Conversations with Party Chairs: Tom Perez of the DNC
AUSTIN MAY: Hosted by the Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service, Tom Perez joined Executive Director Mo Elleithee and Georgetown students for a talk on the quickly-approaching November election. Chair of the National Democratic Committee since early 2017, Perez rose to national prominence as the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights during President Obama’s first term and then-Secretary of Labor during his second.
With the conversation revolving around party efforts amid the current pandemic, Perez sought to present an image of steadfast resolve and careful effectiveness. Despite the current difficulties in coordination and the inability to perform normal campaign practices— like door-to-door canvassing— he made a point to celebrate party organizing metrics, listing off numbers on trainings, conference calls, digital workshops, etc. Adapting to our new virtual world, the party has even “trained 7,000 organizers this last month.” And planning ahead, the DNC recently purchased $22 million in Youtube ad space for October and November.
Seeking to emphasize post-primary party unity, Perez made sure to repeatedly praise Senator Bernie Sanders. As the last challenger to Vice President Joe Biden for the nomination, Sanders accepted his primary loss and endorsed Biden last week.
As for the Senator’s more steadfast supporters, he noted that the Democratic Party and Biden both were looking forward to “earning their vote.” And, once the convention comes around, work behind the scenes will ensure that they “have a seat at the table” in shaping the party platform and on the speaking schedule. Though Sanders is actively working now to boost Biden’s support among progressive voters, the question of how self-proclaimed “Bernie or Busters” will act come Election Day remains up in the air.
Overall, proudly emphasizing how the party is a very large tent these days, the chairman fell back on a belief in Democratic solidarity between progressives and moderates, young and old alike. “You bring people together by making sure their voices are heard in a meaningful way.”
The Summer Convention
As part of the formal party nomination process, the Democratic National Convention will see former VP Joe Biden officially anointed the party’s candidate for president.
Originally planned for July 13-16 in Milwaukee, WI, it would be the first time the Midwest has hosted this massive celebration of democracy and Democratic ideals since 1996.
The convention was recently pushed back to August 17-20 in hopes of proceeding after the coronavirus pandemic begins abating. With the move back five weeks, Perez feels positive that the timing and the state government’s proactive efforts in flattening the curve will prove fruitful in time for a “muscular, exciting” convention in August.
In highlighting the party’s constant coordination with health experts and their health-first perspective, it is clear that he is trying to assuage concerns among potential attendees, donors, and VIPs. There is substantial investment behind these national conventions; previous ones have brought “$150 million to $200 million” into the hosting city. Milwaukee mayor Tom Barrett, aware of these economic benefits, likewise is confidently saying “All systems are a go.”
Such hopes, however, may be markedly overoptimistic. In Milwaukee, the central organizing committee for the convention has shrunk in half. Terry McAuliffe, DNC Chair prior to Perez and former Virginia governor, considers it “most unlikely” for the convention to proceed at all. Alternatives currently being considered include a massive virtual convention or many smaller in-person gatherings scattered across the United States.
Voter Access
On Wednesday, RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel will be similarly joining Georgetown students over the web. Considering that the audience would likely match, he threw several pointed jabs her way, extolling students to ask her about ensuring voter access, healthcare, and 2018’s lone example of election fraud. Election fraud is different from voter fraud: the former is interference in the larger process to benefit one candidate over the other while the latter consists of acts like using a deceased person’s ballot or voting twice. Perez pointed out the president’s recent admission of opposing increased “levels of voting” because it would mean “you’d never have a Republican elected in this country again.”
Throughout this conversation with Elleithee and students, Perez appeared most passionate when talking on the matter of voter access. The DNC is making major efforts on a variety of vote-boosting initiatives from early voting, essential for many American Indians living on reservations, to same-day voter registration. He sees a moral evil in “making people choose between their safety and their right to vote,” as happened in Wisconsin recently.
Finishing with a call to action off of a student organizer’s question, Perez urged the Georgetown community to stay engaged, to consider future generations, and to ask ourselves “What did you do to help our democracy?”
Austin May, a first-year at the McCourt School of Public Policy focusing on education policy, works for the Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service as a graduate assistant. Originally from Illinois, he's worked in legislative offices and on political campaigns, as well as serving in the Peace Corps and US Army.