The Democratic Power Building Pledge

Principled Commitments for Democratic National Committee Chair Candidates

The Democratic Power Building Pledge

Principled Commitments for Democratic National Committee Chair Candidates.

As organizations committed to strengthening Democratic infrastructure, we recognize the urgent need to rethink how our party allocates resources to build lasting political power. For too long, the Democratic Party has prioritized short-term wins over long-term resilience, undermining our ability to sustain Democratic power between and beyond election cycles. To reverse this trend, we urge all candidates running for Chair of the Democratic National Committee to commit to the following pledge:

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1. I will deploy the resources of the DNC to build permanent organizing infrastructure. As chair of the DNC, I will prioritize investments that last beyond a single election cycle, including funding year-round voter registration and engagement efforts, supporting state and local groups with a permanent on-the-ground presence, and fostering trusted partnerships with community organizations, faith groups, and civic leaders.
2. I will invest in grassroots leadership. As chair of the DNC, I will meaningfully support organizations that identify, train, and cultivate authentic grassroots leaders rooted in their communities. Winning candidates and strategies emerge organically from the people and places they serve, and I will commit to ensuring that our party reflects the diversity and values of the electorate.
3. I will invest in recruiting, training and retaining campaign staff. As chair of the DNC, I will recognize that it takes great candidates to win elections, but even the best candidates cannot win on their own. I will make sure that the DNC’s work to support candidates includes supporting those candidates with diverse, talented, and well-trained staff.
4. I will fund for impact, not just for the cycle. As chair of the DNC, I will complement critical in-cycle support for campaigns with long-term funding to build party infrastructure and capacity in all 50 states. I will support state and local groups who build trust and relationships between elections, not just before them.
5. I will build a party that reflects the full diversity of our country. As chair of the DNC, I will understand that our party must reflect the breadth of the electorate in order to adequately represent that electorate. I will commit to creating a Democratic party that is more like America, ensuring that diversity is reflected in our candidates, campaign staff, organizers, and party leaders.

By signing this pledge, I affirm my commitment to moving the Democratic Party beyond short-term thinking and toward a vision of enduring political power built from the ground up. Together, we can create a Democratic infrastructure that not only wins elections but sustains our values and democracy for generations to come.

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Signatories

Organizations

dnc chair candidates

Ben Wikler

Ken Martin

Jason Paul

Nate Snyder

Martin O’Malley

Marianne Williamson