As an openly eco-fascistic Republican Party works to dismantle the democratic experiment of the United States of America, the Democratic Party is one of the last remaining bulwarks, but only if it abandons the failed tools of neoliberalism and becomes a revitalized opposition party built upon civic democratic principles, capable of regaining the mantle of the working-class party in order to win against increasingly stark odds at the local level and the national stage.

The 448-odd members of the Democratic National Committee are gathering this week at National Harbor, Maryland to elect new leadership for the Democratic Party on Saturday morning. On Thursday, the candidates will gather in person at Georgetown University for a final forum, with the DNC chair candidates running in prime time with MSNBC anchors Jen Psaki, Symone Sanders, and Jonathan Capehart.

MSNBC guest anchor Luke Russert will moderate the forum for Vice Chair of Civic Engagement and Voter Participation candidates, and Mo Elleithee, Executive Director of Georgetown University’s Institute of Politics and Public Service, a Fox News contributor and DNC at-large member, will moderate the forums for Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and National Finance Chair candidates. As a voting DNC member, Elleithee has pledged not to vote for the offices he is moderating and has avoided participating in the process (e.g. by signing nominating petitions or conversing with candidates).

After an opening reception Wednesday night, the standing committees meet Thursday morning, with council meetings in the afternoon, overlapping with the candidate forum an hour away. According to the proposed schedule, the only full open meeting of the committee will take place early Friday morning, followed by caucus and council meetings. The resolutions committee will consider submitted resolutions, and the credentials committee will recommend a determination for the status of the disputed Alabama delegation.

The order of elections on Saturday, according to the proposed rules of procedure, is: Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, National Finance Chair, Vice Chair for Civic Engagement and Voter Participation, and the three other Vice Chairpersons, all of whom are members of the DNC executive committee. The fifth vice chair, the head of the Association of State Democratic Committees (ASDC), will be elected at a later date.

Chair

The race to succeed Jaime Harrison as DNC chair appears to be a two-man contest between Ken and Ben.