2024 Washington State Democratic Convention General Session Meets to Consider Agenda, Resolutions and Governance Changes

Welcome to NPI’s ongoing coverage of the 2024 Washington State Democratic Convention. Today, the general session convened to allow delegates to discuss resolutions and hear from Democratic committees and leadership left.

The Meydenbauer Center elevator doors opened to a hive of activity and I was drawn into a long line of delegates waiting to go through security and bag checks before entering Hall B of the Center, the room which hosts the general session.

Once inside the hall, delegates took their seats either at round tables or in rows facing the main stage, where a panel of party leaders and convention committee chairs slowly assembled. To accommodate security screening needs, the first general session did not begin until around 9:30 a.m., approximately half an hour after the announced start time. So delegates waited in anticipation of today’s speakers, including U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene and the party chair. business articles.

As with last night’s gala dinner, party president Shasti Conrad opened the proceedings.

Three keynote speakers, who discussed environmental issues, Washington’s tribal communities and immigration, were followed by a Girl Scout Color Guard (who was not tall enough to be seen on camera in live but could be seen in the room) and the singer. Parisalexa, who sang the national anthem.

Before Shasti Conrad took the microphone again to present the president’s report, she welcomed U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene to the stage to say a few words.

Suzan DelBene, who represents NPI’s home congressional district, attributed her success as representative to the hard work of the Democrats in the room. “It’s a testament to your incredible work and the collaboration of the people who worked together to get to this point.”

DelBene highlighted important elections in Washington, Alaska and Oregon, including the campaigns of Mary Peltola, Marie Glusenkamp Perez and Andrea Salinas for reelection to the House of Representatives, and praised the growing number of Democratic women in delegations of Congress of these two States.

“We know we have important work to do. Because this election is about our rights, our freedoms, our democracy and our future, and we all have a role to play in securing our position. We need grassroots leadership from all of you to ensure our success,” DelBene told delegates and guests.

Conrad then spoke again, celebrating Democratic successes in fundraising, strengthening diversity, equity and inclusion, and flipping key offices, like winning Spokane mayoralty. Since Conrad became president, Democrats have rolled out their coordinated 2024 campaign, involving 430 community organizers across the state. The party managed to raise $6 million and recently had its best fundraising month in its history.

However, Conrad urged the delegates in attendance (including more than 500 here in Bellevue and another 400 remotely) not to become complacent. Conrad referenced a Bellevue man who gave Trump a $1 million check after his conviction for 34 crimes in New York this month, and reminded the audience that they are fighting men of very wealthy right-wingers who have made it their mission to get Trump. back.

Conrad also condemned Gluesenkamp Perez’s expected opponent, Joe Kent, who is a conspiracy theorist and has expressed extreme views on defunding the Federal Bureau of Investigation and preventing the rebuilding of the aging Interstate Bridge. 5 crossing the Columbia River because the new bridge would be “antifa.” highway. »

Conrad concluded with a list of Democratic goals for the November election: “We must elect President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. We must keep convicted felon Donald Trump out of the Oval Office. We need to elect Bob Ferguson governor. We must ensure that every statewide office remains in Democratic hands. We need to expand our majorities in the State Legislature and flip seats like in LDs 10, 14, and 17. We can’t just shout “Go Vote!” ” at people’s Place. Our job is to give people hope for what is possible. That we can and will do better.

The president’s report was followed by a final credentials report, which counted 1,023 registered delegates, including 703 in person.

Next, the convention considered several proposed amendments to the state party’s statutes. The statutes, as well as the charter, are the main constitutive documents of the party. Modification of the statutes during the congress requires the affirmative vote of an absolute majority of the seated delegates.

NPI’s Andrew Villeneuve, a longtime state committee member and automatic delegate to the convention, proposed two bylaw amendments to improve communication and transparency between the Washington State Democratic Party’s executive committee and its larger large state central committee, which governs the party between conventions.

Villeneuve explained that the Executive Committee (of which he is a member) has played a more important role in the management of the party since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the state central committee stopped meeting regularly in person. The committee now meets more frequently than in the past and most of its meetings are held remotely rather than in person before or after state central committee sessions.

As a result, he proposed two amendments to improve transparency and communication, both developed in consultation with DNC member David McDonald and the party’s Secretary of State Rob Dolin.

Its first amendment requires the Executive Committee to notify the State Central Committee of the scheduling of Executive Committee meetings and to provide SCC members with the opportunity to observe upon request. The amendment also requires the Secretary (currently Dolin, a former NPI board member and current NPI advisory board member) to send the draft minutes of the executive committee meetings within seven days, which must include an attendance report.

The second proposed amendment would establish a reporting responsibility for executive committee members representing a congressional district. Representatives (or their representatives) would have ten days to report in writing to their constituents following the conclusion of an executive committee meeting. Currently, the position of executive committee representative does not have responsibilities defined in the statutes.

Both amendments were recommended “for adoption” by the Rules Committee and neither received opposition from other delegates. The amendments were adopted by 806 votes to 29 and 753 votes to 82 respectively, with Villeneuve deeply thanking delegates for their support and emphasizing that the Democratic Party has an obligation to set an example of responsible governance in these times of crisis. growing authoritarianism.

Two other amendments, submitted by Tim Noonan, were withdrawn without objection.

An amendment by Amy Madden on DNC member elections was ruled out of order because it would cause a conflict between the bylaws and the charter if adopted.

The last item on the agenda before lunch was party nominations, which are the party’s way of telling the state that an office holder is a Democrat so that the party retains its right to nominate replacements for them if they leave office before the expiration of their mandate. (The Washington State Constitution gives the party a key role in filling vacancies in partisan and county legislative offices.) No delegates showed up to debate the proposed slate, so that the list was adopted without objection.

Stay tuned for more coverage of the Washington State Democratic Convention. Delegates retired for lunch, but will reconvene soon to work on the 2024 platform and review resolutions. The party has until 4 p.m. to complete its work.