Letter from the Chair

The Democratic Party Must Lead the Way Toward Progressive Victories in the 2010 Elections.

 After two election cycles of many victories, we Democrats look toward elections in 2010 with a cautious eye, nervous of potential to lose seats we have gained and the very real political and policy consequences.  In recent years, Democrats in Wisconsin gained firm control over the Governor’s office, took majorities in both houses of the State Legislature, won a new Congressional seat and continued to send back to the House our fine Representatives.  Both nationally and here in our state, we will fight like hell to make 2010 an election cycle of victory and not of despair.  We Democrats can and must lead the way. 

 Often wrong, the conventional wisdom seems to be that 2010 will be an electoral debacle for Democrats, on the order of 1994 or 1946 when Republicans won back from Democrats many seats and commanding majorities.  The story goes like this: A new Democratic president, flailing and floundering, and Democratic caucuses, overreaching with major policy initiatives, lose the trust and support of the mass electorate, leading to crushing losses and a stalled progressive agenda.  But this conventional wisdom was wrong in these previous elections and it is wrong about 2010.  Reality matters -- and as importantly, so do Democrats.

 The real story is this: An economy already busted from thirty years of Reaganite conservatism broke down almost completely from failed policy from the Bush Administration; Democrats in the White House, in Congress, and in Wisconsin’s Capitol have worked to implement strong policy responses to fix the economy and tackle the monstrous challenges faced by our state and by our nation.  The electorate is not snowed by talk of Democratic shortcomings, but Democratic leaders in office and in our party organization must formulate the real response in action and communication.

 The key to the 2010 elections will be what Democrats do to win.  We as activists and members of the party can and should provide support to our elected Democrats to fulfill the progressive vision and agenda that makes us the party of people.  And those Democratic elected officials will respond in kind.  But we as Democratic activists and party members have a larger responsibility as well.

 The 2010 elections will be won or lost on Democratic turnout, and by extension, by activism from Democrats as party members in our communities.  The numbers show that the electorate identifies more as Democrats than as Republicans and that voters trust Democrats on all of the key issues.  It has never been more true than now that if Democrats turn out, we will win.  Our proverbial base holds the key to this election in our votes and in our activism.  History shows that midterm elections like 2010 are contests between party bases.  The Republican base, dwindling and out of touch, can only win if we sit by idly as Tea Party fanatics and regressive conservatives rally just enough support to beat back the demographic and political tides of the strength of our party. 

 The first and most important order of business for Democrats is to vote.  It seems simple enough and almost goes without saying -- almost.  We must all vote and vote for our Democrats.  Tammy Baldwin won with her highest percentage of votes ever, and that should not change in 2010 because she represents the best in Democratic values.  We can never take for granted her election and must continue to work for her victories because the larger a margin by which she wins, the stronger a message we send that want Democrats in office and we want Democrats in office who act like Democrats.

 From Tom Barrett for Governor to Scott Hassett for Attorney General, from the Assembly  Democratic to retaining our Senate majority, we will need to work as hard -- or harder -- to win for Democrats in 2010 as what we did in 2006 and 2008.  It is no stretch to say that even with the favorable political winds in those election cycles, Democrats won because of the enthusiasm and energy of Democratic activists and party members.  That is our second order of business.

 In a base election year like 2010, we must not only turn out to vote ourselves but also turn out the thousands, the tens of thousands, the hundreds of thousands of Democratic voters like us.  They must hear from us that we want their vote.  They must hear from us why we want their vote.  They must hear how how important it is that they vote, and that they vote Democratic.  This election will not be lost by Republicans or swung by independents; it will be won by Democrats.  So we must organize like mad and fight like hell to turn out our base, turn out Democrats, for victory in 2010. 

 This brings us to the third order of business for Democrats: we need to organize our party.  We can all vote ourselves; but to turn out Democratic voters we must be well-organized within our party to communicate with and turn out the votes necessary to win.  Organization starts with renewing your membership in the party.  It is followed by getting engaged with your county party.  It is supported by getting involved with the campaigns of candidates or the programs of your local county party.  With strong organization and by virtue of our numbers, Democrats will win in 2010, no matter what the conventional wisdom says. 

 The 2010 election cycle, if not already begun in earnest, begins now for Democrats in the 2nd Congressional District.  Onward to November!

Peter Rickman
Chairman, Democratic Party of the 2nd Congressional District