atmosphere.

The National Party's bi-annual meeting was headlined by visits from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris before a reinvigorated audience of over 1,000 national committee members, state party leaders, donors, press and guests at the Washington Hilton.

The meeting comes on the heels of Biden's first State of the Union address and the most consequential two weeks of his tenure amid an escalating international crisis.

A Short Primer: DemDaily: Your Guide To The Democratic National Committee 3/9/22

Biden, who addressed the DNC Thursday evening, effectively roused a devoted audience frustrated with the public's lack of credit given to his leadership in a historically challenging first year in office.

The American Rescue Plan Act, the 215 million fully vaccinated Americans, record economic and job growth, a nearly 50% reduction in child poverty and a historic investment in manufacturing and physical infrastructure were among the accomplishments that brought Democrats to their feet multiple times.

Party Business

The official agenda was largely without controversy, reflecting the standard party business of resolutions, reports, council meetings and caucuses. The internal debate over the presidential calendar, however, has begun.

Potential disruptions to the traditional calendar were part of the sometimes contentious debate at Friday's Rules and Bylaws Committee meeting, casting doubt as to the future of Iowa's coveted "first in the nation" caucus status.

Under current DNC rules, no state can hold a presidential primary or caucus before the first Tuesday in March. Iowa, however, is the first of four states, along with New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, that are exempted and allowed to hold their contests in early primaries, as representative states of each region of the country.

Although no decisions were made at this meeting, a draft DNC staff memo obtained by the Des Moines Register laid out a scenario whereby all states would need to reapply for their place in the nominating order, with preference awarded to battleground states and those with diverse electorates “including ethnic, geographic (and) union representation.”

While not eliminating caucuses, the proposal would also favor states that conduct a primary, the process exercised by 92% of the states, a core consideration.

Leadership and Members: The DNC is led by a team of national officers who are elected by members of the committee every four years. There are approximately 450 DNC members who are elected or appointed as delegates to a four-year term from five categories. They include: State-Elected (200 members), State Chairs and Vice-Chairs, current and former Democratic Presidents and Vice Presidents and affiliated official Party Committee Representatives, along with 75 At-Large Members

Iowa’s position as the first nominating state, which it has held for five decades, came under greater scrutiny after disastrous logistical failures in counting the 2020 presidential caucus ballots caused a 26-day delay in certifying the results. The midwestern state, which is overwhelmingly white with a mere 6.5% union membership, has also trended Republican, delivering an eight-point victory to Donald Trump over Biden in 2020.

The Rules and Bylaws Committee's proposed calendar is not expected until late summer or fall.

Another document released last week, under the banner of DNC Members for Party Modernization, advocates for a greater share of the national party budget to be channeled directly to the states, more distributed regional representation in the party leadership teams, greater internal oversight of the party budget and other changes to the party’s governing rules.

The group of about 40 DNC members met Friday at the Churchill Hotel in Washington, DC, to organize a new voting bloc of DNC members to "champion change and reforms" to ensure "our Party is strong today, tomorrow, and for the foreseeable future, and reflective of our American Democracy." Organizers told the Washington Post that their efforts are not meant to show a lack of support for President Biden or party Chair Jaime Harrison.

In a statement, the DNC said, “The DNC, led by Chair Harrison, has been more generous to state parties than any previous DNC in modern history. The DNC announced $23 million in direct investments last year to support all 57 state parties and territories, including a first-of-its-kind Red State Fund to build targeted programs in traditionally Republican states. Our state parties remain one of several critical priorities to the DNC."

Follow The Money

In addition to the investments in the states, DNC Treasurer Virginia McGregor reported on major new investments in grassroots infrastructure, voter registration and electoral programs and a $20 million investment in data, infrastructure and tools for effective and secure voter and volunteer outreach to help Democratic candidates. The 2022 budget is double that of 2020.

DNC Finance Chair Chris Korge reported that in 2021 the DNC raised $154 million, more than two and a half times the amount the past two years a Democrat was elected president. That includes over one million donors, the most ever in an off-year election, and 310,000 new donors, the most in an off-year since 1995. 61% of the donors were women, and "teacher" was the number one reported occupation.

In addition to DNC officers and officials, the three-day meeting also featured speeches by some of the party's up-and-coming leaders, including Kansas State Representative Rui Xu, Colorado Secretary of State Jenna Griswald and Boston Councilmember Ruthzee Louijeune, the first Haitian American elected to represent Boston citywide. Senator Ed Markey (MA) also commanded several standing ovations in a rallying-the-troops speech.

"We must fight on because we know all of our rights and all of our progress depends on the freedom to vote - workers' rights, women's rights, immigrant rights, LGBTQ rights. All of the rights we hold so dear flow from the right to vote." - Vice President Kamala Harris to DNC members Saturday

Resolutions

Resolutions were passed on an array of Democratic priorities and issues, from praising President Biden’s leadership of the country's economic recovery, for standing in solidarity with our allies and Ukrainians in the face of Russian aggression, and for his nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the US Supreme Court, to condemning anti-Asian hate and the Republican National Committee’s defense of the January 6 insurrectionists.

Additional resolutions reaffirmed commitments to affordable college, immigration reform, Indigenous people, labor unions and the PRO Act, equity for women, Black Lives Matter and other causes.

Among the resolutions passed: Those Honoring the Life and Career of Senator Harry Reid, Senator Max Cleland, Sheriff Oatess Archey, Gregorio Chavez Jr., Kenneth Wallace, State Senator Johnny Ellis, Lawanda Manning, Former Iowa Secretary of State and DNC Member Elaine Baxter, Congressman Neal Smith, State Representative Raymond A. Jordan Jr., Jacqueline Avant, Lee Elder, Lani Guinier, bell hooks, Brigadier General Charles McGee, Congresswoman Carrie Meek, David Mercer, Bill Owens, Sidney Poitier, Secretary Colin Powell and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Related: DemDaily: Your Guide to the Democratic National Committee 3/9/22

Watch The Meeting: DNC's YouTube Channel

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Kimberly Scott

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DemDaily: Download On The DNC Fall Meeting

October 12, 2021

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) held its Fall meeting on Saturday, it's bi-annual gathering to address party business, reports, resolutions, and strategy going into the midterm elections.

The meeting, usually a three-day political passion fest of Democratic leadership, committee members, speakers, and supporters from across the country, was held virtually for the second time since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

 The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is the formal governing body for the Democratic Party, responsible for establishing and promoting the Democratic Party principles, and coordinating strategy and activity to support the election of Democratic candidates at the local, state, and national levels.

It organizes the Democratic National Convention, held every four years to nominate a candidate for President, and formulates the party's official platform.

DNC Chair Jaime Harrison, "All Hands On Deck"

The most prominent agenda item on the otherwise predominately procedural meeting was the status of the upcoming 2021 gubernatorial races - in Virginia and New Jersey - now just three weeks away.

Saying we are "laser-focused on the elections underway in Virginia," DNC Chair Jaime Harrison said the national Party had made an unprecedented $5 million investment in the battleground race where Democratic nominee and former Governor Terry McAuliffe and Republican Glenn Youngkin are in a dead heat.

With trademark enthusiasm, McAuliffe spoke to the members about his record, while underscoring the significance of the race to the outcome, if not forecast, of the 2022 midterms.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (NJ), who is up for reelection, also spoke to the DNC, as did Congressman and House Majority Whip James Clyburn (SC). The four-hour general session, which also featured a series of videos highlighting the accomplishments of the Biden administration, included remarks from President Biden.

Leadership was elected January, 2021 to a 4-year term

DNC Members

The most significant vote during the meeting was on approval of the DNC's new At-Large Members.

There are 447 DNC Members who are elected or appointed as delegates to a four-year term from five categories. Some are elected on the ballot as part of the state's Democratic primary, while in other states they are elected by the State Democratic Committee or State Convention.

Those numbers also include 75 individual members who represent different constituencies and are leaders "at-large" who are nominated by the DNC Chair, with input this year from the White House, and approved by a vote of DNC members.

Former Congressman Tony Coelho was recognized for his leadership in the disability community

On Saturday, DNC members approved the slate of At-Large Members, with little controversy outside of some objections to the shift in geographic representation. The number coming from Delaware, Biden’s home state, will bump to five from one, and the number of members from Washington D.C., will increase from 15 to 20.

Members also ratified the official list of Standing Committee Members, which includes including the Rules and By-Laws, Budget & Finance, Credentials, and Resolutions Committees. For the purposes of the Fall meeting, the committees met earlier last week, with recommended resolutions and amendments adopted by vote at Saturday's general session.

In addition to regional Caucuses, the DNC has constituency caucuses that include Asian American and Pacific Islander, Black, Hispanic, LGBTQ, Native American, Women and Disability, which is now a fully recognized caucus.

Show Me The Money

DNC National Finance Chair Chris Korge reported on the success of the Party's fundraising efforts. The Party has raised over $100 million this year, setting a record for the most funds raised in a year after a Democratic presidential election victory. That includes over 100,000 new donors.

Korge reminded the audience, however, that former President Trump has raised over $100 million for his PAC.

DNC Treasurer Virginia McGregor reviewed the unprecedented list of early investments the DNC had made "to help Democratic candidates up and down the ballot." Those include the $25 million I Will Vote initiative, $5 million in voter registration programs in battleground states, $3 million for the campaign readiness training program, $4 million in coalition organizing, $30 million in the largest tech team ever, and $10 million in data acquisition technology, among others. The national party has also made its largest yet to each state party, with a minimum budget increase of 25% each.

Biden addresses DNC (CLICK)

Unity

In his remarks, President Biden was forthright in his assessment of the challenges before us as a party, and as a people, on the pandemic, voting rights, immigration, the courts, gun safety, healthcare and a woman's right to choose.

As always, his central message was a call for unity, saying, "We need to stay together, bound by the values we hold as a party. Here's the deal. We won 2020 as a unified party, and as we look to 2022, we need to stay unified.

"We are all bound together by one of the most consequential campaigns and one of the most consequential first eight months of a presidency in the history of this country."

"If we deliver today across the board, 50 years from now people are going to look back and say this was the period, this was the moment, America won the 21st Century....... because we stayed true to who we are as Democrats, and who we are as Americans. Let's get it done." - President Joe Biden

Watch The Full DNC Meeting

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DemList will keep you informed.

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Kimberly Scott

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