Q1 Central Committee Meeting Summary
On Saturday, March 2, 2019, the DPVA Central Committee met in Richmond to decide which plan the DPVA would use to apportion delegates for the 2020 State and DNC Conventions.
The Committee had to choose between two formulas for calculating how many delegates would be allocated to each Congressional District: one formula looked at the percentage of votes obtained by the Democratic candidates in recent elections; the other formula looked at both the percentage of votes obtained by the Democratic candidates in recent elections and the Congressional District’s population. Here is a link breaking down the way delegates would have been apportioned under each plan: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xDLfVFD07hWDlm1IGiohZ3reqOpXWIOUcZt_0ebqkXE/edit#gid=0
As you can see, different Congressional Districts received an advantage or a disadvantage under each formula. Ultimately, the Central Committee voted in favor of the population formulas, resulting in delegate allocation numbers for the 11th Congressional District Democratic Committee consistent with the 2016 allocation. Three members of the 11th CDDC voted for this plan in both votes: George Becerra, Paul Davis, and Lainie Singerman. The other 16 members in attendance voted for the plans that would have given more delegates to the Northern Virginia Congressional Districts.
So, what does all of this mean?
Virginia has a set number of delegates that it gets to send to the DNC Convention in 2020. This number is determined by the DNC and includes a certain number of “base” delegates (the ones that we as Party members elect) and, on top of that, elected officials, like our Members of Congress, etc. Now, following the 3/2/19 vote, we know how many base delegates each Congressional District gets to pick.
Statements on Lt. Gov. Fairfax
The following statements have been issued by our Congressman, Gerry Connolly, and by the Democratic Party of Virginia.
Joint Statement From Virginia Reps. Beyer, Spanberger, Luria, Wexton, and Connolly
February 8. 2019 (Washington, D.C.) – Virginia Democratic Representatives Don Beyer, Abigail Spanberger, Elaine Luria, Jennifer Wexton, and Gerry Connolly today issued the following statement:
“The past seven days have been some of the most painful we can remember. It has been very difficult to marshal the thoughts, let alone the words, to react.
“The allegations raised by Dr. Vanessa Tyson and Meredith Watson raise two fundamental questions which Virginia’s leaders are called to answer: do we believe them, and, if so, do we believe that Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax should continue to serve?
“We believe Dr. Vanessa Tyson. We found her account compelling and highly credible. The central issue at the heart of her account is consent, and there can be no better authority to decide whether it was given than Dr. Tyson herself. Meredith Watson’s statement describes another extremely disturbing incident, which lends further credence to Dr. Tyson’s story.
“All survivors of sexual violence and harassment deserve to be supported and heard, and our commitment to that principle is more important than any political consideration.
“The Lieutenant Governor of Virginia presides over the Virginia Senate and must be prepared to fill the role of Governor. It is unacceptable that either of these weighty responsibilities be entrusted to someone who has engaged in the behavior described by Dr. Tyson and Meredith Watson, particularly in light of Gov. Northam’s situation, which we continue to believe requires his resignation.
“Lt. Governor Fairfax has also shown exceptionally poor judgment in his handling of these allegations. He repeatedly attacked his accuser, he reportedly used vile and degrading language to describe her, he mischaracterized an investigation into the encounter, and he sought to blame others for events in his own past. These actions do not meet the standard to which we hold Virginia’s highest elected officers.
“For these reasons we believe that Justin Fairfax cannot continue to serve at Lt. Governor Of Virginia, and should step aside.”
Virginia Democrats call on Justin Fairfax to resign
RICHMOND, VA – Democratic Party of Virginia Chair Susan Swecker issued the following statement calling on the resignation of Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax.
“We believe that allegations of sexual assault must be taken with the utmost seriousness.
Given the credible nature of the sexual assault claims against Lieutenant Governor Fairfax, it has become clear he can no longer fulfill the duties and responsibilities of his post.
While the Lieutenant Governor deserves due process in this matter, it is in the best interest of the Commonwealth that he goes through this process as a private citizen.
The Lieutenant Governor no longer has our confidence or support. He must resign.”
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Statements on Gov. Northam
The following statements have been issued by our Congressman, Gerry Connolly, and by the Democratic Party of Virginia.
Connolly-Beyer Call on Northam To Resign
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 2, 2019
Fairfax, VA – Representatives Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and Don Beyer (D-VA) released the following statement today calling on Governor Northam to resign:
“We expected Governor Northam to resign this morning. Nothing we have heard since changes our view that his resignation is the only way forward for the Commonwealth.
“Virginia has a painful past where racism was too often not called out for its evil. The only way to overcome that history is to speak and act with absolute moral clarity. It is for that reason the Governor must step aside and allow the process of healing to begin under the leadership of Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax.”
Virginia Democrats no longer support Northam; Demand his immediate resignation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 2, 2019
RICHMOND, VA. – Democratic Party of Virginia Chair Susan Swecker issued the following statement calling on the immediate resignation of Governor Northam.
“We made the decision to let Governor Northam do the correct thing and resign this morning – we have gotten word he will not do so this morning.
We stand with Democrats across Virginia and the country calling him to immediately resign. He no longer has our confidence or our support. Governor Northam must end this chapter immediately, step down, and let Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax heal Virginia’s wounds and move us forward. We can think of no better person than Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax to do so.”
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Sturdivant Brunch – May 5
Sandra Klassen fills 11th CD Vacancy
The 11th Congressional District Democratic Committee met November 19, 2018 and selected Sandra J. Klassen of Reston to fill the vacancy for a member from Fairfax County who identifies as a woman.