Friends --
Tonight, President Biden will deliver his first State of the Union address. This also will be the first State of the Union that two women will be sitting on the dais with the president. I can’t think of a better way to kick off Women’s History Month.
As you watch the speech, I hope you will take a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come. Tonight is tangible proof that when we come together as a party, as a community, and as a country, we can make history. You had a hand in making that happen.
But don’t forget that history doesn’t stop with one event.
This spring, we will work to appoint Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. And throughout 2022, we can do so much more to move America forward. Around the country, we have many fantastic women candidates who can continue to help us build back better. Many of these women have already blazed a trail.
We have a responsibility to elect leaders who will not only actively work for their communities, but who will also bring a new way of thinking to government. Fresh perspectives make for better decisions. I don’t want to say that it’s time to give everyone a seat at the table, because that time was long ago. But I will say it’s time to make good on our promise. It’s time to recognize the women who lift up our communities.
Too many women feel like they do twice the work and receive half the credit.
The Biden-Harris administration is taking steps to close the gap. Last year, President Biden established the Gender Policy Council to advance gender equity and equality at home and around the world. The GPC covers a range of issues and plays an essential role in the president’s efforts to advance equity in government policy for those who face discrimination and bias. Building on that work, the White House issued the first-ever national gender strategy to advance the full participation of all people -- including women and girls -- in the United States and around the world.
I think about all the women in my life who made me who I am today. My grandmother and my mother raised me to be the best version of myself. My aunts pitched in whenever we needed help. And I can’t imagine a world without my wife, Marie, who is the perfect partner, mother, and leader. She inspires me every day to be even better than the best version of myself.
I’m honored to be a member of the party that recognizes their value to our communities. Democrats are always striving to make sure that every American voice is heard.
As always, I thank you for everything you’ve done to work toward that goal.
Jaime
Jaime Harrison
Chair
Democratic National Committee
We set some records last year! In December, we raised $10.7 million, which brought our 2021 total to $157 million. Both are our highest ever fundraising totals for a non-presidential election year. We also beat our annual record for donors by more than 200,000, with one million people contributing last year. We did it through grassroots support. Nearly 99% of all contributions were $200 or less, while the average online contribution size was just $23.
Last month, President Biden authorized a transfer of $15 million from the DNC to our House and Senate campaign committees. The DSCC and the DCCC will evenly split the investment, which is the largest ever midterm cash transfer. In a first-of-its-kind partnership, the two committees will build an infrastructure that will help us elect Democrats in 2022 and beyond. This work builds on the $20 million effort we have launched to support candidates up and down the ballot in eight battleground states.
The president also announced that he will provide funding through the DNC for communications staff for gubernatorial races in Connecticut, Maryland, Kansas, and New Mexico. President Biden is also planning to headline a fundraising event for the Democratic Governors Association as well as sign quarterly email and text messages to supporters.
Maureen Garde, ASDC Executive Director
Maureen has been instrumental in ensuring that the 57 Democratic parties in our states and territories build the political infrastructure needed to consistently win. She first joined the DNC in 2005 as Deputy Political Director for State Party Services and worked on the 50 state strategy since its inception. Over the years, she rose through the ranks while continuing to support state parties. Prior to joining the DNC, Maureen served as Deputy Executive Director of the Democratic Governors Association and Executive Director of the Massachusetts Democratic Party.
Brencia Berry, Director of Coalitions and Community Engagement
As our first Coalitions Director, Brencia quickly got to work implementing a comprehensive outreach and engagement strategy targeting key stakeholders and communities. Brencia most recently led PL+US (Paid Leave for the United States) national outreach program as Vice President of Equity and Political Strategy. In 2020, she served as National Deputy Director of Public Engagement, overseeing policy and coalitions outreach for Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign. Before joining Senator Warren’s team, Brencia was the first Black woman to serve as Chief of Staff for a Council Member in San Antonio.
Alana Mounce, Political Director
Working with Democratic candidates at the federal, state, and local levels, Alana develops and implements coordinated campaign strategies. She previously served as the Chief of Staff for the Presidential Inaugural Committee and helped deliver Nevada for President Joe Biden, where she served as State Director. Previously, she was the Executive Director for the Nevada State Democratic Party, where she oversaw the most successful midterm election in recent memory, flipping six statewide seats. Additionally, Alana has served in battleground states for both President Obama and Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaigns.
The Massachusetts Democratic Party has fully integrated the Dems Care movement into its Blueprint to ‘22 organizing initiative. Democrats around the commonwealth are showing that “being a Democrat means more than being a good voter or campaigner, it means being a good neighbor.” Blueprint teams host service projects and events to demonstrate our values and address everyday needs at the local level.
When we come together next week for the DNC Winter Meeting, there will be an opportunity for everyone to participate in a Dems Care project.
Hear more about the biggest issues facing America today from the people who are fighting to address them.
Episode 17: Governor Kathy Hochul & Organizing Year Round
Episode 16: Winning In The South & DEI At The DNC
Episode 15: Eric Swalwell & Standing Up For Our Accomplishments
Episode 14: Austan Goolsbee & How Democrats Saved The Economy
Episode 13: Cecile Richards & Winning With Women
Episode 12: Hakeem Jeffries & The Democratic Caucus' Successes
Episode 13: Amanda Litman, Ray Buckley, & Winning Local Races
Episode 12: Hala Ayala, Sheila Oliver & The November 2nd Elections
Episode 11: Eric Holder & Fighting For Fair Redistricting
Episode 10: Tammy Duckworth & Investing In American Families
Episode 9: Sean Patrick Maloney & Building A Bridge To The Future
Episode 8: Chuck Schumer & A Behind-The-Scenes Look At The Senate
Episode 7: Jim Clyburn & Making A Difference
Episode 6: Alex Padilla & The California Recall Election
Episode 5: Elizabeth Warren & People-First Policy
Episode 4: Keisha Lance Bottoms & How Georgia Voters Made History
Episode 3: Cory Booker & The Call To Service
Episode 2: Julián Castro & The Fight To Protect Voting Rights
Episode 1: Beto O'Rourke & The Fight To Protect Voting Rights
