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Dear Friends-
We are just four days away from the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris! There will be a series of ceremonies and events (listed below) to honor this historic occasion. This week, not only will we have a new leader of our nation, the DNC will also vote on its new leadership. This is an exciting time for the organization and the slate of candidates President-elect Biden has asked to serve. Led by the stellar Jaime Harrison for Chair, “This group of individuals represent the very best of the Democratic Party,” said President-elect Joe Biden. “Their stories and long histories of activism and work reflects our party’s values and the diversity that make us so strong.”
The President-elect continues to demonstrate leadership in the face of adversity and has laid out a plan to lead this country out of this health crisis and into an economic recovery. Last week, President-elect Biden delivered remarks about his $1.9 trillion plan to quickly contain the virus and get relief to workers. His American Rescue Plan will: get $2,000 direct relief checks to Americans; increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour; support for small businesses; provide funding for vaccines, testing, and schools.
President-elect Biden’s COVID vaccine plan, includes the ambitious goal to administer 100 million shots by the end of his first 100 days. He has committed to invoke the Defense Production Act to accelerate the production of the vaccine, and to work with Congress to secure necessary funding.
Trump and his administration failed to quickly distribute a vaccine, leaving Americans vulnerable. Only about 11 million Americans have been vaccinated — half of the 20 million Trump’s administration promised to have completed two weeks ago. Sadly, more than 3 million Americans were infected and more than 42,000 died in just the first two weeks of January. The devastation caused by the outgoing administration goes beyond the numbers. Lives have been lost and families have been forever changed.
Finally, tomorrow will be The National Day of Service. It is a chance for all Americans to unite and serve at a time when the global pandemic calls on all of us to support our communities. I hope you’ll lend a helping hand alongside Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on this day of service and demonstrate your commitment to building our country back better.
Sign up to join our team and I on Monday for a volunteer event in your community -- no matter where you are, you have an opportunity to give back.
Yours in the Fight,
Mũthoni
In this Update
President-elect Biden Announced Slate For DNC Leadership
This week President-elect Biden announced his slate for new Democratic National Committee officer positions, including the announcement of Jaime Harrison for DNC Chair. The officer announcements include:
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Jaime Harrison, Chair
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Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Vice Chair of Civic Engagement and Voter Protection
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Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Vice Chair
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Senator Tammy Duckworth, Vice Chair
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Rep. Filemon Vela Jr., Vice Chair
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Jason Rae, Secretary
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Virginia McGregor, Treasurer
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Chris Korge, National Finance Chair
This week, members of the DNC will vote for its officers for the 2021-2025 term. Voting will close on Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. ET.
This announcement marks the first step in continuing the strong work of the DNC. At the DNC’s Summer Meeting, President-elect Biden’s leadership team will continue this work through the nomination of their slate for DNC-At-Large members, including the most labor representation in recent history.
Biographies:
Jaime Harrison
Biden-Harris Nominee for Chair
As the son of a single teenage mom, Jaime Harrison was raised by his grandparents in Orangeburg, South Carolina, Jaime knows what it’s like for a family to have to choose between paying the electric bill and putting food on the table, and what it feels like to go to sleep in a home with no heat, because the power was shut off.
But thanks to a good public school education, the love of his family, and the support of his community, Jaime was able to earn a scholarship to Yale University and attend Georgetown Law. After college, Jaime came back home to Orangeburg to teach at his old high school, then worked to help empower disadvantaged kids to attend college. Jaime also served as an aide to legendary South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn. In 2013, Jaime was elected the first African American chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party, a position he held until 2017, when he was appointed by DNC Chair Tom Perez as an Associate Chair of the DNC. In 2020, Jaime ran for the U.S. Senate from South Carolina, building a national grassroots movement and setting a fundraising record for the most raised by a Senate candidate. Jaime and his wife Marie live in Columbia, South Carolina, where they raise their two young sons.
Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms
Biden-Harris Nominee for DNC Vice Chair, Civic Engagement and Voter Protection
A daughter of Atlanta, Mayor Bottoms, the 60th Mayor of Atlanta, is committed to realizing her vision of One Atlanta — an affordable, resilient and equitable Atlanta — which stands as a model city for both commerce and compassion. A lifelong public servant, Mayor Bottoms is the only Mayor in Atlanta’s history to have served in all three branches of government, serving as a judge and City Councilmember before being sworn in as Mayor. Leading with a progressive agenda focused on equity and affordable housing, Mayor Bottoms serves as Chair of the Community Development and Housing Committee and the Census Task Force for the United States Conference of Mayors. She also served as chair of the DNC Platform Drafting Committee and a delegate to the Convention.
A product of Atlanta Public Schools, Mayor Bottoms graduated from Frederick Douglass High School and received her undergraduate degree from Florida A&M University. She earned her Juris Doctorate from Georgia State University College of Law.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer
Biden-Harris Nominee for DNC Vice Chair
Governor Gretchen Whitmer — or “that woman from Michigan,” as President Trump called her — is a lifelong Michigander who has devoted her life to building a stronger Michigan for everyone. Governor Whitmer has been a trailblazer throughout her career in public service. She was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2000 and elected to the Michigan Senate in 2006, where she became the first woman to serve as the Senate Democratic Leader. During the 2018 gubernatorial race, Governor Whitmer won all 83 counties in the primary election, and won the general election with the highest number of votes that any governor has received in Michigan’s history.
In 2020, Governor Whitmer also served as co-chair for President-elect Joe Biden’s presidential campaign and was named to the Presidential Inaugural Committee. Since taking office, Governor Whitmer has led the state of Michigan with grit and compassion.
Senator Tammy Duckworth
Biden-Harris Nominee for DNC Vice Chair
U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth is an Iraq War Veteran, Purple Heart recipient and former Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs who was among the first handful of Army women to fly combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Duckworth served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years before retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 2014. She was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016 after representing Illinois’s Eighth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives for two terms.
In the U.S. Senate, Duckworth advocates for practical, common-sense solutions needed to move her state and our country forward like rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure, protecting Illinoisans from lead poisoning, growing manufacturing jobs while supporting minority-owned small businesses, investing in communities that have been ignored for too long and making college more affordable for all Americans.
Representative Filemon Vela Jr.
Biden-Harris Nominee for DNC Vice Chair
Congressman Filemon Vela is from the border town of Brownsville, TX, where he has seen first-hand how the destructive policies from the Trump administration have hurt the Latino community. Vela has spent his career fighting for immigrant rights, servicemembers, and underserved communities. He has served on the House Agriculture Committee, as well as the House Armed Services Committee, where he has championed policies for servicemembers and their families to access housing, health care and basic living necessities as they serve our nation. Vela has been an outspoken opponent to the construction of the border wall along the Texas-Mexico border, which goes through his district, and has fought to ensure access to high-paying jobs in the region and for the Latino community.
Jason Rae
DNC Secretary, Biden-Harris Nominee for DNC Secretary
Jason has been a lifelong Democrat, attending county party meetings in rural Barron County, Wisconsin, on a bicycle before he could even drive. He was first elected to the DNC in 2004 when he was just 17 years old, the youngest person ever elected, and was re-elected three times. In February 2017, he was elected Secretary of the Democratic National Committee. Jason serves as a member of the DNC Executive and Rules & Bylaws Committee. He was also the Chair of the DNC Youth Council from 2007 to 2017. Jason founded and currently serves as President & CEO for the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce, an award-winning organization with more than 600 businesses members. He is also a partner at the Milwaukee-based public affairs firm Nation Consulting. Rae lives in Glendale, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee, with his husband, Phillip.
Virginia McGregor
Biden-Harris Nominee for DNC Treasurer
A native of Scranton, Pennsylvania, Virginia McGregor serves as Deputy National Finance Chair of the DNC and National Co-Chair of the DNC’s Women’s Leadership Forum. She is Chair of the Geisinger Family Committee and serves on the Patient Experience, Academic Affairs and Quality committee of the board. In addition, Virginia also serves as chair of the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine board. Prior to her appointment, she served as chair of the CMCHS Board of Directors and previously served on the North Penn Bank Board of Directors, St. Joseph’s Center Foundation Board of Directors, and The Boys and Girls Club of Scranton Board of Directors. Virginia graduated from Holy Cross College with a B.A. in history and also attended the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Executive Education Program. She currently serves on the board of McGregor Industries, a family-owned business that is a manufacturer of miscellaneous and structural steel products for the construction industry.
Chris Korge
DNC Finance Chair, Biden-Harris Nominee for DNC Finance Chair
Christopher G. Korge is an attorney, retailer and real estate developer. Since 2019 he’s served as the elected National Finance Chairman for the Democratic National Committee. He has served in the past as National Finance Chairman for Hillary Clinton for President, National Finance Vice-Chairman for the DNC, and Chairman of the Democratic Business Council for the DNC. He has served in the past as a Trustee for the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee and Trustee of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. He has had a national reputation for over twenty six years as one of the most prolific national Democratic fundraisers in America for each and every Democratic nominee since President Clinton was elected in 1992.
Chris has been extremely involved in charitable activities in the community, including serving on the Florida International University Foundation Board, Vice Chairman of the Urban League of Greater Miami, and is involved with numerous other organizations.
BIDEN INAUGURAL EVENTS AND WAYS TO WATCH INAUGURATION
Saturday, January 16- American United: An Inauguration Welcome Event Celebrating America’s Changemakers
The PIC hosted a welcome event to celebrate America, reflect and honor our history, and highlight the incredible diversity of the nation. Featuring musical performances, celebrity appearances, and remarks from some of the most popular leaders from across the country, the event kicked off five days of programming leading into the inauguration. Click here to watch last night’s event.
Sunday, January 17- We the People Concert (8PMET)
The PIC will host a first of its kind virtual inaugural concert that will support this historic moment in our country’s history. This event is a celebration of the inauguration in honor of the countless grassroots supporters who have pitched in to restore the soul of our nation and usher in the Biden-Harris Administration. The concert will be hosted by Keegan-Michael Key and Debra Messing and feature other speakers and performers, including AJR, Michael Bivins, Connie Britton, Sophia Bush, DJ Cassidy, Cher, Fall Out Boy, Ben Harper, Carole King, Kal Penn, James Taylor, and will.i.am. The event will also feature messages from President-elect Biden, Dr. Biden, Vice President-elect Harris, and Doug Emhoff.
Monday, January 18- “United We Serve” National Day of Service (All Day)
The PIC is partnering with local, state, and national organizations on service events for the National Day of Service on January 18, 2021, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and ahead of the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Learn more at bideninaugural.org/day-of-service
Monday, January 18- “United We Serve” A Celebration of the National MLK Day of Service (8PM ET)
The National Day of Service will culminate in an hour-long celebration that will feature a diverse array of entertainers, inspiring speakers, and stories celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to service.
Tuesday, January 19- Nationwide COVID Memorial (5:30PM ET)
The PIC will host a memorial to remember and honor the lives lost to COVID-19 in cities and towns across the country. A Washington, D.C. ceremony will feature a lighting around the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
PIC is inviting cities and towns around the country to join Washington, D.C. in illuminating buildings and ringing church bells at 5:30 p.m. ET in a national moment of unity and remembrance. Click here to watch.
Wednesday, January 20- Inaugural Ceremonies (TBD)
President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris will be sworn in on the West front of the U.S. Capitol building. After they take their oaths of office, President-elect Biden will deliver an inaugural address laying out his vision to defeat the pandemic, build back better, and unify and heal the nation.
Inauguration Day Ceremonies and Events
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Pass in Review (TBD)
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Wreath Laying at Arlington National Cemetery (TBD)
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Presidential Escort and Parade Across America (TBD)
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Celebrating America Primetime Special (TBD)
Click here to watch Inaugural ceremonies and events
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