The Alabama Democratic Party is not a mess.
I know that such a statement has likely sent you into either a fit of laughter or into utter disbelief. But it’s true. The party is not a mess.
There are good and competent people within the party working every day to field and train candidates. There are smart, smart people working to develop donor lists and put together winning campaign strategies. There are good and decent people trying very hard to build a viable second party in this state so that we might enjoy a state government that operates with compromise and middle-ground solutions to complicated problems—the way it was intended.
You don’t hear much about those people, unfortunately, because so much attention—and maybe rightfully so—is focused on the absolute train wreck at the top of the party.
That is an injustice. In fact, it’s a grave disservice to those good people I mentioned above, because they deserve better. I mean, can you imagine putting in all the effort to do the hard, complex job of building a decent political party at the city, county or state level, doing that job even semi-well, and then, instead of accolades, all you hear about is the dysfunctional party that you’re in?
That ain’t right.
But it’s also one of the primary reasons why what’s happening at the top of the Alabama Democratic Party is so utterly infuriating. And boy, is it ever.
Over the last two weeks, the Democratic National Committee has again taken on an ADP issue—this one dealing with more party election shenanigans—and once again determined that things weren’t handled properly, and likely not handled properly on purpose.
I could go into details, but really, what’s the point? You know the story. You know who the players are. You know the basic lines.
One side filed a complaint. The other side acted shocked and yelled, “racism.”
The DNC got involved when asked and determined that there were issues. The other side yelled more “racism.”
Rinse. Repeat.
I don’t want to hear any more excuses. I don’t want to hear any more grand stories of vendettas. I don’t want to hear any more. Period.
This isn’t deep. This isn’t complicated.
For much of the last decade-plus, the State Democratic Executive Committee that governs ADP operated under a system that did not adhere closely to the DNC bylaws, in terms of recognizing and giving proper voting rights to various minority groups. There is no reason to quibble over this, because it is an absolute fact.
In 2019, a group of ADP members sought to change that, and with the DNC’s backing, it implemented new bylaws that created a number of new caucuses within the organization that brought SDEC more closely in line with the DNC’s expectations. No longer did “minority” simply mean Black. The new bylaws spread voting power more equitably among several protected groups.
And it did so according to voting percentages within the state of Alabama.
No group was disenfranchised. And the Black voters within ADP did not have their voting power diluted, despite claims to the contrary.
Those bylaws and the new caucuses were praised by the DNC, which, if you’re unaware, is governed now—and was governed then—by a number of Black members. They believed, rightfully, that the new bylaws would rejuvenate the party by bringing new faces and new ideas to the table. And it would finally force leadership to listen to a broader coalition of voices, because of that equality.
That’s what happened. While things were certainly not perfect, and a lot of things could have been handled better, the enthusiasm within the party was noticeably better. The lower ranks were growing. There were young volunteers and workers of all races.
Following the SDEC elections in 2022, though, despite winning under the new bylaws, the newly-elected leadership set about drastically changing those bylaws. Doing away with many of the changes, marginalizing some of the minority groups again. Pushing the party back to the setup of old.
That’s what all of the fighting since has been about.
Those historically marginalized groups that finally earned a full seat at the table in 2019 have been fighting efforts to eliminate their chairs. They have run to the DNC for support. And pretty much every single time, the DNC—governed by dozens of different people each time—has sided with them, has taken ADP leadership to task for their efforts to undermine equality efforts, has been heavily critical of various tactics employed for no other reason than to skirt rules and treat people unfairly.
Not because there’s a vendetta against certain people, and certainly not because of racial discrimination. Honestly, it’s hard to even comprehend such an allegation, given the diverse makeup of the various DNC committees that have heard these challenges from ADP.
The DNC has ruled the way it has because what’s been happening is wrong. And I think, deep down, a lot of people involved in this know it.
So, I haven’t used a single name in this. Because the individuals aren’t important. The results are.
Right now, there’s a party in this state—tied to a national one—that has made exclusion, discrimination and the mistreatment of others their brand. They’re taking great pride in violating laws and our Constitution in their efforts to mistreat and discriminate against anyone who isn’t straight, white and male. They’re not even hiding it anymore.
ADP, like Democrats across the country, has an opportunity to be the counter to that. To show people that they’re welcome and valued, that their ideas have value and that their work is important and necessary. We already know that if ADP will do that, those folks will come with enthusiasm and be ready to work.
So, maybe try that. Embrace the diversity again. Stop fighting the progress. Do things the right way, let power fall where it may. And see where that gets you.
The results couldn’t be worse. And if nothing else, those good people I mentioned earlier deserve it.
