Democrats are continuing to notch victories at the ballot box. This week, we flipped two seats in Oklahoma and New Hampshire – both in deep-red districts that Trump carried in November. These victories are just the latest example of how voters have lost faith in the Republican Party and are hungry for Democratic leadership.

Our candidates have now flipped six state legislature seats since Trump took office, and as long as we continue organizing and mobilizing across the country we’ll be unstoppable. When Democrats lead with our values, we can win in any zip code from the school board to the Oval Office.

As Democrats continue to pick up seats at the ballot box, DNC CEO Jess O’Connell has spent her first 100 days working hard to help us build a lasting party infrastructure. Check out her tweet thread this week explaining the exciting changes we’re undergoing at the New DNC.

On Tuesday, as Kris Kobach convened Trump’s voter suppression commission in New Hampshire, the DNC’s Commission to Protect American Democracy held a press call about Trump and Republicans’ attempts to restrict voting rights and how Democrats are fighting back.

Make no mistake: this isn’t a war on voter fraud, it’s a war on voters. As Democrats, our goal is to engage every eligible American voter as an active participant in our democracy. That’s why we’ve set up a DNC commission to combat Trump’s lies about voting and help expand access to the ballot.

This week also marks the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions the Hispanic community has made to this great nation. As the first Latino chair and the son of two immigrants, I was proud to join the Latino Victory Fund to kick off the celebration at the DNC’s FuturoFest.

On Wednesday, Democrats Live was packed full of special guests. DNC Deputy Chair Keith Ellison and I hosted Rep. Nanette Barragán, Rep. Pramila Jayapal and Ellie Perez, a DACA recipient, who joined us via Skype. We discussed Trump’s heartless decision to end DACA, what next steps Congress must take to pass the DREAM Act, and how communities across the nation can organize to protect DREAMers.

Check out the latest episode at live.democrats.org.

We’ve also spent this week pushing back against the latest effort by Republicans in Congress to take health care away from millions. Like each of their previous attempts, the Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson bill would have devastating impacts on Americans across the country.

Democrats believe health care is a right, not a privilege. That’s why Senate and House Democrats are working together to expand coverage for all Americans. It’s time for Republicans to listen to the people they represent and join Democrats in our efforts to improve our health care system for the American people.

Finally, I want to take a moment to remember a great civil rights hero we lost this week. Edie Windsor was a fearless pioneer for progress. When our laws betrayed the promise of equality enshrined in our Constitution, she stood up. When our lawmakers were too slow to act, she spoke out. And when a generation of LGBTQ Americans hoped for a path forward, she took the fight for marriage equality to our highest court.

Before the Supreme Court handed down its decision in Windsor v. United States, Edie said, ‘I think justice will prevail. Is that crazy?’ Because of her indomitable spirit, justice did prevail. Love is love. And America is better for it.

It’s up to us to honor Edie’s legacy by picking up where she left off and continue fighting for the full equality LGBTQ Americans deserve.

Yours,

Tom
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Tom Perez
Chair
Democratic National Committee

Week 25: Help People Affected by Hurricane Harvey

Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with all those affected by this devastating storm. In times like these, we need to be united as a Democratic family. We’re in this together, and we need to be there for our friends and colleagues in Texas and Louisiana long after this storm passes and they begin to rebuild. Our very own DNC Vice Chair and Louisiana State Senator Karen Carter Peterson is home doing everything she can to help her community in this difficult time.

Unfortunately, President Trump has not shown the same regard for the victims of this vicious storm. Last Friday night, he used the hurricane as cover to pardon his buddy Joe Arpaio and sign an order banning transgender people from joining the military. That’s not presidential, that’s a coward.

Prejudice doesn’t deserve a pardon, and discrimination has no place in our democracy. Sheriff Arpaio used racial profiling to tear apart immigrant families and devastate Latino communities. At the same time, he failed to investigate hundreds of crimes, including dozens of reported child molestations. Arpaio’s actions are anything but admirable. That is why I sued him when I led the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and that’s why the voters of Arizona kicked him out of office in November.

Deportations will tear families apart and drive immigrants back into the shadows. And our economy will face a devastating blow, costing our country billions in GDP over a decade.

Democrats believe that DREAMers share our values and strengthen our nation. We believe in fixing our immigration system, not uprooting lives and shattering families. And we will continue to fight for the immigrants who contribute to our country every day. That’s why the DNC has been working night and day to combat Trump’s lies about DACA and share the stories of young immigrants who would be forced back into the shadows by Trump’s decision.

Thankfully, we did get some good news in the fight for immigrants’ rights this week. A federal judge has halted the enforcement of Senate Bill 4 in Texas, which would have taken effect on September 1st. As Texas families continue to brave this hurricane, they need nothing less than their country’s full and united support—not a deportation force that would divide communities and endanger people’s lives. The court’s decision was an important step toward protecting families during this devastating storm and defeating this disgraceful law once and for all.

After only a brief visit to Texas, Trump travelled far from the flooding to launch his so-called “Tax Tour” on Wednesday. It should come as no surprise that Trump’s tax push is being led by two Wall Street executives. This is the same rigging of our economy that Republicans have tried for decades: slash health care, Social Security, education, infrastructure, and vital programs for working families. Under Trump’s plan, the richest Americans would become even richer at the expense of middle-class families.

Democrats believe that not one penny of tax cuts should go to the 1%. Instead of trying to benefit themselves, Trump and Republicans should work with Democrats to enact real, bipartisan tax reform for the middle class.

Workers, not the wealthy, deserve a break. That’s why I’ll be spending Labor Day weekend on the ground in Virginia, campaigning for Democratic candidates up and down the ticket ahead of November’s election, including gubernatorial candidate Ralph Northam. The DNC is all-in in Virginia and has already invested an initial $1.5 million in the Virginia governor’s race, which is one of the largest investments to-date by a Democratic group and includes the immediate doubling of the number of grassroots organizers on the ground and investments in digital, data, and tech infrastructure.

We’ll also be celebrating American workers with our upcoming episode of Democrats Live with special guest AFSCME President Lee Saunders.

Tune in on Monday at 6:00 p.m. on Facebook or at Live.Democrats.org.

Democrats are also focused on making gender equality a reality in the workplace. On Women’s Equality Day last Saturday, we celebrated the progress we’ve made and recommitted ourselves to taking on the battles not yet won. DNC CEO Jess O’Connell wrote a piece in Refinery29 on the challenges ahead and how we must organize to get more Democratic women elected up and down the ballot.

Finally, I want to thank everyone who was able to join us yesterday for the DNC Members Action Plan call. We are less than fifty days away from our October meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada and less than seventy days from Election Day. We have a lot of critical work to do before then, and your support will be instrumental to the success of these programs. As we organize our communities and hold Republicans accountable, we need your continued leadership, support, and activism. That’s why we devised the Fall DNC Member Action Plan: five easy steps that we ask members to take to help elect Democrats up and down the ballot. Click here for the DNC Member Action Plan. If you have any questions, please reach out to Director of the Secretary’s Office, Miles Fernandez at Fernandezm@dnc.org.

I hope you have a safe and happy holiday weekend.

Best,

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

In times of crisis, leadership matters. And the difference between Democratic and Republican leadership has been on full display recently. We put together a short video contrasting President Obama’s unifying words in the wake of tragedy to President Trump’s divisive response to the recent white supremacist rally in Charlottesville.

Instead of learning from his mistakes, President Trump doubled down on the same rhetoric during a rally in Arizona on Tuesday, throwing salt in the same wounds he tore open last week. Before the rally, I published an op-ed calling out Trump for his divisive attacks and backwards policies. You can read it on Univision’s website in English or Spanish.

In the course of his rambling speech, Trump blamed the media for dividing the country, threatened a government shutdown if taxpayers don’t pay for his border wall, and suggested he might pardon his friend Sheriff Joe Arpaio – the man I sued for his racial profiling of Latinos when I was head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division under President Obama. To make matters worse, it has now been reported that Trump is “seriously considering” ending President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

Ending DACA would be a moral disgrace. Nearly 800,000 immigrants have been protected under DACA and America is the only country these DREAMers call home. They don’t deserve to be thrown back in the shadows.

These attacks are all the more reason to Rise and Organize. That’s why Democrats held nearly 200 events across the country to fight back against this administration’s endless assaults on our values.

But despite another week of Trump chaos, we did get some good news in our fight to protect access to the ballot box this week. A federal judge upheld a lower court’s ruling that said a 2011 Texas Voter ID law, one of the most restrictive in the nation, violated the U.S. Voting Rights Act.

The law is nothing more than a thinly-veiled attempt to deny Latinos and African Americans their constitutional rights, and that’s why I sued the state of Texas over it when I worked at the Justice Department. This week’s decision was a major victory for Texas voters and every American who wants to protect the integrity of our democracy.

This weekend, our DNC Unity Reform Commission is meeting for the third time in Chicago. Over the course of the two-day event, Chair Jen O’Malley Dillon and Vice Chair Larry Cohen are moderating discussions on our caucus process in states, the role of unpledged delegates in the presidential nominating process, and the different ways the DNC and state parties can work in unison to strengthen our Party.

We also announced a new addition to our team at the DNC this week. Caitlin Mitchell is joining our senior leadership team as Chief Mobilization Officer. She’ll be building a new Mobilization Department and managing our digital outreach, online fundraising, and marketing campaigns.

Caitlin brings to the DNC nearly a decade of experience managing digital teams, implementing political marketing strategies, and spearheading fundraising campaigns – most recently as Vice President of Digital at EMILY’s List. During her time there, Caitlin directed the organization’s best-ever online fundraising cycle, grew the EMILY’s List community from three to five million people, and developed multiple online campaigns that reached tens of millions. Caitlin has a proven track record of success, and we’re thrilled to have her join our team in this vital role.

Finally, to our fellow Americans in the path of Hurricane Harvey, heed the warnings of officials, look out for your neighbors and stay safe.

This week, President Trump held a press conference that was supposed to be about infrastructure. Instead, he ended up defending neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and the KKK.
Of course, this isn’t the first time the president has peddled racist lies. Throughout the presidential campaign, Trump dogwhistled to white supremacists. Now he’s doing the same thing as president.

But here’s my message for the president: not on our watch. It’s time to raise our voices like never before. And we need your help.

Donald Trump has praised and empowered those upholding racism across he country. His words are sickening and dangerous. But we will not lose hope. We will not give in to fear. We will rise above Donald Trump’s hatred, and we will organize to defeat him.

We will rise and we will organize.

This weekend, activists and organizers across the country will be attending events, knocking doors, and talking to their neighbors during our Rise and Organize weekend of action. With over 160 events are already planned in communities around the country, Democrats will encourage their friends, neighbors, family members and community to continue organizing to make a difference now and for the future.

Yesterday, I sent a letter and a clear message to Republicans who still refuses to disavow Trump — you bear a responsibility to stop Donald Trump.

There are not “many sides” to the issue of white supremacy. There is right and wrong. Those who gathered in Charlottesville in the name of racism were wrong, and it is up to all of us to stand up for what is right. If Republicans share our patriotism, they should disavow President Trump now.

You can read the rest of my letter here.

We’re also asking for your help to share our message online and to encourage people to participate in the weekend of action. We’ve included some sample tweets and other graphics for you to use to promote this #RiseAndOrganize weekend.

Tweet this

Take a stand against racism & hate with @TheDemocrats. Attend a #RiseAndOrganize event: http://resistsummer.com [Graphic]

Let’s make sure hope outlasts hatred. Let’s #RiseAndOrganize together this weekend: http://resistsummer.com [Graphic]

We will not be intimidated by white supremacy. Democrats will #RiseAndOrganize to defeat it. Join this weekend?  http://resistsummer.com [Graphic]

I’m a proud Democrat. This weekend, I’m going to #RiseAndOrganize against hate: http://resistsummer.com [Graphic]

The arc of the moral universe doesn’t bend toward justice on its own. We have to bend it together. We have to #RiseAndOrganize [Graphic]

Will history remember the Republican Party as one that surrendered to a man who empowered Neo-Nazis? @TomPerez asks: http://bit.ly/2w6dlPh

It’s time for Republicans to join Democrats to unite against white supremacists. Read this letter from @TomPerez: http://bit.ly/2w6dlPh

Graphics

Add #RiseandOrganize to your profile photo on Facebook and Twitter using Twibbon.

Post #RiseandOrganize graphics on social media and send to your friends and family here.

Download and share graphics of Democrats leading the charge against hate in our country on Facebook and Twitter.

Thank You,

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

America is no place for bigots. What we witnessed this weekend was the kind of hatred we should only have to read about in history books. These reprehensible acts and rhetoric have been an attack on all Americans and have no place in our country.

Sadly and unsurprisingly, President Trump failed to affirm that simple truth. It took 3 days, multiple attempts, and intense public pressure before the president even acknowledged that white supremacists were responsible for this weekend’s violence. History will not forget that when the streets of Charlottesville echoed with evil, Donald Trump responded with silence.

In the absence of strong moral leadership in the White House, the country needs Democrats to lead with our values. There are not “many sides” to the issue of white supremacy. There is right and wrong. Those who gathered in Charlottesville in the name of racism were wrong, and it is up to all of us to stand up for what is right.

At the DNC, we believe diversity is our greatest strength. We believe that what it means to be an American is not decided by birth or bloodline, but by the values we share: inclusion and equality, justice and opportunity for all — no matter what you look like, where you come from, who you love, or how you pray. Those are the same values we’re fighting for every day at the DNC.

In times like these, we should always remember the words of Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel: “Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”

Thank you for not being silent. Thank you for standing up for the vulnerable. And thank you for your commitment to the ideals of the Democratic Party. We look forward to working with you as we turn the tide against hate at the ballot box by electing Democrats in the months and years ahead.

This weekend we will be doing more than 150 plus events across 38 states to make sure Americans know Democrats are fighting for them. To find or host an event go to resistsummer.com or email Ryan Doyle at doyler@dnc.org.

Yours,
Tom and Jess

It is the solemn duty of every president to protect the American people. But this week, President Trump decided to put our citizens and the world at risk. By recklessly live-tweeting threats of nuclear war from his private golf course, and amping up his bellicose rhetoric in the following days, Trump has shown once again that he lacks the temperament to be Commander-in-Chief.

This loose talk of war undermines America’s credibility and endangers our national security. The serious threat posed by North Korea will not be solved with 140-character fits of bluster, but with reasoned dialogue, consistent diplomacy, and coordination with our allies.

We need new leadership to deal with the serious threats and difficult challenges we face as a nation. That’s what’s at stake in every upcoming election, and that’s why we must be a unified Party. I sat down with Now This to talk about the direction of the Democratic Party and how we can heal our divisions and win elections in the coming weeks, months, and years.

On Thursday, I spent the day in Richmond, Virginia, to rally organizers and kick off a phone bank for their upcoming election this November. Ralph Northam, our candidate for governor, has a plan to create economic opportunities for all Virginians, no matter who they are or where they live.

That’s why we recently announced an initial investment of $1.5 million in the Virginia governor’s race — one of the largest investments to-date by a Democratic group. As part of that investment, we’re immediately doubling of the number of grassroots organizers on the ground and significantly growing our digital, data, and tech infrastructure.

Our work as a Party is already paying off across the country, even in districts Trump won heavily last November. Just this week, Dr. Phil Miller was elected in Iowa’s 82^nd legislative district.

As a small business owner, president of the Fairfield school board, longtime resident of the district, and a Democrat, Dr. Miller will stand up for the most vulnerable and help build a brighter future for Iowa’s working families. The tide is turning against Trump and Republican lawmakers. Trump won this rural district by more than 20 percent last year, and Miller carried it by about 10 points. That’s a 30-point swing against Republicans since November, and shows that rural Iowans are rejecting an agenda that prioritizes the wealthiest at the expense of hardworking families.

The reason we’re seeing these swings is simple: the American people just don’t trust Donald Trump or the Republican Party to fight for them. They know that Democrats have an agenda that prioritizes working families instead of the wealthiest Americans.

But a strong Democratic agenda is not enough. We also need to be protecting people’s right to hold their elected officials accountable at the ballot box. Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s Justice Department continued this week to chip away at the fundamental right to vote by changing their position in a critical voting rights case at the Supreme Court. Ohio’s voter purge was unlawful before Donald Trump was elected and it’s unlawful now. But by re-interpreting the law to fit Trump’s bogus claims about ‘voter fraud,’ Trump’s political appointees at the Justice Department are making it possible for states to purge more voters from the rolls and deny millions their right to participate in our democracy.

Our democracy is stronger when more people have access to the ballot box – not fewer. That’s why the Democratic Party will keep fighting to protect and expand the right to vote for all Americans, even if Trump’s Justice Department won’t.

Just this week, the DNC announced a new, permanent voter hotline to help protect the fundamental right of every American to participate in our nation’s political process.  This year-round hotline is one of the many steps we are taking in response to the real threat to democracy posed by Trump’s sham Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity.

As we celebrated the anniversary of the Voting Rights Act this past Sunday, it’s important to remember that we can never take our democracy for granted. The moral arc of the universe bends towards justice, but not on its own. We are heirs to the legacy of countless activists and organizers who have bent that arc, and it’s our responsibility to carry on their fight.

Best,

Tom

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Tom Perez

Chair
Democratic National Committee

Week 21: The Chaos Continues

 Dear DNC Member,  

The fallout from Republicans’ failure to repeal the Affordable Care Act continued this week. And the DNC was hard at work holding vulnerable senators like Dean Heller and Jeff Flake accountable for their heartless vote.

But this fight isn’t over. Since he lost the battle in the Senate, now President Trump is threatening to act unilaterally and cancel the critical Cost-Sharing Reduction payments (CSRs) that help make health insurance affordable for millions of  Americans. Even members of the president’s own party have said that cancelling or stalling on these payments will cause premiums to skyrocket and send our health care system into chaos.

Health care is not a game of Russian Roulette, and it’s time for Republicans in Congress to join Democrats as we oppose Trump’s recklessness and tell this administration to stop holding people’s health care hostage.

This week, I filmed a “video op-ed” for NowThis about why Democrats need to stay vigilant in this fight. If Republicans don’t come to the table, they will keep coming after health care. This is like that bad movie that should never get a sequel, but somehow they make five more. And we need to be ready to stop them every time. You can watch the video here.

Of course, when Donald Trump and Mike Pence aren’t trying to take away people’s health care, they’re pushing countless other policies that would hurt working families and compromise our values. This week, the Trump administration endorsed a plan to deny millions the American Dream by dramatically cutting legal immigration in half and limiting family reunification. Instead of catching criminals, Trump wants to tear apart communities and punish immigrant families that are making valuable contributions to our economy.

That’s not what America stands for. But this bill isn’t just an affront to our values, it’s also a threat to our economy. Study after study has shown that punishing immigrant families and curbing immigration would only stifle America’s economic growth and limit our nation’s potential. That means a less prosperous economy for all Americans. Democrats believe our diversity is our biggest strength, and we will continue to stand with the immigrant communities that enrich our country every day.

Last week, Trump also announced his intention to ban transgender people from the military. This is a disgraceful attack on the courageous Americans who put themselves in harm’s way every day to protect our freedoms. The DNC set-up a call page for activists to tell their representatives to support an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that reaffirms the rights of transgender Americans in our armed forces. Our CEO, Jess O’Connell, also published a piece about the ban in today’s Washington Blade. You can read it here.

These attacks are backfiring. Trump’s approval rating is the lowest it’s ever been. He has fired major members of his staff and continued his habit of Twitter tantrums. And now, we’ve learned that the Russia investigation has entered a new and more serious phase as Special Counsel Mueller is using a grand jury to issue subpoenas.

This chaos isn’t just bad for Donald Trump – it’s damaging our democracy. Our digital put together a video for social media detailing just how chaotic the past few weeks of this administration have been. You can watch the clip here.

As we fight back against these attacks, we’ve been making major investments in this year’s critical gubernatorial contest in Virginia. We’ve made a commitment of $1.5 million and we’re sending top DNC staff in to help push us over the finish line. We’re also training organizers, doubling our boots on the ground, and making significant investments in our digital and data operations that will help lift Democrats to victory up and down the state ballot. Read more about our “all-in” strategy here.

Investing in these races in critical to our party’s future, and we’re already making progress in districts Trump won last November. But in order to make the most impact, we need to have best technological talent around. That’s why I was so excited to bring on Raffi Krikorian as our Chief Technology Officer. And this week, he published a powerful call to action to his fellow innovators across the country, urging them to join the Democratic Party and use their skills to change the world. You can read Raffi’s piece here.

We’ve also been showing our full support for Nissan workers in Canton, Mississippi, who have faced vicious intimidation tactics from their company in their attempt to hold a unionization vote. Nearly every Nissan plant around the world is unionized, and they have managed to make a profit while still providing good middle-class jobs. They can do the same in Mississippi. I filmed a short video and penned an op-ed for USA Today explaining how unions make our country stronger and why workers at Nissan deserve a voice. You can watch the video here and read my piece here. Senator Bernie Sanders and I also Skyped with the workers to show our support shortly before the voting began.

While we work hard at the DNC, we also make time for some bipartisan fun. On Wednesday, our staff – including yours truly – competed in the annual DNC-RNC Softball game. And while we fell short on the field, our fans won the team spirit battle hands down.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t wish President Obama a happy birthday. Working for Barack Obama was the privilege of my career. I truly believe he will go down as one of the most consequential presidents in our history. And his courage and leadership should continue to inspire us as we take on the fights ahead.

Best,

Tom

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Tom Perez

Chair

Democratic National Committee

On Friday, 9/9, we are hosting a birthday tribute to U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye. This event will feature the premier showing of the locally-produced documentary “Senator Inouye: Told by his Son.” Joining us will be our honored guest, the late Senator’s son, Daniel K. Inouye Jr!

Chances are that your life has been touched by Senator Inouye’s work. Daniel Inouye was emblematic of the core values shared by all Hawaii Democrats and, as a key leader, he made our state and nation a much better place through his work.

Tim Vandeveer, Chair of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, has spoken of the traditional Democratic values of the historical Revolution of ’54 as a key to revitalizing our commitment to addressing today’s challenges for the next generations. Gloria Borland’s new film on Hawaii’s Senator presents an excellent way to do so, by honoring our past through sharing a story with our members and future leaders about those who came before.

Come join us for a special birthday tribute the late Senator Inouye. We will be screening the short documentary about the Senator and talking story with special guest Daniel Ken Inouye Jr. as we enjoy beef stew, cake, and refreshments.

OHA and Kamehameha Schools Launch Native Hawaiian Federal Service Fellowship

OHA and Kamehameha Schools have partnered to launch the Native Hawaiian Federal Service Fellowship. Fellows will spend 9-months in Washington, DC, working within a U.S. Congressional office on federal policy affecting Native Hawaiians and others. In addition to the opportunity to make an immediate impact on national policy, fellows will gain practical insight into the inner workings of the Federal Government and influence over decisions that affect the Native Hawaiian community.

The program consists of three components: 1) immersion through work on Capitol Hill, 2) individual mentoring from senior aides, and 3) seminars on topics proposed by the fellowship cohort. The program will last up to nine months, beginning in September 2016 and ending in May 2017. Fellows will be compensated via a $30,000 stipend. The ideal candidate is a recent college graduate and/or graduate student available to work full time in DC for 9-months. Candidates should have a demonstrated commitment to the wellbeing of the Native Hawaiian community and show the capacity to work successfully in an office setting. The deadline to apply is 11:59 PM HST, July 1, 2016. More information, including details on how to submit an application, can be found at http://www.oha.org/DCinternships.