kids encyclopedia robot

Democratic National Committee facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Democratic National Committee
Democratic Party logo
Founded May 26, 1848; 176 years ago (1848-05-26)
Location
Key people
  • Jaime Harrison (Chair)
  • Chris Korge (Finance chair)
  • Jason Rae (Secretary)
Affiliations Democratic Party

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is the principal committee of the United States Democratic Party. The committee coordinates strategy to support Democratic Party candidates throughout the country for local, state, and national office, as well as works to establish a "party brand". It organizes the Democratic National Convention held every four years to nominate candidates for President and Vice President of the United States and to formulate the party platform. While it provides support for party candidates, it does not have direct authority over elected officials. When a Democrat is president, the White House controls the Committee. According to Boris Heersink, "political scientists have traditionally described the parties’ national committees as inconsequential but impartial service providers."

Its chair is elected by the committee. It conducts fundraising to support its activities.

The DNC was established on May 26, 1848, at that year's Democratic National Convention. The DNC's main counterpart is the Republican National Committee.

Role and organization

The DNC is responsible for articulating and promoting the Democratic platform and coordinating party organizational activity. When the president is a Democrat, the party generally works closely with the president. In presidential elections, it supervises the national convention and, both independently and in coordination with the presidential candidate, raises funds, commissions polls, and coordinates campaign strategy. Following the selection of a party nominee, the public funding laws permit the national party to coordinate certain expenditures with the nominee, but additional funds are spent on general, party-building activities. There are state committees in every state, as well as local committees in most cities, wards, and towns (and, in most states, counties).

The chairperson of the DNC is elected by vote of members of the Democratic National Committee. The DNC is composed of the chairs and vice-chairs of each state Democratic Party's central committee, two hundred members apportioned among the states based on population and generally elected either on the ballot by primary voters or by the state Democratic Party committee, a number of elected officials serving in an ex officio capacity, and a variety of representatives of major Democratic Party constituencies.

Chicago delegation to the January 8, 1912 meeting of the Democratic National Committee
Chicago delegation to the January 8, 1912 Democratic National Committee

The DNC establishes rules for the caucuses and primaries which choose delegates to the Democratic National Convention, but the caucuses and primaries themselves are most often run not by the DNC but instead by each individual state. Primary elections, in particular, are invariably conducted by state governments according to their own laws. Political parties may choose to participate or not participate in a state's primary election, but no political party executives have any jurisdiction over the dates of primary elections, or how they are conducted.

All DNC members are superdelegates to the Democratic National Convention, and their role can affect the outcome over a close primary race only if no candidate receives a majority of pledged delegates. These delegates, officially described as "unpledged party leader and elected official delegates," fall into three categories based on other positions they hold:

  • elected members of the Democratic National Committee,
  • sitting Democratic governors and members of Congress, and
  • distinguished party leaders, consisting of current and former presidents, vice presidents, congressional leaders, and DNC chairs, are all superdelegates for life.

Current Leadership

In 2021, Jaime Harrison was selected by President Joe Biden to Chair the Democratic National Committee, and his nomination was approved by its members.

In addition, a National Advisory Board exists for purposes of fundraising and advising the executive. The present chair is Elizabeth Frawley Bagley, former U.S. Ambassador to Portugal.

Chairs of the Democratic National Committee

List of Democratic National Committee chairs
Officeholder Term State
Hallett, BenjaminBenjamin Hallett 1848–1852 Massachusetts
Robert Milligan McLane engraving, 1883.jpg McLane, RobertRobert McLane 1852–1856 Maryland
David A. Smalley.jpg Smalley, DavidDavid Smalley 1856–1860 Vermont
Portrait of August Belmont from The National Cyclopedia of American Biography, Volume XI.png Belmont, AugustAugust Belmont 1860–1872 New York
Augustus Schell.jpg Schell, AugustusAugustus Schell 1872–1876 New York
Abram Hewitt 1870s.jpg Hewitt, AbramAbram Hewitt 1876–1877 New York
William Henry Barnum - Brady-Handy.jpg Barnum, WilliamWilliam Barnum 1877–1889 Connecticut
Frauds and falsehoods of the Republican party (1892) (14764291772).jpg Brice, CalvinCalvin Brice 1889–1892 Ohio
William Francis Harrity.png Harrity, WilliamWilliam Harrity 1892–1896 Pennsylvania
Senator James K. Jones as a Member of the 55th US Congress.jpeg Jones, JamesJames Jones 1896–1904 Arkansas
Thomas Taggart, LCCN2006677840 (cropped 3x4).jpg Taggart, ThomasThomas Taggart 1904–1908 Indiana
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION. NORMAN E. MACK OF BUFFALO LCCN2016863877 (cropped).jpg Mack, NormanNorman Mack 1908–1912 New York
William Frank McCombs in 1917 (cropped).jpg McCombs, WilliamWilliam McCombs 1912–1916 New York
Picture of Vance C. McCormick.jpg McCormick, VanceVance McCormick 1916–1919 Pennsylvania
Portrait of Homer Stille Cummings.jpg Cummings, HomerHomer Cummings 1919–1920 Connecticut
George White (Ohio politician) circa 1920.jpg White, GeorgeGeorge White 1920–1921 Ohio
CordellHull.jpeg Hull, CordellCordell Hull 1921–1924 Tennessee
Clem. Shaver LCCN2014717523.jpg Shaver, ClemClem Shaver 1924–1928 West Virginia
John J. Raskob LOC.jpg Raskob, JohnJohn Raskob 1928–1932 New York
Postmaster General James Farley.jpg Farley, JamesJames Farley 1932–1940 New York
Edward Joseph Flynn (1891-1953) in 1939.jpg Flynn, EdwardEdward Flynn 1940–1943 New York
Frank C. Walker.jpg Walker, FrankFrank Walker 1943–1944 Pennsylvania
Hannegan 2013-925 (1).jpg Hannegan, RobertRobert Hannegan 1944–1947 Missouri
J. Howard McGrath (1948).jpg McGrath, HowardHoward McGrath 1947–1949 Rhode Island
Boyle, WilliamWilliam Boyle 1949–1951 Missouri
McKinney, FrankFrank McKinney 1951–1952 Indiana
Mitchell, StephenStephen Mitchell 1952–1955 Illinois
PaulButler.png Butler, PaulPaul Butler 1955–1960 Indiana
Henry M. Jackson.jpg Jackson, ScoopScoop Jackson 1960–1961 Washington
John Moran Bailey 1961.jpg Bailey, JohnJohn Bailey 1961–1968 Connecticut
Larry O'Brien 1961.jpg O'Brien, LarryLarry O'Brien 1968–1969 Massachusetts
FredRoyHarris.jpg Harris, FredFred Harris 1969–1970 Oklahoma
Larry O'Brien 1961.jpg O'Brien, LarryLarry O'Brien 1970–1972 Massachusetts
Westwood, JeanJean Westwood 1972 Utah
RobertStrauss.jpg Strauss, BobBob Strauss 1972–1977 Texas
Photo DED 1967 1975 Curtis Kenneth M. Leeds 193390 (cropped).jpg Curtis, KennethKenneth Curtis 1977–1978 Maine
John Coyle White.jpg White, JohnJohn White 1978–1981 Texas
Santo Domingo Mayor Johnny Ventura with US Amb to DR, Charles Manatt (cropped).jpg Manatt, CharlesCharles Manatt 1981–1985 California
Paul Kirk Official Photo.jpg Kirk, PaulPaul Kirk 1985–1989 Massachusetts
RonBrownUS.JPG Brown, RonRon Brown 1989–1993 New York
Wilhelm, DavidDavid Wilhelm 1993–1994 Ohio
DeLee, DebraDebra DeLee 1994–1995 Massachusetts
ChrisDodd.jpg Dodd, ChrisChris Dodd (General Chair) 1995–1997 Connecticut
Donald Fowler (1).jpg Fowler, DonDon Fowler (National Chair) South Carolina
Roy Romer (CO).jpg Romer, RoyRoy Romer (General Chair) 1997–1999 Colorado
Steve Grossman crop.jpg Grossman, SteveSteve Grossman (National Chair) Massachusetts
Ed Rendell ID2004 crop (cropped).JPG Rendell, EdEd Rendell (General Chair) 1999–2001 Pennsylvania
Andrew, JoeJoe Andrew (National Chair) Indiana
McAuliffe Herndon crop.png McAuliffe, TerryTerry McAuliffe 2001–2005 Virginia
HowardDeanDNC-cropped (cropped).jpg Dean, HowardHoward Dean 2005–2009 Vermont
Tim Kaine small.jpg Kaine, TimTim Kaine 2009–2011 Virginia
Donna Brazile in 2014 at the Kaiser Permanente Center for Total Health.jpg Brazile, DonnaDonna Brazile (Acting) 2011 Louisiana
Debbie Wasserman Schultz 113th Congress.jpg Wasserman Schultz, DebbieDebbie Wasserman Schultz 2011–2016 Florida
Donna Brazile 1.JPG Brazile, DonnaDonna Brazile (Acting) 2016–2017 Louisiana
L-15-03-24-B-042 (16917448552) (cropped).jpg Perez, TomTom Perez 2017–2021 Maryland
Jaime Harrison U.S. Senate Campaign (cropped).png Jaime Harrison 2021–present South Carolina
Source:

Deputy Chairs

The Deputy Chair of the Democratic National Committee was re-established by Tom Perez in February 2017 after his win in the 2017 DNC Chair race.

After a close victory over Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison, Perez appointed Ellison as Deputy Chair in an attempt to lessen the divide in the Democratic Party after the contentious 2016 Democratic presidential primaries, which saw conflicts between supporters of Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. Perez was seen as being more in line with the Clinton wing, while Ellison was more in line with the Sanders wing. The role's revival in 2017 has been described by critics as largely titular and ceremonial.

On November 8, 2018, Ellison resigned from the position due to his win in the Minnesota Attorney General election. The position remains unoccupied.

Officeholder Term State
Evan Dobelle Evan Dobelle 1980–1981 Massachusetts
Alexis Herman Alexis Herman 1989–1992 Alabama
Ben Johnson 2003–2005 Maryland
Mike Honda Mike Honda 2003–2005 California
Susan Turnbull Susan Turnbull 2003–2005 Maryland
Keith Ellison Keith Ellison 2017–2018 Minnesota

Treasurers of the Democratic National Committee

List of Democratic National Committee Treasurers
Officeholder Term State
Charles J. Canda Canda, Charles J.Charles J. Canda 1875–1892 New York
Robert B. Roosevelt Roosevelt, Robert B.Robert B. Roosevelt 1892–1896 New York
William P. St. Cloud St. John, William P.William P. St. John 1896–1897 New York
James L. Norris Norris, James L.James L. Norris 1897–1900 District of Columbia
Millard Fillmore Dunlap Dunlap, Millard FillmoreMillard Fillmore Dunlap 1900–1904 Illinois
George Foster Peabody Peabody, George FosterGeorge Foster Peabody 1904–1906 New York
Belmont, AugustAugust Belmont 1906–1908
O'Brien, William H.William H. O'Brien 1908 Indiana
Charles N. Haskell Haskell, Charles N.Charles N. Haskell 1908 Oklahoma
Herman Ridder Ridder, HermanHerman Ridder 1908–1912 New York
Rolla Wells Wells, RollaRolla Wells 1912–1916 Missouri
Wilbur W. Marsh, c. 1916–1920 Marsh, Wilbur W.Wilbur W. Marsh 1916–1924 Iowa
James W. Gerard Gerard, James W.James W. Gerard 1924–1932 New York
Frank C. Walker Walker, Frank C.Frank C. Walker 1932–1934 New York
Walter J. Cummings Cummings, Walter J.Walter J. Cummings 1934–1936 Illinois
W. Forbes Morgan Morgan, W. ForbesW. Forbes Morgan 1936–1937 New Hampshire
Quayle Jr, Oliver A.Oliver A. Quayle Jr 1937–1941 District of Columbia
Reynolds Jr., R. J.R. J. Reynolds Jr. 1941–1942 North Carolina
Pauley, Edwin W.Edwin W. Pauley 1942–1945 California
Killion, GeorgeGeorge Killion 1945–1947 California
Blythe, Joe L.Joe L. Blythe 1948–1949 North Carolina
Zirkle, Mary C.Mary C. Zirkle (acting) 1949–1950 Washington
Salomon Jr, SidneySidney Salomon Jr 1950–1951 Missouri
Roy J. Turner Turner, Roy J.Roy J. Turner 1951–1952 Oklahoma
Dwight R. G. Palmer 1952–1953 New York
Stanley Woodward Woodward, StanleyStanley Woodward 1953–1955 Virginia
Matthew McCloskey McCloskey, Matthew H.Matthew H. McCloskey 1955–1962 Pennsylvania
MaGuire, RichardRichard MaGuire 1962–1965 Indiana
Carter, Clifton C.Clifton C. Carter (acting) 1965–1966 District of Columbia
Criswell, JohnJohn Criswell (acting) 1966–1968 Oklahoma
Robert E. Short Short, Robert E.Robert E. Short (acting) 1968–1969 Minnesota
O'Connor, Patrick J.Patrick J. O'Connor (acting) 1969–1970 Minnesota
Robert S. Strauss Strauss, Robert S.Robert S. Strauss 1970–1972 Texas
Petrie, DonaldDonald Petrie 1972
Weingrow, HowardHoward Weingrow 1972 New York
C. Peter McColough McColough, C. PeterC. Peter McColough 1973–1974 New York
Edward Bennett Williams Williams, Edward BennettEdward Bennett Williams 1974–1977 District of Columbia
McCleary, JoelJoel McCleary 1977–1978 North Carolina
Evan Dobelle Dobelle, EvanEvan Dobelle 1978–1979 Massachusetts
Kelly, Peter G.Peter G. Kelly 1979–1981 Connecticut
Curry, CharlesCharles Curry 1981–1983 Missouri
Paul G. Kirk Kirk, Paul G.Paul G. Kirk 1983–1985 Massachusetts
Sharon Pratt Dixon Dixon, Sharon PrattSharon Pratt Dixon 1985–1989 District of Columbia
Farmer, RobertRobert Farmer 1989–1991
Robert T. Matsui Matsui, Robert T.Robert T. Matsui 1991–1995 California
R. Scott Pastrick 1995–1997 Maryland
Pensky, CarolCarol Pensky 1997–1999
Andrew Tobias Tobias, AndrewAndrew Tobias 1999–2017
Derrough, BillBill Derrough 2017–2021 California
McGregor, VirginiaVirginia McGregor 2021–present Virginia

History

The DNC has existed since 1848. During the 1848 Democratic National Convention, a resolution was passed creating the Democratic National Committee, composed of thirty members, one person per state, chosen by the states' delegations, and chaired by Benjamin F. Hallett.

In order to strengthen the national party organization, Franklin Roosevelt proposed in 1925 that the DNC should open a permanent headquarters in order to function "every day in every year" and exist on a "business-like financial basis." In 1929, John Raskob led the creation of the first permanent national headquarters for the DNC in Washington, DC.

Watergate

In the 1970s, the DNC had its head office, located in the Watergate complex at the time, burglarized by entities working for Richard Nixon's administration during the Watergate scandal.

Chinagate

Chinagate was an alleged effort by the People's Republic of China to influence domestic American politics prior to and during the Clinton administration. In 2002, the Federal Election Commission fined the Democratic National Committee $115,000 for its part in fundraising violations in 1996.

Cyber attacks

DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz speaks to College Democrats
Debbie Wasserman Schultz served as DNC chair from 2011 to 2016.

Cyber attacks and hacks were claimed by or attributed to various individual and groups such as:

  • According to committee officials and security experts, two competing Russian intelligence services were discovered on DNC computer networks. One intelligence service achieved infiltration beginning in the summer of 2015 and the other service breached and roamed the network beginning in April 2016. The two groups accessed emails, chats, and research on an opposing presidential candidate. They were expelled from the DNC system in June 2016.
  • The hacker Guccifer 2.0 claimed that he hacked into the Democratic National Committee computer network and then leaked its emails to the newspaper The Hill. During a CNN interview with Jake Tapper, Hillary Clinton's campaign manager, Robby Mook, cited experts saying that the DNC emails were leaked by the Russians but did not name the experts. The press and cybersecurity firms discredited the Guccifer 2.0 claim, as investigators now believe Guccifer 2.0 was an agent of the G.R.U., Russia's military intelligence service.

2016 email leak

On July 22, 2016, WikiLeaks released approximately 20,000 DNC emails. Critics claimed that the Committee unequally favored Hillary Clinton and acted in support of her nomination while opposing the candidacy of her primary challenger Bernie Sanders. Donna Brazile corroborated these allegations in an excerpt of her book published by Politico in November 2017. The leaked emails spanned sixteen months, terminating in May 2016.

The WikiLeaks releases led to the resignations of Chairperson Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Communications Director Luis Miranda, Chief Financial Officer Brad Marshall and Chief Executive Amy Dacey. After she resigned, Wasserman Schultz put out a statement about possible FBI assistance in investigating the hacking and leaks, saying that "the DNC was never contacted by the FBI or any other agency concerned about these intrusions." During a Senate hearing in January 2017, James Comey testified that the FBI requested access to the DNC's servers, but its request was denied. He also testified that old versions of the Republican National Committee's servers were breached, but then-current databases were unaffected.

The DNC subsequently filed a lawsuit in federal court against WikiLeaks and others alleging a conspiracy to influence the election.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Comité Nacional Demócrata para niños

kids search engine
Democratic National Committee Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.