A New DNC Framework: Build to Win, Build to Expand, Build to Last
If we’re going to be a national party, we need to compete everywhere.
The 57 State Party Strategy
As Democrats, we need to expand – not shrink – our vision and infrastructure. That means funding parties in all 57 states and territories, expanding resources for the State Partnership Program (SPP), and increasing the Red State Fund to go on offense everywhere in America. In addition, we need to ensure that state party chairs and executive directors are full-time, paid positions.
Mission 3244
There are Democrats everywhere who want to work and organize in their communities. Let’s unleash them. We need to ensure there’s Democratic infrastructure in all 3,244 counties in our country – in every ZIP code and every community. We need to be organized everywhere so people can organize everywhere.
Contesting Every Race
The DNC must be more than a federal – i.e. presidential – campaign committee. We must embrace our responsibility to support Democrats running at every level. Winning major public policy battles starts with contesting and competing in down-ballot races – city council, mayoral, county boards, school boards. The next DNC should partner with and support groups like DMO (Democratic Municipal Officials), DMA (Democratic Mayors Association), NDCO (National Democratic County Officials) and DLCC (Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee), which will directly support candidate recruitment, training, and campaigns.
Reforming Party Governance
The next DNC must be brutally meticulous when it comes to fairness, transparency, and financial efficiency. We need to examine our spending with a fine-tooth comb and make sure we’re maximizing investments to grow the party. We need to ensure our governing committees better include the voices of state and local party leaders. And we need a rigorous, open, and effective primary process to battle-test our candidates to prepare them to win and govern.
Empowering Young Americans
The first time that young voters hear from Democrats cannot be right before a presidential election. We must gain the support and trust of young people in our country. And to do that, the DNC must meaningfully invest in youth empowerment and mobilization through existing organizations (e.g. YDA, College Dems, High School Dems, Voters of Tomorrow) while also supporting new forms of engagement outside of the electoral calendar.
Ten Years for the Future
The Democratic Party has to plan, organize, and implement a 10-year strategy that aligns the infrastructure, partnerships, and the people we need to win. We need a new political model, which focuses on more than just the upcoming election cycle – we can build to win elections, build to grow our party, and build long lasting and durable political infrastructure to help us win now AND into the future. We have to meet the moment, identifying future and emerging targets, and see beyond one election.
Organizing All Year
We have to break the transactional model of organizing and center our organizing around building trust and relationships with communities before we can reasonably expect to have earned their votes. We need year-round engagement and relationship building – centered on effective listening and shared values – and in collaboration with community organizers already doing the work on the ground.
Listen to the People
Our reliance (and comfort) within traditional, outdated, and low-reach information environments leads us to put money, time, and effort into the wrong places. Voters want to be respected and heard, not lectured, and can spot inauthenticity from miles away. Our content and distribution strategies need to match how voters engage with today’s 24/7, 365 information economy. We must show up in non-traditional and uncomfortable media spaces on a regular basis, increase outreach to local messengers and trusted validators, and create our own platforms for authentic engagement.
Data-Informed Investments
We have to make data-informed investments with a proven return rate and up our game in terms of voter file enhancements and campaign technology. That means making sure our data allows us to engage in sophisticated outreach to diverse demographic groups – including based on country of origin, race, and ethnicity. We should also work to establish an accessible and standardized digital platform to democratize the digital ad-buying process for activists and leaders at every level.
Democratic Brand Identity
For the first time in modern history, the perceptions that Americans have of the two major political parties switched. The majority of Americans now believe the Republican Party best represents the interests of the working class and the poor, and the Democratic Party is the party of the wealthy and the elites. It’s a damning indictment on our party brand. We must be willing to dig deep and recenter the Democratic agenda to unite families across race, age, background, and class. This will take a massive narrative and branding project to reestablish who we are in the eyes of American voters.
