My Hope for the DNC: Pete Buttigieg

Dear DSCC members:
 
Some of you are charged with a critical task at the end of this month when you will cast a vote for the new Democratic National Committee chairperson. I implore you to go against the popular, mainstream choices of Representative Keith Ellison and former Secretary of Labor Tom Perez and to elect Pete Buttigieg.
 
I’m an average citizen, a registered Democrat in District 91, with but one vote. I vote in off-year elections, do my best to pay attention and watched in horror on TV on the night of Nov. 8 as state by state turned red.
 
There are a thousand reasons why this happened and there will be a thousand more excuses and exclamations of blame. A post-mortem of what happened is critical, but moving forward must be the priority. I believe Mayor Buttigieg is best equipped to do this.

First, why Buttigieg?
 

1. This party must focus beyond the Washington D.C. Half of the states in the union are completely controlled by Republicans. Thirty-two have Republican-controlled state legislatures. Buttigieg would bring to the DNC a Midwest, state- and city-centered approach that is built from the bottom up. This includes Local Surrogates Programs and connecting local/state/regional desks with the national committee in a powerful and unique manner. This is where the "turnaround story" starts.
2. While the White House is the biggest prize, Democrats seem to have lost rallying power during midterm elections. The Republicans have held the majority in the House of Representatives for nine of the last 12 sessions. Gerrymandering has created a hopelessness the party must eliminate. Buttigieg suggests getting ahead of this by aligning with the newly-formed National Democratic Redistricting Committee formed by President Barack Obama and former Attorney General Eric Holder.
3. For my money – which is no Betsy DeVos haul, of course – the Democrats consistently lose the public relations battle. An analysis of the party’s communications strategies and an effective, galvanized LOUD message going forward is critical. “Mayor Pete” believes this starts at the local level, as well.
4. Here is his platform. I think his state-by-state approach and how he connects with townspeople as mayor of a Midwest college town speak to his understanding of every-day America – the demographic that boosted Trump to victory.

 
Then, why not Ellison or Perez?
 

1.  The Ellison-vs.-Perez race is rooted in the Sanders-vs.-Clinton divide of our party. If Perez wins, the “Bernie” contingent will be up in arms, again. If Ellison wins, the “Hillary” camp will not be happy, again. While we all have allegiances to these party giants, we must move on and recreate the Democratic Party. The last thing this party needs is more division. We must galvanize around defeating the Grand Old Party in 2018 and come together over stopping the Donald Trump regime. Togetherness has never been more important for the Democratic Party.
2. It will be detrimental, right now, to stay inside the Beltway with this pick. Ellison should be focusing on the business of Congress. Perez should be rallying the base on issues in his expertise. And, we need someone beyond that famed freeway to grow the party, to reach into red states and municipalities and shine the light on Democratic values, to highlight ideological victories and to put the focus on Republican failures.
3. We don’t need a “big name” for this position. Remember, Reince Preibus was a Wisconsin state operative. And, look at him -- Trump's chief of staff! And, just as importantly, look at how important Wisconsin has become in local, state and national politics.

 
Pete Buttigieg is our person. I genuinely hope you will consider supporting him.
 
Thank you for your time and attention.
 
Sincerely,

 
Molly Yanity, a concerned and passionate progressive
 
 
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