A couple of weeks ago, I traveled to Orlando to spend more time with some of the families displaced by Hurricane Maria. I listened to their stories of suffering and their pleas for support, and I heard from community leaders and elected officials about what they’re doing to help the tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans relocating to the mainland. The common thread in these conversations is that Gov. Rick Scott and the Trump administration have not done nearly enough to help these families.

I published a piece in the Orlando Sentinel this week about the failures of President Trump and Gov. Rick Scott to bring some relief to the struggling island. You can read the full piece here in English and the Spanish version here.

We can honor the lives lost that night by recommitting ourselves to the fight for a world where no one faces discrimination, where no life is taken by hatred or bigotry, where everyone is treated with respect and dignity – no matter who they are or who they love. As we celebrate Pride Month, we recognize that the fight for LGBTQ equality is far from over, and the Democratic Party will continue to stand with LGBTQ communities in America and around the world who are fighting for the rights they deserve.
Trump’s Heatless Abandonment of Domestic Abuse And Gang Violence Victims

Cruel. Sick. Heartless. Inhumane. There simply aren’t enough words in the English language to fully capture the depravity of this administration, which ended asylum for victims of domestic abuse and gang violence this week. This is an attack on some of the most vulnerable people in our society, and it will affect thousands of families fleeing violence and seeking safety for themselves or their children.

Democrats believe diversity and compassion are our nation’s greatest strengths. And we will continue the fight to protect and expand opportunities for these families and all Americans.

Fighting for A Free and Open Internet

A free and open internet is critical to our democracy. By undoing net neutrality this week, Donald Trump’s FCC is threatening online equality in a way that could hurt our economy and hamper our nation’s potential for innovation. As of this week, wealthy internet service providers will be able to play favorites, leaving millions of Americans with slower and more expensive internet.

But while Republicans punish the American people so they can fill the pockets of big telecom corporations, Democrats believe the internet must remain a level playing field. That’s why House Democrats are demanding a vote to restore net neutrality. And that’s why Democrats will keep fighting to make sure everyone can benefit from the power and potential of our nation’s technology.
Yours,
Tom
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Tom Perez
Chair
Democratic National Committee

Women Are Leading the Way

We had another terrific Election Day on Tuesday, with primaries in Iowa, South Dakota, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, Alabama, Montana and California, and a special election in Missouri. And the message was clear: women are leading Democrats up and down the ballot, across the country.

The future is bright for Democrats in all of these states. Women are running on the Democratic platform – and they’re winning in record numbers. And the DNC is organizing and investing in base communities to push Democrats across the finish line.
Just look at what’s happening in South Dakota, where our SPIF grant is helping the state party organize Native American communities to send Billie Sutton to the governor’s office and Tim Bjorkman to Congress.

Last night, we learned that the Trump administration is going to bat for big insurance companies so they can once more deny health care to people with pre-existing conditions. This is morally reprehensible.

No one should be discriminated against just because they’re sick. That’s why President Obama and Democrats enacted historic protections for people with pre-existing conditions and prevented insurance companies from charging people higher rates because of their health status. And the American people overwhelmingly support these provisions.

If Donald Trump and Republicans get their way, millions of Americans will be at risk of losing their health coverage. These are our children, parents, grandparents, and those who need health care the most. This kind of health care sabotage is unprecedented, and we won’t let them get away with it. Like most Americans, Democrats believe health care is a right for all, not a privilege for a wealthy few. We will fight back, and the American people will make their voices heard by voting Republicans out of office for their senseless attacks on families all across this country.

Immigrants make our nation stronger every day. And Democrats will always fight Republicans’ anti-immigrant agenda because we know that diversity is America’s strength. We believe that what it means to be an American is not decided by birth or bloodline, but by the values we share. As we celebrate the contributions immigrants make to America, let’s recommit ourselves to the values of inclusion and opportunity for all – no matter where you come from. Those are the values we’re fighting for every day at the DNC.

Yours,
Tom
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Tom Perez
Chair
Democratic National Committee

Again. Again we are heartbroken. Again a preventable tragedy. How many more children will be murdered before lawmakers take action? How many families destroyed and communities shattered? Our thoughts and prayers are with the Santa Fe victims and their families, but thoughts and prayers are not enough. Our students are demanding action. The families of victims are demanding action. It’s time to change our laws to protect our children.

We cannot accept the reality that America is a place where we allow our children to be slaughtered and do nothing about it. We must come together as Americans and do everything we can to ensure that horrific attacks like this become a thing of the past.

In happier news, our team put together a two-day conference this week to celebrate women in the Democratic Party featuring speakers like Kirsten Gillibrand, Sally Yates, Maxine Waters, Pramila Jayapal, Grace Meng, Jennifer Granholm, Jason Kander and many more. We even had a surprise visit from Hillary Clinton to kick things off with a reminder that our future is in diversity and inclusivity!

Last Sunday, we also released a special Mother’s Day video featuring our very own Amanda Brown Lierman, the DNC’s Political and Organizing Director, and her daughter Belle. Check out the video here:

Nebraska, Oregon, Idaho, and Pennsylvania
It was another exciting Election Day for Democrats on Tuesday, and Democratic women led the way. In Nebraska, Jane Raybould, Jessica McClure, and Kara Eastman defied expectations and won their primary races. And Nebraska Democrats had more than 600 Democrats running across the state in this week’s primaries.

In Idaho, Paulette Jordan won the primary and is on her way to becoming the nation’s first Native American governor. In Oregon, Kate Brown, Jamie McLeod-Skinner, and Suzanne Bonamici won their primaries, and Val Hoyle was elected commissioner of Labor and Industries. And in Pennsylvania, a state that has an all-male congressional delegation and hasn’t sent a woman to Congress in years, seven women won Democratic primary races. Helen Tai flipped Pennsylvania’s 178th state House District in a special election – an area represented by Republicans for 35 years!

Legislative Victories

We also had two major legislative victories this week with the defeat of the Republican farm bill on Friday, and the passage of a Democratic net neutrality bill in the Senate.

The GOP farm bill was a bad bill, plain and simple, and its defeat is a victory for the American people. But make no mistake, 198 House Republicans voted to take food off the tables of hungry families — including seniors, students, children, people with disabilities, and veterans. The farmers of America and the millions of families they feed deserve better.

And while Republicans continue to put the wallets of big telecom companies and their lobbyists over the best interests of their constituents, Democrats believe that an open internet is fundamental to free speech, innovation, and a competitive economy. Democrats will fight harder than ever to keep the internet a level playing field, where the reach of one’s voice is determined by quality of ideas — not by a handful of CEOs.
North Carolina Teachers’ Rally

This week, thousands of North Carolina teachers rallied to demand a pay raise and more funding for education.

Democrats are proud to stand in solidarity with the thousands of North Carolina teachers organizing and raising their voices to demand better wages and more resources for their classrooms. No teacher should be forced to work a second job to make ends meet. No teacher should have to pay out of pocket for school supplies. But instead of listening to educators, Republicans in North Carolina have prioritized tax cuts for corporations and the top 1% time and time again. Governor Roy Cooper and Democratic legislators are ready to act now for better schools, competitive pay, and an education system that prepares students to compete in the modern economy. Our students and teachers deserve nothing less.

Celebrating Ramadan
As Muslim Americans join Muslims around the world to observe the holy month of Ramadan, celebrate the revelation of scripture, and engage in peaceful reflection and faithful fasting, it’s an opportunity for Americans of all backgrounds to celebrate the religious freedom we all share. We are also ever mindful of those Muslims throughout the world who face violence, political upheaval, and civil unrest due to religious conflict.

Democrats believe that our diversity is our strength. We celebrate the fact that Muslim Americans are our friends, neighbors, and family members, and that their contributions to our culture, commerce, and public life have profoundly enriched our nation. We reject the vilification of Muslims and oppose efforts to ban people of any faith from entering our country based on their religion, and we will do everything we can to protect religious minorities and the fundamental right of freedom of religion. We wish Muslims everywhere a peaceful, safe and blessed Ramadan. Ramadan Mubarak!

Dems Live

Finally, on Dems Live this week, DNC Vice Chair Grace Meng, DNC Deputy Chair Keith Ellison, and DNC staffers Phil Kim and Vedant Patel talked about the power of the AAPI community and the importance of getting out to vote in 2018, 2020 and beyond. Check out the latest episode here.

Yours,

Tom
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Tom Perez
Chair
Democratic National Committee

Election Day

Democrats were out in full force at the polls on Tuesday in Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, and North Carolina. I was fired up to be in Cincinnati encouraging folks to mobilize, organize, and vote for Aftab Pureval for Congress and Rob Richardson for treasurer.

Candidates like Aftab and Rob give me so much hope for our party’s future. And as we head toward November, I’m looking forward to joining them and so many amazing Democrats on the campaign trail to make sure we’re electing the kind of leaders the American people deserve.

We owe so much to the teachers in America. They devote countless unpaid extra hours, unwavering patience, and unconditional love — all so our kids can have a fair shot to lead the best life they can dream.

As we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, I’m particularly grateful for the incredible work of AFT and NEA members, as well as all of the amazing educators at our public schools across the country. My parents always taught me that education is the great equalizer. That’s why Democrats are committed to supporting our educators with the resources, wages, and benefits they need and deserve every step of the way.

The DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee met earlier this week to review the Unity Reform Commission’s report and address other party business. I want to applaud them on their incredible work. We’ve still got work to do, but they’ve already passed critical reforms that will help our party be more united and successful at the ballot box.

At the DNC’s March meeting, the full DNC took the step of advancing the most significant reforms to the party’s presidential nominating process in decades. DNC members voted to accept the principles of the Rules and Bylaws Committee report that calls for reducing the influence of unpledged delegates (commonly known as ‘superdelegates’) in the presidential nominating process, expanding the use of primaries, taking steps to protect the right to vote, making our caucuses more accessible, increasing transparency in our party and increasing grassroots participation. These reforms will continue to make our party more competitive in every ZIP code in 2018 and beyond.

The RBC has since been working to implement any necessary changes to the rules, bylaws, call or through charter amendments if need be. The main item on the agenda for this week’s meeting was consideration and drafting of the 2020 Delegate Selection Rules that will be presented to the full DNC for its adoption at the August meeting. Delegate selection rules primarily focus on the primary and caucus reforms recommended by the Unity Reform Commission.
They hammered out the following draft rules changes over the last couple of days:

• Incorporating the recommended reforms from the Unity Reform Commission’s report to expand the use of primary and make caucuses more open, transparent, and accessible
• Updating the equal division language to include gender non-binary delegates
• Strengthening voting rights by calling for state parties to create grassroots voter protection infrastructure and advocate for same-day or automatic registration

Recommendations related to “superdelegates” and other party reforms changes will be considered in the convention call and through potential charter amendments that will take place at next month’s meeting in Providence, RI on June 8 and 9.
The 2020 primary must be transparent and fair to all candidates. This is critically important work, and while we still have a lot of work left, I’m proud of the progress we’ve made.

On this week’s episode of Democrats Live, DNC Deputy Chair Keith Ellison hosted Senator Elizabeth Warren for a discussion on the power of elections to effect meaningful change in the lives of the American people. They talked about the Democratic Party’s new IWillVote campaign to reach 50 million voters between now and November to engage, educate, and mobilize for victories up and down the ticket in 2018 and beyond.

I just want close by wishing everyone a Happy Mother’s Day weekend. Like so many of you, I’ll be spending this weekend with my family, reflecting on the strength and generosity of my own mother, as well as the mother of my kids – my incredible wife, Ann.

As Democrats, we’re working every day to improve the lives of mothers across the country – from our fights for equal pay and paid maternity leave, to affordable child care and access to early education programs.

So let’s take time this weekend to thank or remember the mothers in our lives. And let’s continue to show our respect and appreciation for them in the work we do every day.

Yours,

Tom
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Tom Perez
Chair
Democratic National Committee

This week we launched a new online hub called I Will Run that streamlines all of the tools a candidate might need in order to run a successful campaign. Through this first-of-its-kind hub, Democratic candidates will have access to a list of best-in-class tools and vendors – digital, finance, research, security, training, and voter outreach – that they will need through the life cycle of a campaign, complete with negotiated pricing.

Check out our launch video on NowThis:

American workers are second to none. As we honor their contributions on International Workers’ Day, we should also celebrate the history of the American labor movement and all those who organized to improve working conditions, expand opportunity, and lift millions of families into the middle class. Our brothers and sisters in labor have fought tirelessly for the 40-hour workweek, overtime pay, the minimum wage, retirement security, better health benefits and safer workplaces. Their victories continue to inspire workers abroad who are striving in their home countries for the same opportunities to prosper and build a brighter future for the next generation.

We also honor the deep tradition of public service that runs in the AAPI community. And Democrats have continued to help elect AAPI leaders so that those in elected office better represent the diversity of our country. In the last year, Democrats Kathy Tran and Kelly Fowler became the first Asian American women elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, while Vin Gopal was the first Indian American elected to the New Jersey state Senate and Manka Dhingra’s victory flipped control of the Washington state Senate, giving Democrats full control of the state government.

While we celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, Democrats will continue working every day to protect civil rights and expand opportunities for AAPI communities across the country.

Happy Cinco de Mayo to all those celebrating in the Mexican-American community tomorrow. And to all of the DNC members who are Star Wars fans, May The Fourth Be With You. Have a great weekend, everyone.

Yours,

Tom
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Tom Perez
Chair
Democratic National Committee

An Act of Unprecedented Treachery

Today, the DNC filed a complaint in federal court against the Trump campaign, Russia, and Wikileaks to hold them accountable for their brazen attack on our democracy.

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Russia launched an all-out assault on our democracy, and it found a willing and active partner in Donald Trump’s campaign. This constituted an act of unprecedented treachery: the campaign of a nominee for President of the United States in league with a hostile foreign power to bolster its own chance to win the presidency.

No one is above the law and the perpetrators of this attack must be held accountable. They successfully hacked the Democratic Party in 2016 and they will be back. We must prevent future attacks on our democracy, and that’s exactly what we’re doing today. This is not partisan, it’s patriotic. If the occupant of the Oval Office won’t protect our democracy, Democrats will. It is our obligation to the American people.

You can read the full lawsuit here.

When I spoke to the National Action Network’s Annual Conference last year, shortly after I had been elected DNC Chair, I made a promise that we would do more to include communities of color and voters who felt taken for granted by our party. This week, I was proud to address the conference again to honor the legacy of Dr. King and give them an update on the progress we’ve made at the DNC.

Over the past year, we made historic investments across the country in engaging and mobilizing African American voters, recruiting African American candidates, and speaking to African American voters about the issues that matter most to them.

2017 was a good year for our candidates. And if we keep organizing, 2018 is going to be historic. Up and down the ballot, we’re working to ensure that our leadership represents the diversity of our people, and we’re organizing communities of color through our new IWillVote program like never before.

This past Tuesday was Tax Day, and with it came another reminder of the disastrous tax bill signed by Donald Trump. Trump and Republicans promised their bill was written for the middle class, that it would create jobs, spur investment and wage growth, and that it would pay for itself. Those were all lies.

The truth is that the Trump tax scam was designed by Republicans to reward their donors and give massive windfalls to Wall Street, big corporations, and the wealthiest Americans. More than 80% of its benefits by 2027 will go to the top 1%. The worst part? It all comes at the expense of American workers like Jim and Lois. Watch their story here.

We’ve got 200 days until Election Day, which means we have 200 days ’til the weekend. And we can’t let up for a second. That’s why I was so excited for the chance to sit down with a diverse group of social media influencers and young activists to discuss the importance of reaching out to young voters and convincing them to go to the polls this on Election Day.

These young Americans give me so much hope for our nation’s future. They are fearless leaders, and they will make their voices heard. You can watch our conversation here.

With the passing of Barbara Bush this week, America has lost a tireless public servant. From championing literacy to promoting awareness and destigmatization of AIDS, the former first lady put the values of inclusion and equality into action, and there’s no doubt that the world is a better place because of her invaluable service.

With grace and compassion, Mrs. Bush brought her sense of humor and steady moral compass to the White House. She never ceased in her work to strengthen our nation.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Bush family as they mourn their loss and celebrate her legacy.

Yours,
Tom
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Tom Perez
Chair
Democratic National Committee

I wanted you to be one of the first to know that today, the DNC is filing a civil lawsuit alleging Russia perpetrated a brazen attack on American democracy, and found a willing and active partner in the Trump campaign.

Here’s why: a major part of Russia’s attack on American democracy was its cyberattack on the DNC and its theft of the DNC’s proprietary information. This stolen information was then released to the public by Russian agents and Wikileaks to damage the Democratic party and influence the 2016 election.

This litigation isn’t about our party, it is about our country. If the occupant of the Oval Office refuses to protect our democracy, Democrats will. It is our obligation to the American people.

We believe that Russia found a willing partner in the Trump campaign, who shared their goal of damaging the Democratic party and helping elect Donald Trump. The Trump campaign had repeated secretive communications with Russian agents and WikiLeaks. Russian agents told Trump advisors that the Kremlin wanted to help Trump and had stolen emails and other material that could damage Trump’s opponent. And Trump’s closest political advisor, Roger Stone, had advanced knowledge of a major release of stolen Democratic emails.

It is a disgrace to our country that instead of taking actions to protect American democracy, the Trump campaign put Russia and itself first.

Make no mistake about it, our number one focus at the DNC is winning elections from the school board to the Oval Office – and we’re winning all across this country. We’re going to keep our eyes on the prize: taking back the House and Senate, winning back state legislatures, and building a brighter future for our country. But winning elections also means protecting elections, and today we’re doing just that.

But no one is above the law, and we must pursue every avenue of justice against those who engaged in this illegal activity and the horrific attack on the DNC and our democracy.

More soon,
Tom
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Tom Perez
Chair
Democratic National Committee

Protecting the Special Counsel

The president of the United States appears to be on the verge of firing Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, the man overseeing the investigation of him and his campaign. This would be the first step toward firing the special counsel investigating the president.

The gravity of this situation cannot be overstated. It is imperative that Special Counsel Bob Mueller be able to continue his investigation unimpeded, and both Democrats and Republicans should work together to hold the president for any actions he may take to obstruct it. This is not about politics. It’s about the rule of law and the life of our democracy. History will remember where our leaders stood in this moment.

Speaker Ryan’s retirement this week is an indictment of Republican leadership that has failed to provide meaningful results for the American people. During his tenure, Republicans have voted to gut funding for Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, student loans, public schools, and SNAP benefits, while trying to take health care away from millions of American families. They opposed measures to close the gender pay gap and viciously attacked a woman’s right to make decisions about her own body. They stifled any and all attempts to enact sensible gun laws. They refused to stand up to Donald Trump’s rampant bigotry, corruption, and dishonesty. And they consistently served Wall Street and wealthy corporations at the expense of their constituents.

The American people are demanding change, and the disaster of unified Republican control of government has made one thing abundantly clear: Democratic values are American values. Since Donald Trump took office, 46 Republicans have resigned or made retirement plans, and Democrats have flipped another 39 state legislative seats from red to blue across the country. The American people are hungry for Democratic leadership, and the Democratic Party is organizing in every single ZIP code to provide it in 2018. As Paul Ryan heads for the exit, Democrats are fighting to make sure that his Republican colleagues join him in retirement come November.

The Democratic Party was proud to stand with millions of women on Equal Pay Day this week. Our party is a champion of equal pay for equal work. We believe that women’s economic strength is American economic strength, and that’s why closing the gender pay gap is an issue we should all be fighting for.

Working women contribute $7.6 trillion to our GDP each year. In four out of ten American households with children, the mother is either the sole or primary breadwinner. It’s long past time we make sure that women are guaranteed the same pay as men for doing the same work. Women are the core of our party, and we will not rest until all women and all working families receive fair and equal pay, so we can create a stronger America for all.

On Democrats live this week, Deputy Chair Keith Ellison and College Democrats of AmericaPresident Joseline Mata talked about how young people are organizing and taking their voices to the polls. Check out the show here:

Lastly, yesterday we remembered the six million Jews and the millions of other victims murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust. We can never let the horrors of the Holocaust fade from our memory. We have a solemn obligation to tell every future generation the stories of the souls who perished, the survivors who endured, and the heroes who fought back against unspeakable evil and risked their lives to save others.

Never again can we remain silent in the face of anti-Semitism. Never again can we be bystanders to bigotry. Democrats will always speak out against discrimination of any form. We will work to confront all those who sow the seeds of darkness and division in our country. We will continue to fight for the dignity and rights of all people. And we will never forget.

Yours,

Tom
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Tom Perez
Chair
Democratic National Committee

On behalf of everyone at the DNC, we are deeply saddened by Congresswoman Slaughter’s passing, and our thoughts are with her family, colleagues, and constituents at this difficult time.

As one of the longest-serving women in Congress, Louise was a trailblazer and fierce advocate for women’s rights. From fighting for equal pay and LGBTQ rights to combating the scourge of domestic violence and sexual assault, she was committed to the values of diversity, equality, and justice for all people. And as the only microbiologist in Congress, she worked tirelessly to protect our environment and expand access to STEM education for women, minorities, and people with disabilities.

It would be hard to find a member of Congress more respected and beloved than Louise. With good humor, unfailing kindness, and a lifelong passion for public service, she dedicated her career to making progressive change for families in New York and across the country. Her leadership will be sorely missed by the Democratic Party and in the halls of Congress, but we will carry on her legacy by continuing to fight for the issues she championed every single day.

We had a tremendously successful DNC Winter Meeting last week, and I’m grateful to everyone who participated to help build a stronger Democratic Party. From the moment I decided to run for chair, I understood we had to rebuild trust with every single voter who shares our values.

Now that the work of the Unity Reform Commission and our Rules and Bylaws Committee is one step closer to completion, I couldn’t be more optimistic about our efforts to elect more Democrats up and down the ballot in 2018, 2020 and beyond. And I’m certain that when our work is complete, our 2020 nomination process will be the most fair and transparent in the history of American presidential politics.

You can watch my remarks from last weekend’s General Session here.

The upsets keep coming. And no, I’m not talking about basketball. On Tuesday, Democrats pulled off yet another stunning victory in a deep-red district. With the nation’s eyes on Pennsylvania 18th, we invested, organized, and helped Conor Lamb flip a seat in a district Donald Trump won by 20 points in 2016.

This is a victory for the hardworking families of Western Pennsylvania and for Democrats across the country who are organized and ready to win in 2018. It’s a continuation of the trend we saw in 2017 and a sign of even bigger wins to come in 2018. But most of all, it’s a reminder that every single vote counts. That’s why our new IWillVote program is so important.

The DNC is proud to have supported Conor and the Pennsylvania Democratic Party in their organizing efforts. As a Marine and former federal prosecutor, Conor has already dedicated his career to serving the American people. Now as he heads to Congress, I know he’ll be a tireless champion for better jobs and wages, more affordable health care, an end to the opioid epidemic, and retirement security for all the families he represents.

It has been profoundly inspiring to see the students of Stoneman Douglas organizing and demanding action to end the epidemic of gun violence. On Wednesday, the DNC family walked out in solidarity with them and millions of students across the country, because we all deserve to be safe where we work, live, and go to school. As they keep reminding us, thoughts and prayers are not enough; now is the time for action.

Democrats are proud to support these students, and we refuse to believe that we are powerless to prevent the mass slaughter of innocent people. Every day, seven children and teens die from gun violence. This is not normal. This is not acceptable. This is not inevitable. The cruel and cowardly indifference of the gun lobby and their close allies in Congress is no match for the courage of these students and all those fighting to end gun violence. Because of their leadership and activism, we know that one day we will no longer live in a nation that sees its children murdered and does nothing.

Have a safe and happy St. Patrick’s Day weekend, and best of luck with your NCAA brackets. I’m sure mine will be busted soon.

Yours,

Tom
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Tom Perez
Chair
Democratic National Committee

I hope you had a wonderful weekend, as we get a start to our week I wanted to share a Medium post on DNC fundraising from our Finance Chair Henry Muñoz.
Yours,

Jason
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Jason Rae
Secretary
Democratic National Committee

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The Truth about DNC Fundraising

By DNC Finance Chair Henry Muñoz

In 2017, the Democratic National Committee raised $65.9 million. That’s more than in any off-cycle year since 2011, and more than we raised in 2005 and 2007, years that preceded the Democratic takeover of both chambers of Congress and the election of Barack Obama, respectively. And that total doesn’t even include the money raised by the DNC last year for its new Democratic Grassroots Victory Fund, which provides critical additional funds to help our state parties.

How are we doing this? Not only are we seeing an increase in donor confidence, but we are witnessing record grassroots fundraising. Nearly two-thirds of our total contributions are $200 or less with an average online donation of $21. This is happening because people are excited to elect Democrats. Look no further than last year’s marquee races.

In Virginia, donor enthusiasm allowed us to invest $1.5 million to elect Ralph Northam governor and put him in a strong position to actually govern by flipping 15 seats in the House of Delegates from red to blue — a feat the likes of which we haven’t seen the state since the late 19th Century.

In Alabama, our Republican counterpart cut big checks at Donald Trump’s behest in a desperate attempt to bail out an alleged child molester. We took a different approach and rode a wave of grassroots enthusiasm powered by over 40,000 contributors. The result: nearly $ 1 million, including almost $700,000 directly to the Doug Jones campaign, that funded African American and millennial outreach, data, tech, research, and boots on the ground.

Our debt is at its lowest point for an off-cycle year since 2009 and we have more cash on hand than we had in 2005 and 2007 — years that both preceded major Democratic wave elections. And two-thirds of our contribution revenue last year came from grassroots donors giving small-dollar contributions (less than $200).

Still, a number of reports have been published this week ignoring these upward trends and highlighting the disparity in fundraising between the DNC and RNC as if it’s news. It isn’t. Let’s look at the last off-year that Democrats were completely out of power: 2005. The RNC outraised the DNC by $51 million. What happened in 2006? A Democratic takeover of both houses of Congress. Fast forward to 2007. The RNC outraised the DNC by over $30 million. The next year, Barack Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States of America and Democrats padded their majorities in both the House and Senate.

Here’s the bottom line: The leader of the Republican Party is a billionaire fighting for billionaires. Until last week, their finance chair — my Republican counterpart — was casino mogul Steve Wynn, a man accused by multiple employees of a decades-long pattern of sexual misconduct. And the GOP’s one real legislative achievement last year was slashing taxes for the wealthy in a system rigged to favor the 1%. So there’s nothing surprising about their ability to attract big donations from the likes of the Koch brothers to pad their war chest — money is #1 on their list of values and it shows.

But all the same, Democrats are winning on the most important scoreboard in politics — we’re winning elections.

Since Trump took office, we’ve won over 100 local and state elections and flipped 34 state legislative seats from red to blue. We’ve picked up seats in deep red districts in Georgia, Oklahoma, and Iowa. And we’ve won critical races in Virginia, New Jersey, and Alabama, where Doug Jones just became the state’s first Democratic senator to be elected in 25 years.

We’re winning because Democrats are fighting for working families, for people struggling to make it into the middle class, and for people who didn’t inherit their wealth. And we’re winning because we’re investing in organizing in every ZIP code, building up our state parties, and getting people registered to vote.

This is just the beginning. On Tuesday, November 6th, votes will be counted across the country in an election that could be historic for the Democratic Party. Enthusiasm for our candidates is growing every day, and we’re making unprecedented investments to ensure that we’ll cross the finish line victorious on Election Day. But we need all the help we can get. Every single dollar in every small donation helps to strengthen our party and elect Democrats up and down the ballot. Either Democrats will take control or Trump will continue pushing his divisive policies. The time to take action is now.