Insurgent Democratic women call for changes in party

WASHINGTON — Insurgent Democratic women running for Congress are pushing the party to rethink its approach to politics if they retake control of Capitol

Hill in the fall.

At the annual meeting of the Congressional Black Caucus on Friday, black female candidates who prevailed in primaries over established incumbents said it’s time for a conversation about how the party is structured.

They expressed frustration that the party is tilted against rising politicians — especially those of color — and argued that if Democrats flip the House in November, it would be the result of organization and turnout among black voters, particularly women.

If that happens, the candidates said, gratitude won’t be enough. They want a seat at the leadership table and a role in re-examining how the party works.

“It is not enough to just talk about a blue wave and Democrats being in the majority,” said Ayanna Pressley, the Boston city councilwoman now poised to become Massachusetts’ first black congresswoman. “What matters is who are those Democrats? We have to have a conversation about the guts and the soul of this party.”

Connecticut House Democratic nominee Jahana Hayes also challenged a state political veteran to win her shot at becoming the state’s first black congresswoman. The former National Teacher of the Year told the CBC audience that she lacked support during her primary.

“Everyone said, ‘You don’t have the network, no one knows you.’ I had never run for political office, I had no money,” Hayes said. “I’m doing this for the people who don’t have a voice.”

Since her recent win with 62 percent of the vote, Hayes said, “it’s popular to support me now.”

LaTosha Brown, co-founder of Black Voters Matter Fund, agreed, noting that grassroots groups like hers have long filled the gap when the official party apparatus was absent.

“It’s our table,” said Brown, who galvanized black women to support Jones. “We have to have some really deep conversations about how the landscape has changed.”

That also includes addressing priorities within the party, Pressley said.

“I reject the notion that this is about working class white folk and everyone else!” Pressley told the cheering crowd.

Waikinya Clanton, the DNC’s African-American Outreach Chair, encouraged the pressure to change the party dynamic toward black women candidates and voters.

“We need you all’s support, whether that comes in the form of criticism or whatever,” Clanton said.

Ayanna Pressley