When we compiled our Ward 3 2018 primary voters guide, we left out one thing: the candidates for Democratic State Committee positions.
If you are a registered Democrat in Ward 3 voting in the June 19th primary, you will see something like this on the ballot or touchscreen.
You are being asked to vote for DC Democratic State Committee members – seven at-large Committeemen, seven at-large Committeewomen, two Ward 3 Committeewomen, two Ward 3 Committeemen, one National Committeewoman and one National Committeemen. Most of candidates (listed here) are part of slates with such descriptive names as “Dump Trump-Dems for Action” and “Democrats Moving Forward #Resist.”
But who are these people? What do the slates mean? And what exactly does the local party do? We wanted more information, so we contacted Debby Shore, the Ward 3 Chair of the DC Democratic Party. She answered our many questions via email. (We did some editing and rearranging of responses for clarity. Any errors are most likely ours, and we hope you will tell us about them in the comments below.)
When did you first get involved in the local Democratic Party and why?
As the founder and executive director of Sasha Bruce, a nonprofit in DC which has served homeless and at-risk youth for 40 years, I was engaged in city politics as an advocate for the young people and families we serve and who are struggling in our city. I worked on numerous political campaigns, and as a result found the Ward 3 Democratic Committee to be a thoughtful and progressive group of people interested in engaging with the larger issues that the city faced. I thought I could be of service there. This also led to the opportunity to become elected to the DC Democratic State Committee as a Ward 3 representative in 2012. Since then, I have become Chair of the Ward 3 Democrats and so have continued to serve on the State Committee.
What is its relationship to the national party?
The DC State Committee represents our city/state on the Democratic National Committee. The current Chair as well as our National Committeeman and Committeewoman represent us on the DNC and handle the organization necessary for the convention. Our representatives serve on committees at the DNC and represent our interests to the national committee.
The Party exists to fulfill its mission to encourage Democratic registrants and voters and get Democrats elected in DC and around the country. It also exists to provide voter education on the issues important to our city and country in keeping with the DNC and State Committee agenda. There has been a lot of discussion within the State Committee over the past few years about how to enhance its visibility and functioning. I hope the reforms that are in draft will be put into place by both experienced and progressive delegates elected in the June 19th election.
What is the role of the Ward 3 Democrats?
The Ward 3 Democrats is one of the eight ward organizations for the DC State Committee, the official arm of the Democratic Party in DC or our state. As Chair I serve along with the four representatives from our ward, two men and two women. These positions are on the ballot on June 19th. I also serve with the seven at-large men and seven at-large women, who also are up for election to the Committee on the 19th. There are additional positions in the State Committee which are elected by its members.
For our part and during my time as Chair, the Ward 3 Democrats has been very active in fulfilling the mission by providing forums for candidate debates, and issue and policy discussions that are important to our delegates and city. We have organized into Task Forces which focus on areas that our delegates surveyed as of highest priority. These are Housing and Homelessness, Ethics in Government, Transportation and the Environment, Education, Statehood, National Issues and a special Task Force to Flip Virginia Blue.
Our National Task Force organizes phone banking in conjunction with the DNC for critical Democratic candidate races around the country. The Ward 3 Flip Virginia Blue Task Force raised dollars and organized canvassing for seven Democratic candidates for the Virginia statehouse, six of whom won! (Ward 3 Democrats were mentioned in the New York Times for being one of the groups that made the difference in the Virginia Statehouse races.)
What about the slates running citywide and for Ward 3?
The race for State Committee positions has garnered a lot of interest this year because many people feel the State Committee has not had the focus and impact we need. There have been reform efforts within the Committee to re-structure so as to create more programming and participation. There has also been an effort to organize for new people to become a part of the Committee to change the dynamic of entrenched leadership.
It is my view that we need both reform-minded people who are currently serving along with new members to move the desired reforms forward.
There are three citywide slates. Broadly, the Democrats Moving Forward #RESIST slate was organized by people who have been serving on the State Committee for many years. The organizers are people with institutional knowledge.
The DumpTrump-Dems4Action slate was organized mostly by people who have not served on the Committee but with enthusiasm for reform of the leadership.
The DemsWin2020 is a small slate with one veteran of the Committee.
In addition to these slates, there are Ward level slates that only registered Democrats in each Ward can vote for. The Ward 3 Blue Wave Democrats is such a slate of candidates.
These candidates have been active in the Ward 3 Democratic Committee and/or the DC Democratic State Committee. They have been involved internally and externally in efforts to make the DC Democratic State Committee a more transparent, participatory and issue-based organization.
Most recently in 2017, the two men and two women on the Ward 3 Blue Wave slate helped elect the six new Democrats to seats in the Virginia House of Delegates as part of the Ward 3 Democrats Special Task Force to Flip Virginia Blue.
I strongly urge folks to look at the websites of these groups, particularly in terms of the at-large positions, to learn about each of the candidates before making your decision.
How does the State Committee find candidates?
The Ward Committees have typically fielded candidates for the State Committee although any one who is a registered Democrat can be considered by garnering enough signatures to be entered on the ballot. Citywide positions require 500 petition signatures for an individual or slate, and for ward positions, 100 signatures.
How does the State Committee develop policy positions?
There is a process whereby delegates/members can create a resolution to be adopted by the body. These sometimes come through the caucuses or can be introduced from the floor. It is also a part of the responsibility of the Chair and the Executive Committee to create programs and to coordinate activities of the wards and State Committee caucuses.
Does it provide any campaign training for candidates?
This has not been something that the State Committee has provided to my knowledge.
What is the DC party’s budget? What does it fund?
The Party’s budget comes from two means. One is that there is a fundraiser called the Kennedys-King dinner which raises money for State Committee activities. Also, the Democratic Party has allocated funds to the State Committee. This year the allocation is $10,000 per month, which is being spent on two staff people.
Why do you think a candidate did not emerge from the Democratic Party to run against Mayor Bowser?
I think that many people feel that Mayor Bowser has been successful as a manager of the DC government and so has garnered support from many people and communities.
If people are interested in getting involved whom should they contact?
I would be delighted for people to contact me at [email protected]. Ward 3 Democrats will be having a delegate election later in the year for new delegates to the Ward 3 Democrats and would love to hear from people interested in engaging. All neighbors are welcome to come to our meetings regardless of their being a delegate. I would include anyone who reaches out onto our mailing list for future notices.
I would also be willing to talk to anyone who would like to about the State Committee.
Jesse Lovell says
I would just add that Zach Israel, Audrey Alvarado and I have all given quite a bit of time to campaigns for numerous Democrats both inside and outside Washington, DC. Since the 2016 presidential elections (where I worked with other DC Democrats in Pennsylvania), I worked on the Hala Ayala, Elizabeth Guzman and Jennifer Carroll Foy campaigns in 2017 with DC for Democracy, an organization I have worked with for the last 12 years. I also serve as a delegate to the Ward 3 Democratic Committee and co-chair of our task force on Housing and Homelessness. I also serve as Secretary of the DC Statehood Coalition.
Kesh Ladduwahetty says
I take issue with some of the statements by the Chair of the Ward 3 Democratic Committee, which has NOT endorsed any of the slates running for DC Democratic State Committee (DCDSC). Despite the neutrality of the Ward 3 Democrats, the Chair’s remarks are clearly biased in favor of one of the slates.
While the Chair spoke dismissively of the Dump Trump – Dems for Action slate, voters should consider the following:
1) We need a critical mass of reform candidates to energize the DSDSC. I was elected to the DCDSC in 2004, and found that reformers were blocked at every turn by the incumbent-friendly old-guard The Dump Trump slate has 42 candidates running citywide, which provides critical mass to change the culture of the Committee. The Dump Trump candidates running in Ward 3 will be able to work with reform candidates in every ward to translate their ideas into action.
2) The Dump Trump Ward 3 slate includes many seasoned activists who have been leaders in progressive campaigns: Ann Loikow, Jesse Lovell and Audrey Alvarado are leaders in the DC statehood movement. Zach Israel and Jesse Lovell — together with many other Dump Trump candidates and supporters — actively worked for candidates who were elected to the VA House of Delegates (including Hala Ayala, Elizabeth Guzman and Jennifer Carroll Foy). In fact, Hala Ayala and Elizabeth Guzman donated to the Dump Trump slate because they are well-known to VA Democrats.
3) The Dump Trump slate has been endorsed by DC for Democracy, Jews United for Justice Campaign Fund, and Trans United Fund, because slate candidates have been actively engaged in many important progressive reforms, including the campaigns for DC Fair Elections (public financing) and paid family leave. More than 600 individuals have contributed to the slate.
Thank you for the opportunity to correct the record, as well as for this article. Kudos to the Forest Hills Connection for educating voters about these important choices in the election!
M. Saro says
I have re-read the Chair’s remarks several times to determine the bias. It looks like you are a big supporter of the DTs. In reading her comments, I think you misinterpreted what she said/wrote.
Which slate other than Dump Trump do you think the Chair of the Ward 3 Democrats is supporting?
Zach Israel says
The DumpTrump – Dems4Action is a slate of 42 progressives from all eight wards who are running to turn the DC Democratic Party into a voice for justice, inclusivity, and progress. Me (Zachary Israel), Jesse Lovell, Ann Loikow, and Audrey Alvarado are running on the DumpTrump slate here in Ward 3, and you can also vote for our slate for National Committeewoman/man and all of the At-Large Committee seats. I’m the Vice President of the DC Young Democrats, an Executive Board member of the Ward 3 Democratic Committee, and an active member of DC for Democracy and I’m running to make our State Committee a better run organization that focuses on both DC statehood on the national level and holding our local elected officials accountable with regard to local issues here at home including ending gun violence and housing affordability!
The slate is diverse in terms of age and race, and includes several community organizers who have worked hard over the years to make DC a better place for all. With this leadership, DC’s Democratic Party can be an institution that works for affordable housing and community policing, instead of the status quo. Additionally, the DumpTrump slate will fight for DC statehood by leveraging the powers of the DC Democratic State Committee to help elect Democrats to Congress throughout the nation who support DC statehood! I (and many on the DumpTrump slate) personally knocked on thousands of doors in Virginia in 2017 and helped elect several progressive Democrats to the VA House of Delegates who support DC statehood, including Jennifer Carroll Foy, Elizabeth Guzman, and Hala Ayala (Delegates Guzman and Ayala actually donated to the DumpTrump slate as a result of our support of their campaigns!).
Please vote for the entire DumpTrump slate of candidates, including us here in Ward 3!
Shelley Tomkin says
Thank you to Forest Hills Connection for reporting on the DC Democratic State Committee race. We’ve encountered many voters who are confused about everything from what the Committee does to who the various slates and candidates are. We’re delighted to be included in your article and would like to offer a little bit more information about who are and what we hope to accomplish.
The Ward 3 Blue Wave Democrats – Elizabeth Callanan Mitchell Shelley Tomkin Hugh Allen, and Beau Finley- are running to represent Ward 3 on the DC Democratic State Committee, the official local apparatus of the Democratic Party.
In 2017, we helped six progressive, diverse, and new Democratic candidates get elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. In 2018, we are looking to do the same in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and beyond but need your help and your votes to make it happen.
We also want increase the accountability of our local leaders while building better bridges of collaboration among our eight wards so that we can all work together on issues like education, affordable housing, homelessness, criminal justice, inequality, and poverty.
Vote Ward 3 Blue Wave for a better D.C. and a better Nation.
For more information, please check our website at http://www.ward3bluewave.com. We are happy to answer any and all questions regarding the our slate, the work we’ve done, and what we hope to accomplish.
Early Voting at Chevy Chase Community Center (5601 Connecticut Avenue NW) from 8:30am – 7pm June 14th and 15th
June 19th: Find your polling place here: https://www.vote4dc.com/SearchElection/SearchByAddress
All Ward 3 Polling locations will be open from 7am-8pm on June 19th.