Applauding New Democratic Party Reforms That Weaken Superdelegates

From nonprofit Our Revolution:

CHICAGO – After nearly two years of discussion and debate, Our Revolution members nationwide rejoiced at the passed Democratic National Committee (DNC) reforms during the DNC’s Summer meeting on Saturday. The eight members of the Unity Reform Commission—which worked to draft reforms—appointed by Sen. Sanders to the commission include Our Revolution Board Board Chair Larry Cohen, President Nina Turner, Board members Jane Kleeb, and Jim Zogby, as well as former Berkeley Mayor Gus Newport, Jeff Weaver, Nomiki Konst, and Lucy Flores.

Our Revolution and six other organizations including MoveOn, Roots Action, Progressive Democrats of America, National Nurses United, Demand Progress and Democracy for America submitted over 35,000 petition signatures asking DNC members to support ending superdelegates voting on the first ballot for the presidential nomination at the convention.

The newly passed reforms include:

• Ending superdelegates voting on the first nominating ballot in the presidential primary
• Electoral reforms and a process for rewarding states that have same-day registration, same-day party change, open primaries, other measures that increase civic participation
• The creation of an Ombudsman Committee and strengthening the conflict of interest provision.
• Improving financial oversight of the DNC’s finances and spending

“I want to congratulate Chair Tom Perez, the members of the Rules and Bylaws Committee and the DNC members for passing these monumental reforms. This is a huge step forward,” said Our Revolution Board Chair and Vice-Chair of the Unity Reform Commission Larry Cohen. “These reforms will give the power to decide our next democratic nominee to the millions of voters participating in primaries and caucuses and make our party truly democratic.”

“We cannot have unity without reform and today’s passage of party reform will go a long way to uniting the party,” added Our Revolution President Nina Turner. “These reforms show that when we come together as Democrats to put the greater good of the majority ahead of those with special interests and privilege we can be a party that practices what we preach about democracy and voting rights. These reforms will also help us get closer to earning the votes of our sisters and brothers in this country as we head into the midterms and prepare for 2020. Today’s vote is only the beginning of the process there is much more work to be done. The greater work is what is happening in the real real world to save the masses of people who depend on Democrats with a people-purposed mission to get elected.”