Alabama Democratic Party dispute heads to court
A dispute over control of the Alabama Democratic Party is headed to court. Alabama Democratic Party Chair Nancy Worley and others filed a lawsuit Wednesday seeking to stop a faction of the party’s governing committee from meeting this weekend to elect new leaders. The lawsuit contends the scheduled Saturday meeting, where the reform group intends to elect a new chair, is unauthorized and is being held “illegally.” “Plaintiffs contend that any officers and at-large members purportedly elected on Nov. 2, 2019, will have been improperly elected and may not serve,” the lawsuit states. Montgomery Circuit Judge Greg Griffin has scheduled a Thursday morning hearing on the request to block the meeting. The lawsuit is the latest twist in an ongoing struggle that has split the party’s executive committee into two factions. On one side is a reform group whose actions have been approved by the Democratic National Committee. On the other are members aligned with Worley and Joe Reed, the party’s vice chairman of minority affairs. Both sides had predicted the dispute would ultimately end up in court. The lawsuit names reform group organizers as defendants in the lawsuit. State Rep. Chris England, a defendant in the lawsuit, said he is comfortable the Nov. 2 meeting has been properly authorized. “I honestly don’t see how a court has jurisdiction to enjoin a meeting of this sort,” England said. The DNC directed the Alabama party to hold new elections for chair and vice chair and update bylaws to provide for the representation of more minorities and underrepresented groups in the party including Hispanics, LGBTQ individuals and young voters. State party leaders and the DNC have been engaged in a lingering dispute over those bylaws. The reform group held an Oct. 5 meeting in which about 78 of the more 200 executive committee members adopted new bylaws and scheduled the Nov. 2 meeting. The DNC has said those bylaws are binding on the party. The lawsuit argues the meeting was not properly called and the bylaws and the Nov. 2 meeting are invalid. Worley said Wednesday night that they had tried unsuccessfully to compromise with the “breakaway” group. “We believe the breakaway group has caused enough chaos in the Party; therefore, we hope the Court can take steps to remedy this problem,” Worley said. The dispute comes as the Nov. 8 deadline approaches for Democratic candidates to file paperwork with the state party to run in the 2020 elections. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press
New bylaws passed, but will DNC accept them?
Alabama’s State Democratic Executive Committee has voted 80 to 73 to adopt new bylaws supported by the party chairwoman at a contentious meeting in Montgomery. But the Montgomery Advertiser reports that the bylaws approved Saturday have not been adopted by the Democratic National Committee. Opponents of chairwoman Nancy Worley said the adoption of the latest bylaws comes well after a key deadline. Backers of another set of bylaws had succeeded in getting them adopted on Oct. 5 — the DNC submission deadline. Bur Worley contends that the Oct. 5 meeting was illegitimate. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Democrats approve new bylaws amid internal feud
Members of the Alabama Democratic Party’s governing board on Saturday approved new bylaws and scheduled new leadership elections amid an ongoing internal feud that appears eventually destined for court. State Democratic Executive Committee members called their own meeting to comply with a directive from the Democratic National Committee officials to update bylaws to provide representation of more minorities — not just African Americans. The more than 75 committee members in attendance gave a standing ovation after the bylaws were adopted. “We are attempting to rebuild our party so we can be competitive in Alabama politics again,” Rep. Chris England, who was elected to preside over the meeting, told reporters afterward. “Hopefully, we will see a Democratic Party that is embracing all Democrats.” The Saturday action came after a longstanding power struggle within the party that has pitted longstanding leaders against a coalition fighting for changes. Alabama Democratic Party Chair Nancy Worley and Joe Reed, the party’s vice-chair of minority affairs, did not attend the meeting, which Worley argued was not properly called. “I do not consider this to be an official meeting of the SDEC. I look forward to next Saturday’s SDEC meeting,” Worley wrote in a text message. The State Democratic Executive Committee has more than 200 members. Organizers said a majority agreed to the meeting, and they met the attendance threshold to conduct business. “We followed the rules. We abided by all the requirements in the old bylaws. I think we are in the right,” England said. But asked the chances that the dispute will end up in litigation, England responded “100 percent.” Members in attendance on Saturday offered different views on whether to attend the Oct. 12 meeting called by Worley. The DNC last year directed the state party to update party bylaws and hold new elections for chair and vice-chair. The DNC has indicated the state party’s ability to participate in the national convention is in jeopardy unless the changes are made. Despite the predictions of a messy legal fight to come, the mood in the Montgomery ballroom was jubilant as a bloc of the Democratic Party that has long pushed for changes was able to make some. A few members had blue T-shirts with the slogan “Nancy Worley Says I’m Going To Hell,” a reference to earlier comments by Worley. Worley has framed the bylaw dispute as an effort to reduce the power of African Americans within the party. She told a DNC panel they would face a “special circle in hell” for doing so. Rep. Napoleon Bracy, one of three African American lawmakers that were among committee members that submitted the proposed new bylaws to the DNC, said it is important that the state party be a “big tent” that mirrors the state. The new bylaws set up diversity caucuses to nominate Hispanics, LGBTQ individuals and others to the SDEC. Democrats in recent years have lost all statewide elections in Alabama with the exception of the 2017 election of U.S. Sen. Doug Jones. Some Democrats have expressed dissatisfaction in the current leadership’s efforts to fundraise and promote Democrats’ candidates and message. Jones issued a statement through his campaign calling it a “major step in the right direction.” State committee member Susan Cobb of Marion County said new leadership will hopefully mean “a more active party, not only on the ground but on social media.” “Every time the Republicans screw up, which happens all the time, you would have an immediate Democratic response instead of sitting there and saying nothing,” Cobb said. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Democrats call October 5th meeting on party bylaws
The Alabama Democratic Party’s governing board has called a Saturday meeting to vote on new party bylaws. U.S. Sen. Doug Jones’ campaign confirmed Tuesday that a majority of members of the State Democratic Executive Committee called for the meeting. The Jones campaign says the show of support from SDEC members across the state “is the first step in creating a more transparent, diverse and inclusive Alabama Democratic Party and complying with the DNC guidelines.” The Democratic National Committee in February ordered Alabama to bring bylaws into compliance and to hold new chair and vice-chair elections. A DNC panel gave the state an Oct. 5 deadline to approve new bylaws so it could hold new elections. Alabama Democratic Party Chair Nancy Worley scheduled a meeting for Oct. 12. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Alabama Democratic Party faces new election deadline
The Alabama Democratic Party faces an October deadline to hold new leadership elections and update bylaws as some members push to get the state organization back into compliance with the national party. The Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee on Friday approved proposed bylaws submitted by several members of the state party’s executive committee, including Democratic legislative leaders. The group made the submission on their own in an attempt to break through a stalemate that threatens Alabama Democrats’ ability to participate in next year’s DNC convention. National party officials wrote in a Saturday letter that the state party’s executive committee has until Oct. 5 to approve the bylaws and until Oct. 19 to hold internal elections. “It is essential that new bylaws and elections occur immediately to resolve this long ongoing problem as we head into key elections in 2020 and a time when all Democrats and all state parties need to be fully integrated and involved in what we need to do to win,” national party officials wrote. The deadline is the latest twist in the ongoing dispute between Alabama and national party officials. In February, the Democratic National Committee ordered the Alabama party to hold new elections for party leaders and to revise bylaws to provide representation of more minorities — not just African Americans — in the party. National party officials found multiple procedural irregularities with the election of Chair Nancy Worley and Vice Chair Randy Kelley. Last month, Worley and Kelley were stripped of their seats on the DNC because of missed deadlines to hold the new elections and get new bylaws approved. Worley did not immediately return text messages seeking comment. A DNC panel said previously that it won’t approve the state’s delegate selection plan until the state party holds new leadership elections under properly approved bylaws. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Nancy Worley: DNC chair trying to ‘beat Alabama into submission’
The chair of Alabama’s Democratic Party accused the party’s national chairman on Tuesday of trying to beat “Alabama into submission” by portraying the state party as in a shambles, just the latest twist in an ongoing dispute between state and national party officials. In a written statement, Alabama Democratic Party Chair Nancy Worley said there has been an all-out attack on the state party since she won last year’s election as chairwoman. She said her opponents include U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, who endorsed a different candidate after calling for new leadership. “From a continuous, ‘the sky is falling’ media assault on the party and its leadership, to the DNC’s withholding $10,000 per month to Alabama, they have bombarded the Alabama Democratic Party from every side” the statement released by the state party and Worley read. In a letter Monday, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez said the national party was keeping funds from the state party because it had “fallen far short of meeting its basic obligations to develop an effective strategic plan and build the necessary infrastructure for success.” He said Alabama is the only state where monthly party development funds have been withheld because of problems. “The ADP has chronically underperformed in virtually every aspect of operation,” Perez wrote. Worley called the letter just another example of her opponents “stirring the pot against the Alabama Democratic Party.” The DNC in February ordered Alabama to hold new chair and vice-chair elections after finding there were irregularities with Worley’s election. The national committee also ordered the state party to revise its bylaws. The DNC last month stripped Worley and Vice Chair Randy Kelley of their seats on the DNC because of missed deadlines to hold the new elections and get new bylaws approved. Both the DNC and the Jones campaign declined to comment on Worley’s statement. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Democratic national committee denies seats to Alabama party leaders
The Democratic National Committee voted Saturday to deny seats to the two leaders of the Alabama Democratic Party after missed deadlines to comply with party directives. The DNC accepted a recommendation to revoke the credentials of Alabama Democratic Party Chairwoman Nancy Worley and Vice-Chair Randy Kelley. The sanction came after the state party missed two deadlines to hold new elections for their positions and to revise party bylaws. A DNC spokesman said the action means Worley and Kelley will no longer be recognized by the DNC. Worley said Friday that she expected the action, and downplayed its impact. Worley said she and Kelley will remain in their state party positions. “It shouldn’t affect anything in the state party,” Worley said The action arose after challenges were filed contesting Worley’s and Kelley’s election last year. One challenge contended multiple rules were broken during the election to “stack the deck” in their favor. A separate challenge said the party did not follow diversity requirements. National party officials agreed and in February ordered new elections after finding procedural irregularities with Worley’s and Kelley’s election last year. Party officials also ordered the state party to develop an affirmative action plan and revise bylaws to provide representation of other minorities, not just African Americans. Richard Rouco, an attorney representing people who filed the challenge to Worley’s and Kelley’s election, said the action confirms the need for change at the Alabama Democratic Party. “I hope that the ADP’s leadership takes this action by DNC seriously because it’s a big deal when the two top officers of a State party are denied DNC credentials,” Rouco wrote in an email. Rouco said while Kelley and Worley are not technically removed from office, he was unsure how long they could continue. “An important and critical duty of the Chair and Vice Chair of a State Party is to represent state Democrats at the national level. Alabama Democrats deserve representation in the affairs of the DNC and it’s my sense that if the ADP does not move quickly to comply with DNC orders and run a new election for Chair and Vice Chair that the DNC will take further action,” Rouco said. The DNC credentials committee on Thursday recommended revoking the credentials of the Alabama party leaders until new elections are properly held. They said the state missed spring and August deadlines to comply with the directives. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Nancy Worley could lose DNC credential after missed deadlines
Alabama Democratic party leaders will lose their seats on the Democratic National Committee after the state party twice missed deadlines for new leadership elections, under a recommendation made Thursday. The DNC’s credentials committee recommended revoking the credentials of Alabama Chairwoman Nancy Worley and Vice-Chair Randy Kelley. The full DNC will have to approve the recommendation on Saturday, but typically accepts the recommendations. Worley and Kelley would stay in their state roles, but won’t have a seat on the DNC. National party officials in February ordered new elections after finding procedural irregularities with Worley’s and Kelley’s election last year. Party officials also ordered the state party to develop an affirmative action plan and revise bylaws to provide representation of more minorities — not just African Americans. Committee member Harold Ickes, who helped lead the negotiations between the state and DNC, said the state party has “stalled this process.” “This has been sort of a textbook example of delay, delay, delay, delay. We’re mystified by it,” Ickes said. Worley said the challenge was filed by people unhappy with her election and suggested it was an effort to minimize the influence of African Americans. Worley said there is a “special circle in hell that is going to be as hot as it can be” for people who try to strip black voters of their voting rights, and told members they will need water, “cause you are going to be burning in hell for taking away people’s voting rights.” A committee member responded that the party takes its commitment to diversity seriously and that this came about because of the “flagrant irregularities” in Worley’s election last year. There have been calls for new party leadership after internal disagreement over management and decisions. Democrats for a decade have lost all statewide elections in Alabama with the exception of the 2017 election of U.S. Sen. Doug Jones. He is the only Democrat to hold statewide office in Alabama.
DNC orders Alabama Democratic Party to hold new election for chair, vice chair
The Alabama Democratic Party has 90 days to hold an election for its chairman and vice chairman positions. That’s according to the Democratic National Committee (DNC), which has vacated the state party’s 2018 officer elections following a vote by the credentials committee on Thursday afternoon. Current Party Chair Nancy Worley and her Vice Chair Randy Kelley will also be allowed to continue serving in their respective roles until the election, which will be overseen by the DNC, takes places. The DNC’s decisions follows an evidentiary hearing held Monday regarding two complaints lodged against the 2018 officer elections. “With (Worley) and (Kelley) presiding over the meeting,” one complaint read. “The elections were conducted in a sloppy and haphazard manner that was easily susceptible to manipulation. The elections were deliberately manipulated in order to favor Worley, Kelley and all other incumbent SDEC officers.” Worley had won re-election in August by a narrow margin of 101-89 against a challenger who was backed by U.S. Sen. Doug Jones. According to the AP, one challenge alleges that, while these 190 votes were recorded only 142 state committee members signed in to the meeting.
DNC sets hearings on Alabama Democratic Party
The Democratic National Committee has announced that evidentiary hearings will take place regarding the election of Alabama Democratic Party Chairwoman Nancy Worley, the Associated Press reports. Two separate challenges were filed saying that the election of Chairwoman Worley and and Vice Chairman Randy Kelley was was the result of unfair practices after years of infighting. “With (Worley) and (Kelley) presiding over the meeting,” one complaint read, “the elections were conducted in a sloppy and haphazard manner that was easily susceptible to manipulation. The elections were deliberately manipulated in order to favor Worley, Kelley and all other incumbent SDEC officers.” Worley won re-election in August by a narrow margin of 101-89 against a challenger who was backed by U.S. Sen. Doug Jones. According to the AP, one challenge alleges that, while these 190 votes were recorded only 142 state committee members signed in to the meeting. Days after the election, Ralph Young of the Jefferson County Democratic Party filed a complaint on the election process. He alleged that Worley did not follow proper procedures when calling the meeting that led to her re-election. Young claims she gave inadequate notice and failed to comply with diversity requirements for officers. “I’m a bit of a rules wonk and I have concerns about how the election was done,” Young told the Montgomery Advertiser. “I don’t believe it was done in a fair fashion. I think there are a number of procedural issues that could have decided differently.” Former Chief Justice and gubernatorial candidate Sue Bell Cobb called for Worley’s resignation in September. In an Opinion-Editorial published by the Anniston Star, Cobb says that Worley and Alabama party conference leader Joe Reed should “make a sacrifice worthy of their lifelong dedication to racial and gender equality and their decade-long contributions to the party,” and step down from their positions so that new leaders may recruit and support “qualified, electable Democratic candidates.” Worley thinks that those arguing the validity of her election need to put this behind them and move forward, the AP reports. She said “The complainants need to stop re-fighting the Civil War and focus on helping Democrats win elections.” An evidentiary hearing will be held by the national party on February 11 and, unless a resolution is reached by mediation, the Credentials Committee will hear challenges on February 14.
Election reignites calls for change at Democratic Party
Alabama Democrats’ disappointing performance in Tuesday’s election has reignited calls for changes within the state party, with critics saying candidates were largely left to fend for themselves despite available party funds. Democratic candidates were generally held to about 40 percent of the vote in statewide races, crushing hopes that the party could build on last year’s election of U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, or at least demonstrate themselves as viable with competitive races. The losses rekindled long simmering tensions, with several 2018 candidates calling for new leadership or at least a new approach. “When you have a losing season and a losing season and a losing season, the coach goes,” said former Alabama Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, who ran in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. Cobb earlier this year called for the resignations of Alabama Democratic Party Chair Nancy Worley and Vice-Chairman Joe Reed. Mallory Hagan, a former news anchor and Miss America who ran in Alabama’s 3rd Congressional District, used her election night speech to say that Democrats upset over the loss should be “mad at our own” party. Chief Justice candidate Bob Vance stopped short of calling for a change in leadership but he said the party needs a “new approach” and said promises of help never substantially materialized. The Democratic Party, which has been silent for months at a time on social media, has been criticized for not being an active presence to promote the Democratic brand and candidates. The party had about $800,000 combined in its state and federal accounts that it did not exhaust on efforts to back candidates. “That’s the burr under my saddle that the party had the capability and chose not to do anything with it,” Vance said. Worley defended the party’s efforts and spending decisions. She said the party did have more money from qualifying fees this year, but had to hold money back for operating expenses, to pay debt and because of restrictions on how funds can be used. Worley estimated the party spent about $250,000 on efforts for candidates, including fliers that pictured all the statewide candidates, and five days of radio and TV ads urging people to vote Democratic. “Pointing the finger of blame at any single person after an election in just using the scapegoat method,” Worley said There are two separate petitions with the Democratic National Committee that were filed before Tuesday contesting Worley’s August election as chairwoman. One of the petitions alleges that “elections were conducted in a sloppy and haphazard manner” and “deliberately manipulated” in order to favor Worley and others. Worley said that they will file a response to those complaints. Democrats in Alabama had been obliterated from statewide office — until Jones’ election last year. Sheila Gilbert, chairwoman of the Alabama Democratic Reform Caucus, said while state candidates had a 20-point deficit there were some close legislative races that she believed could have benefited from state party help. Many veteran candidates had been modest in their expectations for Tuesday, not expecting a blue wave, but perhaps a blue ripple or at least slimmer margins in state races. “I’m not sure that we could have moved the needle much, even if we had brought all these forces to bear, but certainly the absence of a meaningful party, not just for this election cycle, but for years now, I think has contributed to these problems which really became evident this last Tuesday,” Vance said. Republished with permission from the Associated Press.
Former Chief Justice, gubernatorial candidate Sue Bell Cobb calls for Nancy Worley’s resignation
Former Chief Justice and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Sue Bell Cobb called for the resignation of Alabama Democratic Party Chair Nancy Worley, and Alabama Democratic Conference leader Joe Reed on Sunday. In an Opinion-Editorial published by the Anniston Star, Cobb makes her case against Worley and Reed, saying they should “make a sacrifice worthy of their lifelong dedication to racial and gender equality and their decade-long contributions to the party,” and step down from their positions so that new leaders may recruit and support “qualified, electable Democratic candidates.” “The upcoming November election has given Democrats in Alabama an opportunity to achieve measurable gains. Republicans in our state are proven to be corrupt, with the former governor, speaker of the House and chief justice all being ousted for wrongdoing. It should be easy to take advantage of the embarrassment caused by the former Republican governor’s love affair, subsequent divorce and resignation,” Cobb continued. “It should be easy to take advantage of the felony conviction of the former Republican speaker of the House and for his violation of the ethics laws he championed in his rise to power. And it should be easy to take advantage of the twin removals of a Republican chief justice. Sadly, Worley and Reed were unable or unwilling to do so.” The party has faced a tumultuous month since Worley’s re-election in early August. Worley herself is being sued by a fellow member of the party, Susan Cobb for allegedly removing her from the party’s website and restructuring the committee, effectively removing her from office. And Ralph Young, a Jefferson County Democrat, filed a seven-page complaint with the Democratic National Committee (DNC) saying that Worley did not follow proper procedures when calling the meeting that led to her re-election. Claiming she gave inadequate notice and failed to comply with diversity requirements for officers.
