Democratic National Committee chair candidate James Skoufis unveiled his proposed platform for the party on Monday, advocating for increased investments in states traditionally dominated by Republicans in a bid to broaden the electoral playing field for Democrats. In a comprehensive four-point plan revealed to The Hill, Skoufis pledged to significantly bolster the party’s Red State Fund should he be elected chair, while also advocating for a relaxation of what he deemed as “counterproductive” criteria states must meet to qualify for financial support. Furthermore, Skoufis emphasized the necessity of deploying year-round organizers in Republican-leaning states.
“We must shift our focus towards expanding our presence across the country rather than solely concentrating on a handful of states every election cycle. The current approach has proven to be ineffective, leading to consistent disappointment and diminishing returns,” Skoufis remarked. “Drawing from my own experiences of campaigning, winning, and maintaining ground in challenging territories, I am committed to providing red states and counties with unprecedented resources, attention, and committed efforts from our DNC.”
In addition to his plans for enhancing support in Republican strongholds, Skoufis outlined his intentions to reform DNC operations and dismantle what he referred to as the “Beltway Consultant Stranglehold.”
“The DNC has suffered from the consequences of non-competitive contracts and secretive agreements, resulting in a depletion of resources and misguided counsel that has fractured the party. This must come to an end. We will introduce competitive bidding processes for all services, insisting that vendors earn our patronage based on their capabilities, cost-efficiency, and tangible outcomes – not personal connections,” Skoufis asserted.
Hailing from New York, the state senator also stressed the importance of fortifying labor rights and staff support to ensure sustainable organizing efforts within the DNC.
“Establishing a team of dedicated year-round professionals who feel valued, secure, and heard is pivotal in cultivating successful state and local campaigns nationwide,” he emphasized. “We are committed to ensuring that DNC staff will not face abrupt dismissals post-election, but rather be treated with the respect they deserve. Upholding the dignity of workers begins within our own organization.”
Skoufis’s platform emerges amidst a competitive race to succeed the outgoing DNC chair, Jaime Harrison. Noteworthy contenders include former presidential candidate Marianne Williamson, along with Minnesota Democratic Party Chair Ken Martin, Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler, former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, and former Homeland Security official Nate Snyder. The election for DNC chair is scheduled for February 1 during the party’s winter meeting at National Harbor, Maryland, with candidates set to participate in four forums in January to present their visions to the party’s committee members.
