DCCC Kicks Off 2016 Recruitment

[brooklynite]

Source: Roll call

House Democrats will formally start recruitment efforts for 2016 this week, kicking off with the cycle’s first meeting of new committee leadership and a weekend trip to Illinois to find prospective candidates.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will name Rep. Denny Heck of Washington as recruitment chairman for 2016, according to information provided first to CQ Roll Call. Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Illinois will aid the DCCC’s recruitment efforts as the national chairman for candidate services, and the committee’s chairman, Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico, will take a leading role in seeking stellar candidates for 2016.

House Democrats took a beating in 2014, leaving the DCCC with a formidable task this cycle: It must pick up a net of 30 seats to secure the majority. But the DCCC also has plenty of offensive opportunities, with 26 House Republicans occupying districts President Barack Obama won in 2012. It’s why recruitment — finding and supporting the best candidates — will be key for the DCCC.

The DCCC’s newly formed, 25-member recruitment committee includes Reps. Cheri Bustos of Illinois, Lois Frankel of Florida, Joseph P. Kennedy III of Massachusetts, Ann McLane Kuster of New Hampshire, Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, Cedric L. Richmond of Louisiana, Raul Ruiz of California and Terri A. Sewell of Alabama. Reps. Steve Israel of New York and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, both former DCCC chairmen, will also serve on the committee.

Read more: http://atr.rollcall.com/house-races-2016-dccc-recruitment-leadership-team/?dcz=

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I trust that the people who keep insisting that we're not running "real" Democrats will be encouraging acceptable candidates to run, or will be offering to run themselves.

[radhika]

1. How will they determine the 'best' candidates, at this point?

Elizabeth Warren-style advocates? Or simply corporate, complicit and vision-less sorts that lobbyists love?

Worse, IMHO: Let no incumbent be unsupported, for any reason.

[brooklynite]

19. Based on past practice?

They'll look for the person with the best ability to run and win in the district. That might mean someone like Grayson in a Blue State and it might mean someone like Joe Donnelly in a Red State.

[adigal]

26. From my experience this year after putting my hat in the ring, whoever has the $$$

The Dem party chairmen in my district picked a guy who summered, here, lived in Brooklyn, worked in Brooklyn, and had to change his voter registration up here. But at the end, he had $800K of his own money to put in. People hated him.

[jwirr]

2. In our effort to get more progressive candidates, we need to get the list of who is on that commitee

and put on the pressure. The article named a few but we need them all.

[merrily]

12. Do you recall a time when politicians bowed to pressure from the general public?

As I've been saying, with all the money and power at stake, it's not Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. It's House of Cards.

[merrily]

3. LOL! As if the DCCC would back those who have been saying the DCCC runs center right

candidates. As if most people here have the name recognition, political experience and/or money that the DCCC would have to see before it would recruit or back them as candidates.

Amusing post.

[jwirr]

15. You asked if I recall a time that the Democratic leadership listened to us. I am 73 years old and

yes I do but not recently.

[merrily]

17. If you are talking the Vietnam War or the draft, I might disagree as to cause, but never mind. The

important thing today is not what happened then. "Not recently" is what really matters now. If they ever listened to us when they were not afraid of us (as they were in 1789, 1929 and the 1960s), that's been over, esp. since 911.

ETA: At this point, they have addressed their fears of us via things like the NSA, Homeland Security, cameras and mikes everywhere, militarization of local and state police, etc.

[jwirr]

20. So what are we doing now to get what we want. That is the problem for me. I do not see

any plan to change that except just let her fly. I have been an activist all my adult years and I am not used to setting back while everything falls to pieces. I like the idea that we tell them we are no longer going to work through them. What else?

[merrily]

23. Honestly, the only things I know of that I believe will work are self help and focusing locally

more than nationally. Economizing, purchasing co-operatiives, neighborhood action groups, town and city councils, mayoral elections, etc. The further away from home you try to shout, the less the voice is likely to be heard.

[jwirr]

24. Okay, those are all excellent ways. I live in a very Democratic community and we hold much of the

power in this area. I think that in this area our problem is communication. When it comes to forming issue specific groups we do not know who is who. Self help is good for those who can do it but there are a lot of people like the disabled who cannot go it alone. I use the Democratic caucus to find like minded people and also my liberal church.

[merrily]

25. Good resources. Also, get familiar with the Mayor's office, the council members, etc.

My local member of the house of the state legislature could not be nicer or more eager to help.

Our local elected officials show up at local events and you can invite them to events, too. Disabled or Olympic athlete, when it comes to politics, a lone wolf citizen has very little clout. Groups are better.

My neighborhood has a couple of publications that let us know what it going on. They are left in local stores, branches of the library and health centers. (If your neighborhood doesn't have one, that might be a great and fun project.) Speaking of the library, my local branch is a pretty good resource in itself. If nothing else, the bulletin board is overflowing with notices.

[jwirr]

28. Most available in town - I am looking for things to do so will look into it.

[merrily]

29. best wishes for your success in these efforts.

[zipplewrath]

4. You presume

You presume that the committee will be working with and looking for popular support as part of the process. If past history is any indication, this is not how this will go. They will pick candidates of their preference and then work to block any others from engaging the process. The DCCC doesn't like primaries.

[jwirr]

6. We should let them know just how many of us are no longer working through the DCCC to fund

our candidates because we are not interested in their choices. When I send money it is to the individual candidate.

[merrily]

7. +1

Some years back, I asked to be removed from a lot of mailing lists, including the DNC, the DCCC and the DSCC.

[jwirr]

13. Many of us ignore them but you are correct it is telling them that make the difference. Otherwise

they don't even know we are upset. For all they know is we are just fine with them but we are broke. As they are saying after what happened in France - the pen is powerful. Write those letters to these groups and even to the members on them if possible. The centrist leadership needs to ba taken down and replaced by real Democratic workers.

[merrily]

14. Although I do it, I don't think contacting our elected officials in DC causes changes in votes or

behavior. I believe that assuming it does is dangerous to our interests.

[TBF]

27. After the disaster

That was the last election you'd think they'd have a clue that folks are tuning out.

[zipplewrath]

10. I have

I've stopped long ago, and when they call I explain exactly why I'm saying no.

I'm afraid at this stage, our money isn't what drives the machine. There is an oligarchy of money sources that are tapped at this stage and they control things. Once their candidates are in place, they'll look to us for the larger funding efforts.

[merrily]

16. They look for smaller donations so that donors feel invested and represented, not to pay

for TV ads, etc. In other words, your small donation buys you, not them.

[zipplewrath]

18. In the general

In the general election, the small contributions make up about 20% or so of their budget. Not trivial. But it isn't enough to move the needle on their positions. And it's way to widely distributed over the political demographic as well.

[merrily]

22. They don't invest much time, effort or money to raise small donations, so it's all gravy.

I can't remember the last time a Presidential candidate flew from DC to my home for a $25 dollar a head donation dinner. If they can get 20% of their total budget from donations, so much the better. On the other hand, they probably don't need things like a custom made replica of Air Force One for the campaign trail, as Obama had in 2008, either. IOW, it's like anything or anyone else. The more money you have coming in, the more you are likely to spend.

[merrily]

9. In general, the Party doesn't like primaries, including at the Presidential level.

[zipplewrath]

11. Specifically

The DCCC actively works to prevent them.

[Renew Deal]

8. 435 to Win

At least that's we tried last time around. Have a candidate for every seat.

[Andy823]

21. Don't hold your breath

"I trust that the people who keep insisting that we're not running "real" Democrats will be encouraging acceptable candidates to run, or will be offering to run themselves."

I am willing to bet that if all those here on DU who complain so much got together they would not agree on which candidates would be "real" democrats. Way to many people like to grip, but getting them to get out and "FIND" some real democrats doesn't seem to work. Heck just ask them who they think are "real" and who are not and they usually ignore you. I have seen poster ask for a list of the ones who need to be "purged", or the ones that fit their "purity" test, but have yet to see such a list.

I think we need change, but purging the party, or applying purity tests won't work. The first thing people need to realize is that they need to vote out every republican they can. Even if the democrat doesn't meet their standards, they would be better than any republican running, and that's a fact. The two parties are NOT the same, no matter what some may say. Those on the board that simply bash, bash, bash, and never offer positive input on how to make changes do not have an agenda to help fix things, all they want to do complain. Those who encourage people to not vote, or to vote third party are obviously not "real" democrats, liberals, or progressives.