Chair’s Challenge – Adapting Our Strategies
Last week, I drafted the first Chair’s Challenge, a reflection on my first week as Party Chair, but we held it back. It was a bad week for our country.
The United States Senate passed The Bill, and America watched as the Republicans in the House of Representatives pondered the question of whether to relinquish the future of our country to a gangster President who is far more loyal to Project 2025 than the Constitution that he swore an oath to. Democrats in Congress fought for us on the front lines, and the Maryland Democratic Party directed all messaging to a last-ditch effort to pressure Republicans to resist. It wasn’t enough.
When Mike Johnson handed his Speaker gavel over to Trump at the signing ceremony on Independence Day, the message to Americans was clear. Republicans no longer represent the people who elect them. They represent their supreme leader. For those of us who are committed to economic justice and dignity for all Americans, it’s time to adapt our strategies – all of us.
As Anne Arundel County Executive, it’s my responsibility to protect the 600 thousand people in my jurisdiction from harm. We are confronting the federal assault as we did COVID and other natural disasters. Through our Office of Emergency Management we have convened an interagency Federal Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Work Group to redirect county resources where we can, and to comprehensively monitor and report impacts. It’s a full- government response, and is the topic of last week’s County Executive’s Weekly Letter.
For the Maryland Democratic Party, it’s go time. Staffing up for elections and effectively managing coordinated campaigns is essential but not enough. Our members want to act decisively and immediately, especially the younger ones whose futures are at stake.
The dream team that works at party headquarters on West Street has heard that message clearly. It’s why local protests were featured in the video we watched at the gala, why Burn the Talking Points features so many diverse and engaged voices, why trainings for activists are happening in every corner of the state, why rural counties are launching deep canvassing, and why our new Chesapeake Campaign Academy is starting this summer with far more applicants than space even after capacity was doubled.
Raising money for the Democratic Party is a challenge under a regime that punishes businesses and institutions for their political activity. But growing the party requires a strong party infrastructure, and that costs money. Prepare to give, at least something.
I’ve transferred 100% of the remains of my own campaign fund to the Maryland Democratic Party, and have committed to raising at least another $50k this month at an event that I will host on July 30 here in Anne Arundel County. My call time starts this week, but you can save me the time by contributing and registering here.
Next week, I’m off to what I call ”Party Chair School.” It’s actually a three-day Leadership Summit hosted by the Association of State Democratic Chairs, and I’ll be joined for the journey by our Executive Director Karen Darkes. We intend to bring back the best organizing practices from the other best party organizations to strengthen our work.
In the words of Democratic nominee for New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Democrats should do “less lecturing and more listening.“ Throughout this summer and beyond, that’s my mission. Our Central Committees across the state, our elected leaders, our trustees, organized labor, our full spectrum of organizational allies, the Governor’s team, and our party staff have a lot to say that I promise to hear.
So far, it’s been consistent. The message is loud and clear that economic justice and dignity are non-negotiable, and commitment levels are beyond what I’ve seen in my lifetime.
But the place that listening is needed most, I believe, is in communities across Maryland where working people, families, seniors, small business owners, and farmers are the victims of the Republican assault. We must hear their stories, assist where we can, and invite them to join us in our movement for justice.
Stay tuned in the coming weeks for details about Summer of Organizing, Listening Tours, and new organizing plans. On behalf of Karen, Joe, Marklyn, Justin, Aaron, Dasia, Ryan, Riley, and myself, thank you for giving us the honor of serving to grow the most important organization in our state and our nation – the Democratic Party – when we need it most.
~Chair Steuart Pittman
