There’s more drama within the Democratic Party, this time at the Democratic National Committee, where chair Tom Perez has decided to clean house. Most of the officials that were included in the purge did not support Perez’s candidacy, so there’s the possibility of exacerbating the rift between the two wings of the Democratic Party. It also couldn’t have come at a worse time: the eve of the DNC’s fall meeting in Las Vegas (via NBC News):
Complaints began immediately after party officials saw a list of Perez's appointments to DNC committees and his roster of 75 "at-large" members, who are chosen by the chair.
A shake-up is underway at the Democratic National Committee as several key longtime officials have lost their posts, exposing a still-raw rift in the party and igniting anger among those in its progressive wing who see retaliation for their opposition to DNC Chairman Tom Perez.
The ousters come ahead of the DNC's first meeting, in Las Vegas, Nevada, since Perez took over as chairman with a pledge this year to unite a party that had become badly divided during the brutal Bernie Sanders-Hillary Clinton 2016 primary race.
Complaints began immediately after party officials saw a list of Perez's appointments to DNC committees and his roster of 75 "at-large" members, who are chosen by the chair.
The removal and demotion of a handful of veteran operatives stood out, as did what critics charge is the over-representation of Clinton-backed members on the Rules and Bylaws Committee, which helps set the terms for the party's presidential primary, though other Sanders and Ellison backers remain represented.
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The DNC denied any retaliation, saying that the changes were an effort to diversify and freshen the party’s leadership and that all the party’s officers had a chance to offer input. They touted new additions like Marisa Richmond, a millennial black transgender activist, and the first Dreamer member, Ellie Perez, to point to the DNC's efforts at diversity.
Still, it seems the ghosts of 2016 are not done playing with the DNC. Even some fellow Democrats are beginning to criticize Perez’s tenure, not because of the shake up, but because he doesn’t seem to be getting the party back on track. The party still has no leader, dismal fundraising numbers, no message, and no agenda heading into the midterms. This isn’t the first time Perez has cleaned house. Upon winning the DNC chairmanship race, he ordered all staffers at the organization to submit their letters of resignation.
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