So far there are 4 New Dems in contention for the open DCCC chair… and many people are wondering why a REAL Dem doesn’t run for the crucial job. This is the shit show as of now— along with each of the contender’s current ProgressivePunch ratings:
Tony Cárdenas (CA)- C
Ami Bera (CA)- F
Sara Jacobs (CA)- A
Mike Sherrill (NJ)- F
Tara Palmeri reported for Puck that Sherrill is “being pushed” to run for DCCC chair. “Likely leader Hakeem Jeffries would probably support the move, even though it might drive the progressive caucus crazy. Sherrill will have to decide between taking on a grueling and time-consuming fundraising hustle, instead of focusing on running for governor in N.J.” (Besides being a New Dem, Sherrill is also a Blue Dog.)
Making a case for herself (for any available job, not just DCCC chair), Jacobs wrote in a letter to her colleagues that “This cycle, I was honored to serve as Recruitment Co-Chair and Red to Blue Co-Chair of the DCCC, raising more than $6.5 million to support House Democrats and traveling across the country to campaign for our candidates. So many of them– considered longshots and written off by pundits and polls– will be our new colleagues, and I couldn’t be more excited.”
This isn't a job a Member of Congress should have to begin with-- too many conflicts, as we keep seeing. In fact, I think the first DCCC Chair, James Rood Doolittle, a former Senator (and former Republican) wasn't even a member of the House ever when he was Chair, although I could be wrong about that. It was 1868 even even Dianne Fienstein has probably forgotten the details. In any case, I think the best DCCC chair I can think of would be Juliana Forlano-- and she might be available.
A friend on Capitol Hill told just told me that he heard from Sherrill’s office that she’s determined to run for governor and won’t be running for DCCC chair after all but that someone else— mystery meat candidate— will jump into the race so that it isn’t just 3 Californians, two of whom are avatars of corruption and the other one... an heiress. What a face for the DCCC! Who's even worst?