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The Democratic Change Commission will be having their first meeting, open to the public, on Saturday June 27th in Washington, DC. We will provide highlights of the meeting here on the blog.

Following the Democratic Presidential primaries and caucuses of the 2008 presidential nominating campaign the Democratic National Convention Rules Committee, at the request of then Senator Obama, drafted a resolution calling for a commission to review and recommend changes to the 2012 nominating process. That was adopted on August 25, 2008 by the full Democratic National Convention and thus created the Democratic Change Commission.

The first part of the resolution outlines the structure and purpose of the Commission. According to the resolution, the DNC Chair has to appoint 35 members, who must represent the diversity in our Party, to sit on the Change Earlier this year Chairman Kaine announced the 37 Commission members, including two co-chairs. These members are grassroots activists, local and federal elected officials, labor leaders and a wide range of other backgrounds. Here is a full list of the commission members and their biographical information. We will be introducing several members from the Commission throughout our coverage of the Commission's work. We welcome questions you would like to ask them and we will try to present several of the top ones during upcoming interviews.

The resolution's next sections outline the areas the commission will be charged with improving. The first area the Commission must review is the nominating calendar, the scheduling and sequence of presidential nominating events (primaries and caucuses). The Commission is charged with making recommendations to significantly reduce the number of unpledged delegates (also know as super delegates). Finally the Commission must consider ways to improve caucuses to increase the ability of Democratic voters to participate.

During the 2008 nominating process the Democratic Party was able to bring its ideas and messages for improving government to every state in the country. We were able to reach new voters and engage many long time voters. This success was critical to our victory this past November. We learned a lot from the nominating process and believe through improvements we will be able to continue to reach new Americans and build on our success.

We look forward to providing you access and coverage of the work of the Commission. If you have questions please share them in the comments.

Mike Tate’s career in Democratic organizing began at a very early age. When in 4th grade, he helped Michael Dukakis score an upset victory in his school’s mock election. Two years later, Tate was begging his mother to drive him down to Tom Loftus’ gubernatorial campaign office, where he would help stuff envelopes after school.

In 1998, Mike worked as a volunteer for Senator Russ Feingold’s reelection campaign, and then became very active with the College Democrats, serving as Chair of the College Democrats of Wisconsin and Vice President of the College Democrats of America. Mike has worked for Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, Governor Jim Doyle, and AFSCME Council 40. In 2003, Mike served as the Wisconsin State Director for Dean for America . He also served as the Deputy State Director for America Coming Together, overseeing one of the largest grassroots voter mobilization efforts in Wisconsin political history.

In the 2006 election cycle, Mike managed the Fair Wisconsin campaign, overseeing the effort to defeat the constitutional amendment banning civil unions and marriage. Fair Wisconsin was one of the largest anti-amendment campaigns ever mounted, raising a historic $5.3 million from over 11,000 individual donors and mobilizing significant progressive turnout in opposition to the constitutional amendment.

Most recently, Mike directed Advancing Wisconsin, a vast voter mobilization effort in 2008, helping boost turnout in key legislative districts and for Barack Obama. Mike received his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and currently lives in Milwaukee County with his wife, Amy, a member of the academic staff at the UW-Milwaukee Alumni Association.

Congratulations Mike, the youngest state party chairman of either party. Check out the Wisconsin Democratic Party's website for more information.

Democratic National Committee Chairman and Virginia Governor Tim Kaine issued the following statement on the nomination of Creigh Deeds for Governor in today’s Democratic primary election:

“Today, we were fortunate to have had three excellent candidates who waged hard-fought campaigns. Creigh Deeds, Terry McAuliffe, and Brian Moran each made phenomenal efforts in their quest to represent the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia . However, in this race, as in every election, only one person can claim victory. Tonight is Creigh Deeds’ night.

“The election of Senator Deeds tonight as the 2009 Democratic nominee for governor is an incredible victory for Virginia—and its citizens. Senator Deeds’ victory is a clear signal Virginians want to keep our state moving forward, and I am pleased to extend my congratulations to my friend and colleague on this critical accomplishment.

“As Virginia continues to weather the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, we need elected leaders with the savvy and the courage to make the tough decisions to get our economy back on track. With his years of dedicated public service and real-world experience, Creigh is the ideal leader to keep Virginia the Best State for Business, the Best-Managed State , and the Place Where a Child is Most Likely to Succeed in Life. I’ve worked closely with Senator Deeds over the years and I am confident he will do what’s right for our communities and our Commonwealth.

“I know from experience that Virginia is a place where Democrats have won—and will continue to win—because we take a pragmatic, results-oriented approach to politics and governing, instead of an ideological one. We’re known for being problem-solvers and unifiers and we pursue policies that work for Virginia families.

“Creigh Deeds has always been able to bring people together, build consensus, and deliver results. That’s exactly the approach that Virginians have supported over the past eight years, and I have no doubt that Creigh will work in a bipartisan way to keep building on the progress we’ve made.

“In the coming months, Virginians will have the chance to decide who we want to be the chief steward of our resources and the kind of leader we feel will ensure the best opportunities for our families and our future.

“The choice is clear: Creigh Deeds is the best candidate to continue the work begun by my administration — and the Warner administration before ours — while positioning us for future achievements.”

DNC Executive Director Jen O'Malley Dillon send out an email last night, thanking everyone who tuned in to watch Governor Kaine on "Meet the Press" on Sunday, as well as those who wrote in afterward with their thoughts:

Last Sunday, Governor Kaine had a chance to go head-to-head with Republican Chairman Michael Steele on NBC's "Meet the Press." He took the opportunity to discuss some of the important issues facing America, and to show folks what the President and our party have to offer.

Afterward, many of you submitted your thoughts on the program. Here are just a few of the comments we've received so far:

Alma from Moneta, Virginia:

Terry from Miami Beach, Florida:

Ellen from Las Vegas, Nevada:

Julie from Carmel, Indiana:

Thanks to everyone who tuned in yesterday, and everyone who took the time to share their thoughts. We hope to continue hearing from you in the weeks and months ahead. It will take all of us working together to continue to grow this party, and to meet the challenges we face as a country.

Thank you for your support,

Jen

Jen O'Malley Dillon
Executive Director
Democratic National Committee

On April 26 the California Democratic Party elected John Burton as its chairman. Burton has a long resume of serving Californians in the State Assembly, State Senate and the House of Representatives. Via the California Democratic Party's website is this bio on John Burton;

John Burton is widely considered one of the most effective and experienced legislative leaders in the State of California - if not the nation. He began his career as a Deputy Attorney General, served as the President of the Young Democrats, and won election to the County Central Committee. He then served as a State Assemblymember, President of the California Democratic Council, Chair of the California Democratic Party, U.S. Congressmember and as President pro Tem of the California State Senate. After being termed-out of the Legislature, he created a foundation which has raised millions of dollars to assist homeless and foster care children across California.

With a consistent 100% voting record throughout his career from environmental, labor, and human rights organizations, the California Journal wrote: "Burton is trying to do right by some of the least among us.... There’s a sense that he’s not wielding or exercising power for the sake of power itself; the things he’s trying to do have a real purpose behind them."

John Burton wrote the laws that make California better:

• Established landmark farm mediation for farm workers and the UFW;
• Achieved DNA testing to free the wrongly convicted and help identify guilty parties
• Secured prevailing wage rates for construction and building trades and restored the 8-hour day;
• Guaranteed CalGrant college scholarships for every student with financial need;
• Led the effort in the State Senate to pass the nation's first state law requiring automakers to reduce greenhouse gas pollution from cars;
• Increased aid for the elderly, blind and disabled;
• Facilitated agreement to save Headwaters Forest Preserve and Farallones Marine Sanctuary; prohibited offshore oil drilling along the Point Reyes seashore;
• Enacted historic levels of support for mental health and juvenile crime prevention programs;
• Overhauled the state’s flawed child support collection system;
• Increased affordable housing and helped fight homelessness with a $2.1 billion bond issue; and
• Set tough campaign contribution limits and increased public disclosure of contributions.

You can learn more about the California Democratic Party at their website http://www.cadem.org.

You can read more about John Burton and the state party at calitics.com one of the credentialed blogs from the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

On Saturday, Governor Kaine delivered the keynote speech at the North Carolina Democratic Party's Jefferson-Jackson dinner. Below you can watch his remarks in full;

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, will give the keynote address at the North Carolina Democratic Party’s annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner tomorrow, Saturday, May 2nd at the Durham Marriott Convention Center . The dinner starts at 7:00 p.m . This will be Gov. Kaine’s first appearance at a Jefferson-Jackson dinner since becoming Chair of the DNC in January. During his remarks, Kaine will discuss the momentum of the Democratic Party in North Carolina , the importance of the Tar Heel state in the 2008 election, the importance of the Senate race in North Carolina in 2010, and the accomplishments of President Obama and the Democratic Congress.

Earlier today Senator Arlen Specter left the Republican Party and he is now a Democrat.

A Republican for 43 years, Senator Specter has chosen to leave a party that he says has moved far to the right and join Senate Democrats as they work with President Obama to turn our country and our economy around.

Senator Specter courageously supported the President's economic recovery package -- setting politics aside to create solutions to America's problems.

Help us welcome Sen. Specter.

President Obama tells Sen. Specter we are "thrilled to have you."

Read Gov. Kaine's statement welcoming Sen. Specter with open arms

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President Barack Obama's economic stimulus package cleared the House on a 246-183 vote. Republicans, however, continued their "Just Say No" campaign. House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (D-Martinez, Calif.) spoke about the Republican strategy on the House floor:

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