Guest Commentary: Where are you, Philly Democrats?
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Guest Commentary: Where are yous, Philly Democrats?
A longtime political activist wonders why the local Autonomous party was nowhere to be seen during the midterms—and urges it to pace up before 2020
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Invitee Commentary: Where are you lot, Philly Democrats?
A longtime political activist wonders why the local Democratic party was nowhere to exist seen during the midterms—and urges it to step upwardly before 2020
Nov. 09, 2018
In this fall'due south elections, in that location were dozens of ways for political newbies to get involved. Almost none of them were with the Philadelphia Democratic Party.
If you alive in one of the surrounding counties, you could become online and detect a Democratic Party spider web page or a Facebook page inviting you lot to volunteer. In Philly, it was much more difficult. At a fourth dimension when voter engagement is essential, the City'due south Democratic Party needs to step upwardly its game.
In Montgomery Canton, the Democratic Party Facebook page was being refreshed several times a twenty-four hour period with videos and events. In Philly, on the weekend earlier Election Mean solar day, the Democratic Party'southward Facebook page had not been updated in a calendar month.
The Delaware County web page took you lot straight to an invitation to volunteer. Their Facebook folio invited y'all to an election dark sentinel political party. In Philly, the only events on Philly's webpage was a sad invitation to the Democratic Political party dinner on October 22, a fundraiser for Ward 66A and two events for a City Councilperson. In Montco, 600 people paid to attend the Democratic Party dinner, where the invitee of honour was one-time Mayor Michael Bloomberg. In Philly, the guest at the political party dinner was, well—nobody.
In this fall'south elections, in that location were dozens of means for political newbies to become involved. Most none of them were with the Philadelphia Democratic Party.
It's not that Philly didn't have any relevant races. One of the nationally watched swing Congressional districts, where Mary Gay Scanlon was running as the Democrat, includes role of South Philly. There were as well competitive land rep races, like Joe Hohenstein in Northeast Philly. But you wouldn't know that by looking at the Philly City Dems' Facebook folio. Neither race was mentioned.
Fortunately, other organizations fabricated it easier for Philly voters to get involved. Turn Pa Blueish did a masterful job of sending Philly volunteers to competitive races, particularly in the suburbs. More meaning, a growing number of Democratic wards engaged in sophisticated GOTV efforts. A number of wards, including the 9th (Chestnut Hill) and the 30th (Graduate Hospital) organized volunteers who wanted to work on suburban races.
Even more of them, including the 8th (Eye City) created their own turf lists that allowed committee people to call or knock on doors of voters, using the latest data. The 2nd Ward's (Queen Village) Facebook page offered like shooting fish in a barrel means for volunteers to sign up to sheet or to attend a fundraiser. The 1st Ward (South Philly) invited volunteers to work on vacant election boards at polling places—jobs that are always difficult to fill.
It'due south time for the Philadelphia Democratic Party to appoint in this level of outreach. People who desire to get involved in politics get online and search for the Democratic Party, often via Facebook and increasingly to other apps similar Instagram. They are getting a message that they are non welcome in the Autonomous Party. We need all hands on deck in 2020. It's way past time for the Democratic Party to open its arms and go far easy for voters and volunteers to get involved.
Terry Gillen is a long-fourth dimension political activist and a erstwhile Democratic ward leader.
Photo via Flickr
Source: https://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/guest-commentary-where-are-you-philly-democrats/
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