How Tom Perez plans to keep Democrats united
| Washington
Like last year, the timing of our Monitor Breakfast on Wednesday with Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez was spot on.聽The night before, his party had flipped control of the Virginia legislature, completing the state鈥檚 鈥渂lue conversion.鈥� And in deep-red Kentucky, a Democrat looked set to unseat the unpopular Republican governor in a close race.
What party leader, after all, doesn鈥檛 love to revel in a little success? A year ago, Mr. Perez was basking in the new reality of a Democratic majority in the House. But like last year, we reporters seated around the breakfast table didn鈥檛 let the chairman rest on his laurels. The 2020 election cycle is upon us, and keeping the party united will be a big challenge.
For now, the Trump impeachment inquiry helps the party, with most Democrats on board. But a big question looms: When the presidential nominee is clear, will the also-rans fall in behind her or him in lockstep?
Mr. Perez says all the Democratic candidates confirmed a unity pledge last week 鈥� including Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who has faced suspicions she might run as an independent.
鈥淓very candidate running for president understands that this is not about them,鈥� Mr. Perez told us.
In the spirit of humorist Will Rogers 鈥� who once famously said, 鈥淚 am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat.鈥� 鈥� I after the breakfast about the party鈥檚 unity challenge.
The Hill newspaper zeroed in on the strange story. Our reporter friends from regional newspapers mined local angles on and .
The C-SPAN video of our breakfast can be viewed .
About 45 minutes into our breakfast, Mr. Perez connected his political life to his role coaching youth basketball for the past 14 years. Was the Democratic presidential field too large? Nonsense, he suggested.
鈥淚've never met a basketball coach who came to me and said, 鈥楾om, I've got a problem, I've got too much depth on my team,鈥欌�� he said. 鈥淲e've got a remarkable amount of depth in this field.鈥�
Our next breakfast will be Nov. 21, featuring Mr. Perez鈥檚 counterpart, Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel. Not only are we happy for the political balance, we also love the Monitor history involved. Ms. McDaniel鈥檚 grandfather was former Michigan Gov. George Romney, who appeared at several Monitor breakfasts. And her uncle is Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, another breakfast alum.
