DemDaily: Rolling Out The New DNC
May 24, 2021
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) announced a massive $23 million investment in its state parties and grassroots infrastructure this month as it gears up for the 2022 midterm elections.
Executed in the form of a historic four-year agreement between the DNC and state Democratic parties, the program delivers on DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison's pledge to focus additional resources to the states as a part of Democrats' 57 state and territories organizing strategy.
| 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. |
The agreement also underscores a heavier hand by the DNC in 2022 races, which is normally left to partner committees like the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), which handles Senate contests, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), which is tasked with electing and reelecting House members.
Harrison: "As a former state party chair, I know firsthand how critical it is that we invest in the grassroots" (Kim Foster-Tobin)
The agreement "will empower state parties across the entire country to organize early and in the smartest way possible. This historic agreement will build the critical infrastructure we need to win up and down the ballot this year, next year, and beyond," said Ken Martin, President of the Association of State Democratic Committees (ASDC).
The Roll Out & Resources
* Red State Fund: The agreement creates a "Red State Fund," which includes $2 million in direct investments and grants to compete in historically red states. States that qualify must meet two of the following criteria: no Democratic senator or governor, less than 25% of the congressional delegation are Democrats, and Republicans hold a supermajority in the state legislature.
| The "Red State Fund will allow us to take the fight to Republicans as they fight among themselves by providing unprecedented resources to Democrats organizing in every corner of the country." -- DNC Chair Jaime Harrison |
* $15.5 Million for State Partnership Program (SPP): The new agreement increases monthly SPP funding for 50 state parties and DC by 25% to fund critical party infrastructure including staff, tools, and programming in the states.
* $5.5 Million for State Party Innovation Fund Grants: These grants will ensure innovation and early organizing by putting more boots on the ground throughout the country to help elect Democrats up and down the ticket in 2022. The program includes $5 million in funding for all 50 state parties plus the District of Columbia, as well as an additional $500,000 for Democrats Abroad and the territories. The grants will primarily be used to hire staff to develop and implement innovative programs tailored to each state.
* Reestablishes the Democratic Grassroots Victory Fund: The joint fundraising agreement between the DNC and Democratic state parties, which helped the DNC break records for major donor fundraising over the last four years, and allows the DNC to collect up to $875,000 per individual per year.
* The plan also includes a data sharing agreement that increases investment in down-ballot races, and anchors the DNC and state parties as the central hub of the Democratic data ecosystem.
The DNC has also been building its bench of veteran staff and talent. Those announced in recent months:
DNC Staff
DNC Executive Director: Sam Cornale
Chief Operations Officer (COO): Monica Guardiola
Deputy Executive Director: Roger Lau
Senior Advisor: Clay Middleton
Senior Advisor: Patrice Taylor
Senior Advisor: Mary Beth Cahill
Political Team
Political Director: Alana Mounce
States Director: Ramsey Reid
Chief of Staff, Political Department: Anatole Jenkins
Director of Surrogate Strategy: Juan Ortega
Mobilization Team
Chief Mobilization Officer: Patrick Stevenson
Deputy Chief Mobilization Officer for Organizing: Jose Nunez
Deputy Chief Mobilization Director for Grassroots Fundraising: Lauren Williams
Deputy Chief Mobilization Officer for Content and Creative: Shelby Cole
Email and SMS Director: Jessica Porter
Communications Team
Communications Director: Adrienne Watson
Deputy Communications Director: Ofirah Yheskel
Deputy Communications Director: Daniel Wessel
Ken Martin is Chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and President of ASDC (MPR)
Communications: Brad Woodhouse
Communications Outreach Director: Danai Pointer
Rapid Response Director: Ammar Moussa
Deputy Rapid Response Director: Adonna Biel
Coalitions Director and Senior Spokesperson: Lucas Acosta
States Communications Director: Brooke Goren
Deputy States Communications Director: Cassidy Geoghegan
Regional Press Secretary and Hispanic
Media Adviser: Enrique Gutierrez
Regional Press Secretary: Will Baskin-Gerwitz
Regional Press Secretary: Ryan Thomas
Regional Press Secretary: Hyma Moore
Lead Analyst, Counter Disinformation Program: Timothy Durigan
Communications Associate: Allyson Bayless
Press Assistant: Darcy Palder
Director of the Secretary's Office: Jean Doherty
Executive Director, ASDC: Maureen Garde
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