A Party in Disarray? Maybe Things Aren't as Bad as They Seem...

On Wednesday, Democratic State Committee Members voted 476 to 56 to remove Arizona Democratic Chair Robert Branscomb from his position. Two-thirds of all SCMs were required to vote in favor of his removal, and we exceeded that threshold.

It was the right move. Robert was elected in January, and during his time as Chair, he wrote a letter to Democratic State Committee Members that blew up the party, lost the trust of state elected officials, oversaw staff and board turnover through an unfair suspension as well as staff departures, led an unprecedented drain of funds, acted without complying with bylaws, and caused turmoil with the ADP staff union and several caucuses and councils. He also withheld resources from staff that were necessary to do their jobs, even at the meeting where he was removed.

I served as a delegate at the 2024 DNC Convention with Robert and found him warm and kind. But the role of state party chair requires a specific set of skills and qualifications that very few people possess. In addition, he repeatedly showed a lack of judgment and a tendency to cause discord with those around him. I am sure at least some of his claims about intentional obstacles are true, but when someone seems to have challenging relationships with nearly everyone around them, that person is usually the problem.

So we move forward. First Vice Chair Kim Khoury will serve as acting chair until the September State Committee meeting, when we will elect a new chair.

I often hear that the Democratic Party is a mess. That we are in disarray and not doing what we need to do to meet this moment in history. It is true that this ADP fiasco was a distraction we did not need at a time when we should have been focused on the 2026 elections. It is also true that at the national level, the party is not loud enough, our messaging is not solidified to win in 2026 or 2028, and some of our officeholders are not fighting hard enough.

But I would like to paint a different picture for you. Even before Branscomb was removed, county and legislative district party chairs and others were already working together on strategy. We are now starting on a plan that will allow party leaders across the state to collaborate on vetting and evaluating candidates for ADP Chair. We are also working on a resource to help State Committee Members do their own evaluation before voting, so we do not end up making choices based on personality, friendship, an undefined desire for change, or on unrealistic promises from candidates.

Locally, we are on fire. We are bringing in more volunteers and PCs. We are already supporting the DVUSD override that will be on the November 2025 ballot. Thanks to your donations, I have already purchased half of the postage stamps we will need to send ballot guides to voters for the November 2026 election. We are nearly ready to share our Get Out The Vote strategy for next year. We have been promoting and turning out people to protests and rallies and connecting them with their local Democratic leaders and groups. We have several potential candidates in the wings. And this does not even scratch the surface. There is too much happening to capture in a single blog post. The momentum within LD3 Dems and among the many community groups and PACs that operate within LD3 is staggering. And we are all volunteers!

We also cannot forget that when we criticize the Democrats, we are putting ourselves down. The Democratic Party is not a faceless monolith hiding behind a curtain. It is not only made up of those who get media coverage or hold high office. It is us. We are the Democratic Party. Not just those of us doing the hard work of organizing every day, and there are a lot of us, but also everyone who votes for Democratic candidates and causes. We are the real voice of the party.

We should not diminish ourselves and our efforts by tearing the party down. Instead, we should use our voices to claim our power and steer the ship. Let us not just complain. Let us bring forward ideas and initiatives. Take your passion and make it happen - (What a Feeling!) Let us tell the DNC, elected officials, and the people with podcast microphones what we want.

All of us have different talents, skills, and resources. It is time for a self-evaluation. What are you good at? What do you care about? Who do you know? What do you have that others do not have? How much time can you give, and how can that time best contribute to our collective impact? HINT: Doom-scrolling anti-Trump news is not the answer. That just drains your energy and wastes your time.

We just proved that the system works. Removing a party chair who was not serving the mission is a sign of functionality, not failure. When nearly 90 percent of SCMs vote to correct course, it shows there is a working internal mechanism of accountability and a shared commitment to the party's values.

One last thought, especially for independent voters who share our values, including those who have left the Democratic Party. There is no power in being an independent. There are no decision-making bodies that listen to your concerns. No committees, caucuses, or councils to join. You cannot serve as a Precinct Committee Person to represent your neighborhood, or as a State Committee Member to direct the state party's future. In some cases, you cannot even vote in a primary. By leaving the party, you are giving away your power. You are choosing to sit on the sidelines instead of stepping onto the field. And if you are one of the amazing independent voters helping us do the work, you are doing the work without having a voice.

And I say this as someone who used to be an independent. I understand the reasons for choosing that path, not the least of which is frustration with a two-party system that dominates our future, doesn't always align with the values of American voters, and demands an outrageous amount of money that could be spent on making the world better. I get it.

But this is the reality we live in, at least for now. And if you want that reality to change, opting out is not the way to get it done.

I hope I have encouraged you to see things from a different perspective. Take a deep breath and remember that you are not alone. When things are hard, more people than ever are asking how they can help. New volunteers, new donors, new PC recruits, and new candidates are coming forward, not in spite of the challenges, but because of them.

We have a world and a political party to change. Keep going.