Yesterday, DC for Democracy volunteers travelled to Annapolis, MD to the Association of State Democratic Chairs’ (ASDC) Spring convention, to lobby for DC Voting Rights. The brainchild of Jeff Richardson, Vice Chair of the DC Democratic State Committee, and a founding member of DC4D, our strategy was to do one-stop shopping to get the help of the state Democratic party chiefs for our cause.

ASDC consists of the state party chairs, vice-chairs, executive directors, and other officials. They have gone on the record in supporting DC Voting Rights, but our hope was to nudge them to use their extensive networks in their own states to push for this bill — both to ensure that every Democratic Senator would vote yes, and to ensure that enough Republicans at least desist from filibustering the bill. Based on the very friendly response we got on Sunday, we are very hopeful that we have their full support.

DC4D is very pleased to have supported Jeff’s initiative. He did a fine job of representing the DC Democratic State Committee — and all DC residents — before the members of the ASDC. You did us proud, Jeff!

DC4D was an indispensable element of this outreach effort. Every one of the 7 volunteers is a DC4D member, although some of them wore their other hats! Eugene Kinlow and Mike Panetta were in the delegation. Joanne Kim, Jesse Lovell, Karen Rose, and myself represented DC4D, bearing letters, faxes, and endorsements from DFA partners in Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, North Dakota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia. This solid evidence of constituent concern for DC voting rights is a unique asset that DC4D brings to the campaign.

The convention afforded us a unique opportunity to mobilize the power of the State party leaders on behalf of our cause. For example, with the help of Maida Tryon of Democracy for MD, and MD State Party Chair, Terry Lierman, we hope to see Senators Mikulski and Cardin co-sponsor the new Senate bill (S 1257) very soon! The more supporters sign on as co-sponsors, especially decisive numbers of Republicans, the more strongly we establish the inevitability of this bill.

This is a historic moment for DC Voting Rights, and DC for Democracy is in the thick of the current. We’re jumping in very early in the Senate campaign. Won’t you join us? There are so many ways you can help, let’s find what fits you and your lifestyle. So please, join our campaign now!