Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 3 January 2017
Out of power, state Dems frustrated with national committee

KATHLEEN RONAYNE The change has left some
Associated Press states scrambling.
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — The Nebraska Democratic
Democrats around the Party, for example, paid
country are demanding five full-time staff mem-
change from a national bers during Dean’s tenure.
committee they say has But when Dean’s “50-state
focused too heavily on strategy” ended, it was
the White House at the ex- hard to keep one and pay
pense of governorships, the rent, said Maureen Mo-
legislatures and state party nahan, a vice president of
operations. the Association for State
“It’s got to be helping us Democratic Chairs from
organize in our states to be Nebraska. Some states,
able to build that power such Mississippi, do not pay
at the state legislative lev- their party chairs. Even in
el,” Michigan Democratic Michigan, a staff that once
Party Chair Brandon Dillon stood at more than a doz-
said of the Democratic Na- en now is between five and
tional Committee, currently seven employees, party
searching for a new leader. chairs said.
“We’ve lost governorships “The past eight years we
and state legislatures at a have not had any focus
rate that is pretty astound- In this May 15, 2013 file photo, President Barack Obama sits with Attorney General Eric Holder dur- on the state parties,” Mo-
ing.” DNC members gather ing the 32nd annual the National Peace Officers Memorial Service on Capitol Hill in Washington. nahan said. “There’s been
in February to elect a new Associated Press a sense that the DNC is a
chairman, with five candi- building in Washington.”
dates running so far, each staff members and training ships and fully control legis- rioration, the terrible deteri- The push-and-pull between
pledging to rebuild from programs, a change felt latures in 25 states, as well oration, of the state parties state parties and the DNC
the ground up. Money particularly in Republican- as the Congress and presi- over the last eight years,” is nothing new. State par-
from the DNC to state par- leaning states. State lead- dency. During Obama’s said Mark Brewer, who led ties, congressional Demo-
ties has been inconsistent ers also say Obama’s grass- two terms in office, the the Michigan Democratic cratic groups and the presi-
during President Barack roots group Organizing party lost more than 1,000 Party for 18 years. dent’s allies often spar over
Obama’s tenure and, in for Action has functioned seats at the state and na- Obama has announced how best to spend party
most states, less than it was more like competition than tional level. plans, though, to improve resources. The DNC de-
under former chairman a partner. “I love President Obama, Democrats’ down-ballot fended its involvement with
Howard Dean. Party chairs Beginning in 2017, Republi- but he and his administra- fortunes once he leaves of- states.
say that’s resulted in fewer cans will hold 33 governor- tion allowed for the dete- fice. He is launching an ini- “State parties are the life-
tiative with former Attorney blood of the DNC, and
General Eric Holder aimed we make investing in all of
at making Democratic them a priority because
gains when states redraw they are an integral part of
legislative district lines fol- winning up and down the
lowing the 2020 census. ballot. State parties were
Democrats have blamed critical to picking up Sen-
Republican gerrymander- ate seats, House seats, leg-
ing for some of their losses islative chambers and gov-
in Congress and state leg- ernorships in 2016, and their
islatures. importance will be a key
State officials say it’s been focus for the party as we
hard to plan long term and elect new officers in Feb-
recruit and train candi- ruary,” DNC spokesman
dates in off-election years Adam Hodge said.
due to inconsistent funding Marcel Groen, Pennsylva-
from the DNC. Under Dean, nia Democrats’ chair, said
the national party installed it’s unfair to blame Demo-
and paid several staff crats’ troubles completely
members in each state. on the national party. But
But that program ended he said a focus on recruit-
after Obama’s election. ing and running Democrats
State parties began to re- even in low level races in
ceive monthly payments Republicans areas can
of anywhere from $5,000 help the top of the ticket in
to $10,000, an amount the long term.
that varies depending on “We can’t expect people
the year. At some point, in rural areas, in red areas,
the parties have received to vote for our presidential
no money at all. The DNC candidates or our guber-
does provide some money natorial or Senate candi-
to state parties for elections dates if they’ve never seen
based on the state’s com- a Democrat running for
petitive races and other school board or county of-
factors. fice,” he said.q