California Democratic Party chairman Rusty Hicks, who wants to run for re-election for a four-year term, is blown up by party leaders who say he “does not neglect the basic functions” of his job and wants Gavin Newsom to rule do something about it. .
In a letter to the governor that The Chronicle received, several party officials asked Newsom to “act urgently” to ensure the party has a strong leader ahead of a possible government re-election and next year’s interim period.
The letter does not specify what the urgent action would be, and Newsom does not have the authority to replace the party chairman. But he can endorse an opponent or refuse Hicks.
So far, Hicks’ only opponent for re-election is former State School Superintendent Delaine Eastin. Voting runs from March 24 to April 21. Hicks won the chair in 2019 after the resignation of Eric Bauman.
In the letter, Hicks is blamed for a variety of Democratic problems, including the failure to involve ’emerging immigrant populations’ in Southern California and the Central Valley, which contributed to the party losing four seats last year.
Signatories include Carlos Alcala, chairman of the Chicano Latino caucus; RL Miller, chairman of the environmental show; Sean Dugar, a member of the party’s executive council; Soli Alpert, chairman of the Young Democrats progressive caucus; and Amar Shergill, chairman of the progressive caucus. Alcala, Miller and Shergill are also members of the party’s executive council.
“We can do better than Rusty Hicks,” the letter read. “We hope you agree.”
Not new. His strategist Dan Newman told The Chronicle that “the governor still has confidence in the California Democratic Party and President Hicks as we work together to address the pandemic crisis.”
Hicks said in an email: “With 57,000 volunteers and the largest donor base in small dollars in our history, the California Democratic Party is moving aggressively toward a better future. I look forward to having the opportunity to do even more in the years to come. ”
Joe Garofoli is the senior political writer of The San Francisco Chronicle. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @joegarofoli