Former Vice President Kamala Harris delivered keynote remarks at the Democratic National Committee's annual meeting in Los Angeles. She expressed her disappointment in the state of the country under President Donald Trump and laid out what she believed should be the priorities for the party entering the 2026 midterm elections and beyond. Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin delivered introductory remarks at the start of the meeting
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00:00:00Spirit of the living God, the one who goes by many names.
00:00:04Some of us call you Allah.
00:00:06Others call you Brahman, Jehovah, Jireh, Yahweh, or Oshun.
00:00:11Others know you simply as the one who is and was and is to come,
00:00:15the animating breath of our very life.
00:00:18Yet in this august body, in this particular time in history,
00:00:21I just want to call you Waymaker.
00:00:24For God, our party and our nation in this season are reminded
00:00:27that a people who have sat in darkness can still see a great light,
00:00:30that you are still able to increase our joy and give us great gladness.
00:00:35We come before thee painfully aware of our inadequacies and shortcomings.
00:00:39We realize that we stand surrounded by the mountains of love,
00:00:42yet we deliberately dwell in the valleys of hate.
00:00:45We stand amid the forces of truth, and yet we deliberately lie.
00:00:49We are forever offered the high road, and still we choose the low.
00:00:53For these sins, O God, forgive.
00:00:55Forgive. Waymaker, move us as you moved Isaiah to become repairers of the breach.
00:01:02Help us to not merely be the party of no, but be a people of moral imagination.
00:01:08Help us, O God, to recommit to fashioning a community of common understanding,
00:01:12one that rejects the spirit of isolation and seeks a shared commitment to live authentically.
00:01:17Serve within us the spirit that not only elects women and BIPOC leaders,
00:01:21but supports them, protects them, and believes them.
00:01:25Renew in us a spirit that speaks truth to power, rooted in righteousness that seeks not harm but healing,
00:01:31so you may be the ones who understand that if you are black, I got your back.
00:01:35If you are brown, you can get down.
00:01:37If you are indigenous API, we want to see you go high.
00:01:39If you are LGBTQIA, we celebrate you today, and that all labor, all labor, Lord, has dignity.
00:01:46Lord, our city is in a state of emergency, and the American project is unstable,
00:01:50because instead of being a country and a city of angels, we have listened to much to our lesser ones.
00:01:55But Waymaker, help us to be bold in our good trouble.
00:01:59Help us to melt the ice that's tried to free so many of your children in fear.
00:02:02Give us living water so that working people may drink, that families may stay stronger,
00:02:08and every sacred life may flourish.
00:02:10Help our collective purpose to put steel in our spines and hope in our hands
00:02:14that we may be light in this season of light.
00:02:17Lord, renew in us a clean heart so that we not only hear the pain of our sisters and brothers,
00:02:22but feel it deep enough to act.
00:02:24And as we face the rising sun of a new day begun,
00:02:27May working hands, Lord, weary hands, hungry hands, hands that have held burdens too heavy for too long,
00:02:33may all these hands be strengthened, lifted, and joined together
00:02:36to build the beloved community we dare to imagine.
00:02:39Waymaker, Lord, just make a way.
00:02:42And all the people of God said, Amen, Amen, and Amen.
00:02:46Amen.
00:02:50Thank you, Reverend.
00:02:52Now, at this point, please welcome Chief Anthony Redbud Morales
00:02:57and Andrew Gilding Young Cloud Morales of the Gabriolino Tongva Tribe
00:03:03for our land acknowledgement.
00:03:06Good afternoon.
00:03:08I am Chief Anthony Morales,
00:03:10and on behalf of the Gabriolino San Gabriol Bano Mission Indians,
00:03:13I welcome you to our traditional territory.
00:03:17We are standing at this moment on the unceded land of the Gabriolino Tongva.
00:03:24For thousands of years, this entire basin from the mountains to the sea
00:03:28has been our ancestral home.
00:03:32My ancestors have walked this ground since time immemorial,
00:03:36and we are still here.
00:03:38Our continuity is a living truth.
00:03:41We are the first people of the land,
00:03:44and acknowledged by the state of California in 1994.
00:03:49Our story of survival includes a continued struggle for fundamental justice.
00:03:57We are not acknowledged by the federal government,
00:04:01yet we are still here.
00:04:04We see a powerful alignment between our ancestral values
00:04:09and the principles of the Democratic Party champions.
00:04:12We strive for a future where economic opportunities lift all people up.
00:04:20Our native ways of being is about community.
00:04:24Recognizing and supporting the original first people of this place
00:04:27is the truest expression of diversity,
00:04:31echoing that strength is in diversity.
00:04:33We believe that democracy is worth defending.
00:04:38The Gabriolino Tongva do not have federal recognition.
00:04:43This is profound and ongoing injustice.
00:04:46Our pursuit of federal recognition is, at its core,
00:04:49a fight for a democratic voice.
00:04:53Our presence here today is a testament of our perseverance
00:04:57and enduring commitment to self-determination.
00:05:01As you move forward,
00:05:05carry the spirit of this place with you,
00:05:07a spirit of community, resilience, and hope.
00:05:11Ekwa Shem, we are still here.
00:05:14I'm accompanied by my son, Andrew Gotti Youngcloud.
00:05:25He'll be leading us in a song in our traditional language.
00:05:29It's a welcome song,
00:05:30where we're welcoming all of you to our traditional ancestral land.
00:05:33Let's pray.
00:06:03Me-i-ha-yo-ye-ye-hi-ya
00:06:06Me-i-ha-yo-ye-ye-hi-ya
00:06:10Me-i-ha-yo-ye-ye-hi-ya
00:06:13Me-i-ha-yo-tah-tah-rah-hum
00:06:17Me-i-ha-yo-tah-rah-hum
00:06:27Me-i-ha-yo-tah-rah-hum
00:06:30Me-i-ha-yo-tah-rah-hum
00:06:33Me-i-ha-yo-tah-rah-hum
00:06:37Me-i-ha-yo-tah-rah-hum
00:06:43Ye-hoi
00:06:44Thank you, Chief Morales.
00:06:55Thank you for welcoming us.
00:06:57I want to take this moment to thank our DNC Secretary, Jason Ray.
00:07:06I know I speak for all of you on how lucky we are to have him serving as our secretary,
00:07:12and I get to work with him day in, day out in this tremendous work.
00:07:15I'm going to turn it over to our DNC Secretary, Jason Ray, at this time for the determination of the quorum.
00:07:21Secretary Ray.
00:07:24Well, thank you, Mr. Chair, and good afternoon, Democrats.
00:07:29It is so great to see you and to spend time these last few days here in sunny Los Angeles.
00:07:34Let's give it up for the L.A. Democratic Party, the California Democratic Party, for being fantastic hosts for us.
00:07:42DNC members have traveled from all 57 states, territories, and abroad to be here to conduct the important business of our party,
00:07:50and I'm pleased, Mr. Chairman, to report that we do indeed have a quorum of members present today.
00:07:58Thank you so much, Mr. Secretary.
00:08:01DNC members, good afternoon.
00:08:05Welcome.
00:08:06Welcome to the DNC Winter Meeting.
00:08:08And thank you to our friends here in Los Angeles and across this great state of California for hosting us this week.
00:08:14Let's give them a big round of applause.
00:08:16Thank you, Chairman Hicks.
00:08:18Thank you to the California delegation.
00:08:21Now, friends, colleagues, DNC members, look, ten months ago, on a cold day in February, with the sting of loss still fresh,
00:08:30you elected me chair of the Democratic National Committee.
00:08:32I was and continue to be humbled and honored by your support.
00:08:38That day, and I'll never forget this, there was a big scum of press around me,
00:08:43and the last question I got, the very last question I got was this.
00:08:48What's your message to Donald Trump?
00:08:50What is your message to Donald Trump?
00:08:52And you know what I said?
00:08:53The gloves are off.
00:08:55We're coming for you.
00:08:56And, Democrats, I want to let you in on something.
00:08:59It's not a secret.
00:09:01It's not something whispered with hesitant hope.
00:09:04It's not anything to be afraid of.
00:09:06Well, unless you work over at the RNC, right?
00:09:09It's not anything to be afraid of unless you live at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
00:09:14And it's certainly not anything to be afraid of unless you're a Republican up for re-election in 26.
00:09:19What I want to share, and what I think all of you know by now, is that the Democratic Party is back.
00:09:26We're back.
00:09:27The Democrats are back.
00:09:28We are winning.
00:09:29And we sure as hell haven't shied away from the fight in front of us.
00:09:33We took on Donald Trump.
00:09:36Governor Newsom took him on right here in California.
00:09:39Mikey Sherrill and Abigail Spanberger took him on in New Jersey and Virginia.
00:09:43The DNC, we took him on all over the country, in Miami, in Georgia, in Wisconsin, in Pennsylvania, in Mississippi, and Iowa, and everywhere else.
00:09:55Now, did you see what the RNC chair just said about the midterms today?
00:10:00He said this.
00:10:01Crazy.
00:10:02He said Republicans are facing almost certain defeats.
00:10:05He said there's no sugarcoating.
00:10:10It's a pending, looming disaster heading for Republicans.
00:10:14I never thought I'd agree with the Republican Party chair on anything, but I agree with them.
00:10:19So, look, here, you can build your billionaire ballroom, Donald Trump.
00:10:23You can eat your crab claws and caviar down at Mar-a-Lago.
00:10:28You can cheat in as many golf tournaments as you want.
00:10:31You can offer your empty promises like bringing down costs on day one while ground beef climbs towards $10 a pound.
00:10:38You can spend trillions on tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy while forcing a middle-class family to choose between paying $1,000 a month to keep their health care or going uninsured.
00:10:49You can try to, in vain, to rig the midterms in your favor.
00:10:54And you can fail like you did just yesterday in Indiana.
00:10:58But know this.
00:11:00But know this, Donald Trump.
00:11:02I told you this year what we were going to do.
00:11:05Your days in power are numbered.
00:11:08And guess what that number is?
00:11:10325.
00:11:11Because in 325 days, guess what we get to do?
00:11:15We take back the U.S. House of Representatives and put a check on this guy's power.
00:11:24Now, that's right.
00:11:27That's right.
00:11:31Now, here's the thing, Democrats.
00:11:34Americans are smart.
00:11:36Americans work hard.
00:11:37And every morning that Americans wake up to do their jobs, they damn sure expect that the leaders they elected will do the same thing.
00:11:45By every measure, every single measure, Trump has failed the American people.
00:11:50He's a con man doing a con job.
00:11:53So what do we do, Democrats?
00:11:55We need to keep showing up for folks to do what we say, to respond to the things that are important to Americans with a simple answer.
00:12:03We get it.
00:12:05And we're on it.
00:12:06Look, we know what's important right now.
00:12:10Shit is too expensive.
00:12:12Paychecks are getting eaten up by Trump's tariffs.
00:12:15Small businesses are getting torched by the man in the White House.
00:12:18The job market is dead.
00:12:20Layoffs are spiraling towards Great Recession levels.
00:12:23And God forbid if you're a young person trying to break into your first career.
00:12:27Think about this.
00:12:28Today, the average first-time homebuyer is 40 years old.
00:12:33Think about that.
00:12:34That's right.
00:12:3440 years old.
00:12:36And while folks scrape and claw to make rent, the rich bribe their way into the White House.
00:12:40They send themselves into space.
00:12:42And they get to compete over who gets to kill the most jobs.
00:12:46Democrats, here's the truth.
00:12:48Republicans didn't inherit a mess.
00:12:50They manufactured it.
00:12:51They took the economy and drove it straight into a ditch.
00:12:55They took certainty and swapped it for chaos.
00:12:57They took optimism for the future and turned it into fear, uncertainty, and exhaustion.
00:13:05But here's the good news, Democrats.
00:13:07We know how to fix things.
00:13:09We've done it before.
00:13:10We did it after the Great Recession.
00:13:12We did it during a global pandemic.
00:13:14And we'll do it again.
00:13:15And now, while Trump calls affordability a hoax, think about that.
00:13:21He literally called affordability a hoax.
00:13:23Democrats are freezing energy bills.
00:13:25While J.D. Vance lectures families to be patient, Democrats refuse to ignore this cost of living emergency.
00:13:32While Mike Johnson says struggling Americans should just relax, Democrats are putting forth real proposals to stop health premiums from doubling.
00:13:42America, you deserve better than this guy.
00:13:46You deserve better.
00:13:48Think about this.
00:13:49The town of 200 in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia that just lost its rural clinic because of the Republicans' big, ugly bill.
00:13:58They deserve better.
00:13:59The three-time Trump voter in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, who said that she's waiting for Trump to fix what he promised he'd fix, she deserves better.
00:14:09The small businesses and families right here in L.A. County who are getting targeted by masked men in black SUVs, they deserve better.
00:14:20Now, Democrats, for the next year, we will know one speed and one speed only.
00:14:25We are all gas and no brakes.
00:14:28It's all gas and no brakes.
00:14:34Let's give America something better.
00:14:38DNC members, since you elected me, I've made one thing clear.
00:14:41Every election matters.
00:14:43Every inch of ground matters.
00:14:44Every vote matters.
00:14:46We don't take anything for granted.
00:14:48We don't ignore races anymore.
00:14:49We don't cede any ground.
00:14:51From the Navajo Nation to Northern Maine, from the Delta to the High Plains, from Richmond to Trenton, Democrats are planting flags again.
00:14:59We're knocking on doors again.
00:15:01We're listening again.
00:15:02And we are rebuilding the relationship between the Democratic Party and the places that Washington forgot.
00:15:08Because as Democrats, we don't believe any American should be forgotten by their own government.
00:15:15Any American, every American should be remembered.
00:15:19We compete in every single political arena.
00:15:23If you find me a candidate, we will show up.
00:15:25And that attitude has worked.
00:15:28This year, we laid a path to victory, a sustained victory brick by brick.
00:15:33Bricks in Iowa, where Caitlin Dre broke the Republican Senate supermajority and showed us that we can win in the heartland.
00:15:41Bricks in Mississippi, where we flipped seats and we began building power in the American South, breaking that supermajority in their state legislature.
00:15:49Bricks in Georgia, where we elected statewide non-federal Democrats for the first time in nearly 20 years.
00:15:57And we just last Tuesday night flipped an assembly seat that went for Donald Trump by 13 points.
00:16:02Bricks in Pennsylvania, in Luzerne County, in Bucks County, in Erie County, where we won county races and local offices all the way from sheriff to district attorney.
00:16:12And yeah, guess what?
00:16:14A hell of a lot of bricks in New Jersey and Virginia.
00:16:17So you know what?
00:16:19And right here in California, we leveled the playing field with one of the biggest counterpunches to Republicans by passing Prop 50.
00:16:31Thank you, California.
00:16:33Thank you, California.
00:16:39Yeah, that deserves a standing ovation.
00:16:41That's right.
00:16:42Give it up to California.
00:16:45We're not sitting back.
00:16:47We're not resting on our laurels.
00:16:49We're fighting with fire, earth fire.
00:16:58You know, people always ask me, who's the leader of the Democratic Party today?
00:17:04They ask it as if it's some sort of gotcha question.
00:17:08I actually think it's funny because guess what?
00:17:09We've been electing leaders all year.
00:17:11We have so many great, great leaders around this country.
00:17:17And I'm talking about all of these candidates and elected officials up and down the entire ballot.
00:17:23Think about this.
00:17:24A few years ago in Harris County, Texas, down near Houston, Moms for Liberty took over the Cypress Fairbank School Board and they started banning books, whitewashing history, targeting our kids.
00:17:36This is the third largest school district in their state.
00:17:38And a month ago, that very school board went from red to blue a full sweep.
00:17:44We've elected and retained judges who will decide on abortion rights, on workers' rights and voting rights.
00:17:53We defeated that attack on voting rights up in Maine.
00:17:57We've won mayoral races and offices.
00:17:59Look at Miami.
00:18:00Eileen Higgins won after 30 years of Republican control.
00:18:04And think about this.
00:18:08Just a few years ago in 2021, the Republicans won that seat by more than 60 points, but this week we won it by double digits.
00:18:16That's what's happening around the country.
00:18:20And this year we flipped 25 Republican-held state legislature seats.
00:18:26Guess how many of the Republicans flipped on us?
00:18:30Zero.
00:18:31Zero.
00:18:31Now, look, in Little League Baseball, they call that the mercy rule, I think.
00:18:36So, brick by brick, inch by inch, that's what I'm talking about.
00:18:402025 was the best off-off year election in the history of the Democratic Party.
00:18:45Think about that.
00:18:47We have won in places we've never elected Democrats before.
00:18:50We've gained ground back with many of the voters we've lost, and we've elected new, fresh voices who are going to usher in a new Democratic Party.
00:18:59One that's focused relentlessly on improving people's lives.
00:19:04Now, if 2025 was about breaking majorities, then, friends, 2026 will be about making majorities.
00:19:12Democrats, it's time for the future.
00:19:15It's time for us to focus on what's in front of us.
00:19:17Any time we look to the past, it must be in service of the future.
00:19:21Any time we get tired, we find renewed energy in the future.
00:19:25Any time the GOP wants to take us back to the dark days of the past, we focus on the bright days of the future.
00:19:31It's time to be united.
00:19:33United.
00:19:34E pluribus unum.
00:19:35The motto of our country, out of many, one.
00:19:39That is our party.
00:19:41We are one team.
00:19:42We have one fight.
00:19:44And we need one strategy.
00:19:46But as you've heard me say many times, never confuse unity with unanimity in this Big Ten party of ours.
00:19:52There's no one way to be a Democrat.
00:19:55Let me say that again.
00:19:56There is no one way to be a Democrat.
00:19:59Right?
00:20:00The door is open to everybody in the country who wants better.
00:20:06And let's invite them to join us.
00:20:08Maybe some of these folks were with us once or twice in the past.
00:20:12Maybe they're disenchanted by broken politics and a broken system.
00:20:16Maybe they've never in their wildest dreams considered the idea of voting for a Democrat.
00:20:22Now, I don't give a damn who these folks voted for in 24 or 20 or any other election.
00:20:27Listen, all I care about is whether we invite them in and listen to what's going on in their lives.
00:20:34Now, Democrat, it feels good to win.
00:20:37I know this.
00:20:39It feels good to win.
00:20:40I can tell you it's a much different feeling in this room than it was just a few months ago, right?
00:20:47But hear me when I say this.
00:20:49Winning isn't the finish line.
00:20:51It's the starting line.
00:20:53The true work is what we do after we win.
00:20:56And what we actually accomplish.
00:20:58How do we make life better for as many people as possible?
00:21:02For the young couple in Florida on the edge of eviction when, even though they're working full time.
00:21:08For the grandparents in Arizona skipping their medication because the price doubled overnight.
00:21:13For the waitress in North Carolina who just wants a tip that she doesn't have to share with her corporate owners.
00:21:21For the farmer in Illinois crushed by Trump's tariffs.
00:21:24For the single mom in Texas counting every dollar at the grocery store.
00:21:28For all the people who don't have high-powered lobbyists on retainer in Washington.
00:21:33We've all heard that.
00:21:36In this country you've got to pull yourself up by your bootstraps.
00:21:40We believe that.
00:21:41I believe it.
00:21:42But there's a saying that a lot of us in Minnesota have used over the years.
00:21:46What if you don't have any boots?
00:21:48You see the things that Trump raided to reward his rich buddies, food, health care, housing.
00:21:55Are what gave my family our boots.
00:21:58Many families.
00:22:01We are in a moment in this country where so many Americans are on the brink.
00:22:05And Trump has taken their boots.
00:22:08So I want you to really think about something.
00:22:10When we win next year.
00:22:12And I'm confident we're going to win.
00:22:15Right?
00:22:15But I'm not complacent.
00:22:17I'm confident we're going to win.
00:22:19But the question is when we win what will we do?
00:22:22Where will we go from there?
00:22:24How will we use our power and who will we stand for?
00:22:28I know what we stand for.
00:22:30You know what we stand for.
00:22:32I know who we fight for as do you.
00:22:35And I know at the heart of this American experiment is a very simple promise.
00:22:40Everyone deserves a better shot.
00:22:42No matter where you're from.
00:22:44No matter where you live.
00:22:45No matter who.
00:22:47Just one second.
00:22:57There we go.
00:22:59I'm going to say it again.
00:23:00At the heart of this American experiment is a simple promise.
00:23:05Everyone deserves a better shot.
00:23:08No matter where you're from.
00:23:09No matter where you live.
00:23:10No matter who you love.
00:23:11And certainly no matter who you are.
00:23:14Every single person should have a chance to build a better life for themselves and their families.
00:23:18Every single person should have the opportunity to reach for the slice of the American dream.
00:23:24Now Democrats, we believe in a country where you can work one job.
00:23:28One job and still afford a home.
00:23:30We believe in a country where the grocery prices don't determine whether your kids get new shoes this year.
00:23:36We believe in a country where costs are kept in check and also where wages are fair.
00:23:41Where a living wage isn't a pipe dream, right?
00:23:44And we believe in a country where everybody can afford their life and achieve their God-given potential.
00:23:50We believe in a country where seniors can retire without fear.
00:23:53Where veterans get the care they earned.
00:23:55Where children are fed and educated.
00:23:57That's not radical.
00:24:00There's nothing radical about that.
00:24:02That's just decent.
00:24:04And frankly, that's American.
00:24:07As my friend Paul Wellstone used to say, I'm going to keep saying this until I'm out of here.
00:24:13I hope you all start saying it with me, right?
00:24:16Because I think this should be the motto of the Democratic Party.
00:24:20We all do better when we all do better.
00:24:23And the all matters here.
00:24:27The all matters here.
00:24:29Because we're not talking just about a few of us.
00:24:31We're not just talking about the folks in this room.
00:24:34When we say all, we mean all.
00:24:37Every single person.
00:24:39Whether they're a Democrat and voted with us.
00:24:42Republicans, independents, anyone else out there.
00:24:45The reality is we're fighting for everyone in this country.
00:24:48Thank you, DNC.
00:24:51Thank you for your faith.
00:24:53And trust.
00:24:54Thank you for supporting us as we fight and win.
00:24:58Thank you for committing to the work in front of us.
00:25:00Because nothing, nothing in this moment is more important than the work that we're all doing together.
00:25:07To not only save this country, but to stand up and give people in this nation a sense of hope.
00:25:15That their better days are ahead of them.
00:25:17And that we're going to fight for them and their families.
00:25:20Thank you so much for everything you do.
00:25:28Thank you, guys.
00:25:31Democrats, I am pleased now to introduce our next speaker.
00:26:23streets, living paycheck to paycheck. He lost his health care. He lost his home and he found
00:26:29himself with nowhere to go. So as we listen to Tommy's story, as we hear firsthand what
00:26:34this fight is really about, let's remember, this isn't theory. This isn't simply politics.
00:26:41This is life and death for millions of Americans. This is the difference between despair and
00:26:47hope, between falling behind and getting ahead, between being invisible and being seen.
00:26:53And as long as I'm your chair of the Democratic Party, we will see every single Tommy in this
00:26:58country. We will fight for them. We will show up for them. We will never stop lifting them
00:27:03up because they are the reason that we're here. Please welcome to the stage Tommy Butts,
00:27:07who is going to share his story with us.
00:27:23I only knew where to begin. So I'll start from recently what happened. I woke up with one cent in my EBT account.
00:27:39And even though, even though it was stressful and traumatic for me, my heart went out more to my family members and friends and associates that I know with kids and it really depends on this.
00:27:55It really depends on this income. My phone began ringing right when the benefits were starting to not to show up.
00:28:00And they was calling me, do you have any extra money? Do you have any extra $20? Not, they were asking for a huge amount of money, but that's money to feed the kids to buy medication, to just the bare minimum.
00:28:11And it broke my heart because I couldn't do anything because I myself was struggling just to get, to meet the bare minimums and stuff I need to get done.
00:28:19You know, you never, I never in my life would imagine that I would be homeless or needing medical, I'm sorry, but this is a lot, needing your medical attention and not being able to afford it, needing food and not be able to get it.
00:28:34I worked my behind off. I had a job. I did everything you're supposed to do and I got sick.
00:28:41I could not work. I could not afford my insurance.
00:28:46I ended up on the street and I just prayed. I said, God, lead me where you need me to go.
00:28:51And I ended up at the Belchere's shelter. They treated me with dignity. They treated me with respect.
00:28:57They listened to me and they let me know I wasn't broken. I just needed help.
00:29:02A lot of Americans just need help. They just need somebody to show that they are worthy, they are respected, they are human, they are decent.
00:29:14No matter of their sexual orientation, no matter of their economics, no matter of who they love, no matter of how much money in their bank account,
00:29:24but we all are human, we all deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, you know what I mean?
00:29:29And as I stand up here, I'm not by myself, I'm not standing here alone.
00:29:36There's people that stand up here with me because I was like, I don't know if I can do this because I'm not a speaker.
00:29:41I'm just a person who was filled with love and compassion about what I've been through.
00:29:45And I said, how am I going to do this? And I said, you're not alone.
00:29:51The single mother who kids are standing right beside you.
00:29:54The disabled people are standing right beside you.
00:29:56The veterans are standing right beside you.
00:29:58The house are standing right beside you.
00:30:00The hungry people are standing right beside you.
00:30:02The people without food are standing right beside you.
00:30:04And I'm speaking for all of them.
00:30:07You know what I mean?
00:30:08I'm speaking for all of them.
00:30:10And the main thing is, and I got to say this, I am a proud Democrat.
00:30:14And I was listening to what he was saying.
00:30:18He said, none of us is better too.
00:30:20We all are better.
00:30:22And that is so very important.
00:30:24And it's so very needed.
00:30:25Right now, my brother just called me yesterday and he said he's getting, he's been on dialysis all his life.
00:30:30I mean, he's been on a diabetic all his life.
00:30:31He's on dialysis.
00:30:32He just got approved to get a kidney transplant, a pancreas transplant.
00:30:38And that would not be available without health care.
00:30:41That would not be available without proper food.
00:30:44And housing.
00:30:45And that's the bare necessities.
00:30:47Nobody asking to be rich or a millionaire.
00:30:48That's to be treated with the bare necessities.
00:30:50No matter who you are, everybody needs to be treated with kindness, dignity, and respect.
00:30:55That's all I have to say.
00:30:55Thank you and bless you.
00:30:59You're doing a great job, man.
00:31:00You're doing a great job, man.
00:31:02I'm so proud of you guys.
00:31:03Thank you for doing this, man.
00:31:08Thank you, brother.
00:31:13Thank you, Tommy.
00:31:15Thank you, Tommy.
00:31:15Thank you, Tommy.
00:31:18Thank you, Tommy.
00:31:22Before I go on, I think it's just important to really understand what Tommy was saying.
00:31:36There are people in this country right now living one paycheck, one crisis away from homelessness,
00:31:46from not being able to put food on the table.
00:31:49And unfortunately, given what's happening in this country right now, the callous administration
00:31:57who could care less about anyone but those at the top, more and more people are going
00:32:05to fall into this type of despair.
00:32:07So I appreciate Tommy being here, and I also want to thank Susie Shannon, our Chair of the
00:32:13Poverty Council, for all the work she's doing in this moment.
00:32:16Thank you, Susie.
00:32:17Thank you, Susie.
00:32:20Now, look, we've got to do some official business now, so we're going to move on to the approval
00:32:25of the new at-large member.
00:32:27Heading into this meeting, we had one vacancy among the at-large members of the DNC.
00:32:32A name was presented to you, and at this point, I would take a motion from the floor to approve
00:32:38Lazer Polnick from the great state of Pennsylvania as an at-large DNC member.
00:32:44It's moved.
00:32:45Is there a second?
00:32:46Second.
00:32:47It's been moved and seconded.
00:32:48Any discussion?
00:32:50Seeing no discussion, all those in favor, say aye.
00:32:53Aye.
00:32:54Any opposed?
00:32:56Congratulations, Lazer Polnick, on your appointment.
00:33:02We're now going to go to the filling of Standing Committee vacancies.
00:33:06Following the meeting in August, we had a few vacancies on Standing Committees that need
00:33:10to be filled.
00:33:12There were four vacancies on the Budget and Oversight and Review Committee.
00:33:16In accordance with our bylaws, the co-chairs of the committee have been consulted on the four
00:33:21proposed members.
00:33:22The appointments for these vacancies are Seema Lajevedarian of Texas, Lazer Polnick of Pennsylvania,
00:33:29and Diane Robertson of North Carolina.
00:33:33Yes.
00:33:34Now, one proposed member has chosen to withdraw his nomination, and we will have a new nominee
00:33:40for this body to consider in the coming days.
00:33:43Now, additionally, there are two vacancies on the Credentials Committee to fill.
00:33:47The appointments for these vacancies are Richard Carlbaum of Minnesota and Grace Carrington of
00:33:53Florida.
00:33:56Is there a motion to approve the proposed Standing Committee members as it's been moved?
00:34:01Is there a second?
00:34:02All those in favor, say aye.
00:34:05Aye.
00:34:05Any opposed?
00:34:06Congratulations to all the new members, and thank you for serving.
00:34:14I always appreciate people stepping up to fill these roles.
00:34:18We're asking you to do so much already, so thank you for the work that you'll do to help
00:34:22build our party.
00:34:23We're going to move on at this point to our Credentials Committee update.
00:34:29Our wonderful co-chairs of the Credentials Committee were unable to attend our meeting
00:34:34today, and therefore, please join me in welcoming Secretary Jason Ray to deliver the committee's
00:34:39update.
00:34:40Secretary Ray.
00:34:44Thank you, Mr. Chair.
00:34:46During this week's meetings of the Credentials Committee, members received an overview of the
00:34:52committee's roles and responsibilities, along with a history of the outstanding challenge
00:34:56to the Credentials of Alabama's three elected state DNC members.
00:35:00The next steps for the Credentials Committee will be to hold a hearing during our meeting
00:35:05in New Orleans and to provide the DNC with the resolution to be voted on by this body.
00:35:10Therefore, at this time, there is nothing for the committee to report.
00:35:16Thank you, Mr. Secretary.
00:35:18Before we move on to our Budget and Oversight and Review Committee report, I do want to ask
00:35:26us all to take a moment of silence to pray for Reverend Jesse Jackson, who, as you know,
00:35:34was recently hospitalized.
00:35:40Of course, it's serious.
00:35:43We just want to send healing thoughts and prayers to Reverend Jackson, a true, true icon, legend,
00:35:50champion for civil rights and voting rights, great Democrat, more important, a great American.
00:35:57Please join me in just a moment of healing thoughts and prayer for Jesse Jackson.
00:36:01Thank you so much.
00:36:17We're now going to move on to our Budget and Oversight and Review Committee.
00:36:22Following the passing of bylaw amendments at the August meeting, they have a new set of oversight authorities
00:36:27that I want to thank Chris Lowe and Doris for working with the team to make this possible ahead of this meeting.
00:36:36So at this point, we're going to ask our chair of the Oversight and Review Committee to come up and give the report.
00:36:44Please welcome Chris Lowe.
00:36:46Hi, good afternoon.
00:36:59Thank you, Chair Martin.
00:37:01My co-chair, Doris Kraus-Mays, was unable to be here today, so I'm pleased to provide the report of the newly renamed Budget Oversight and Review Committee.
00:37:12This is our first report to the DNC.
00:37:14We were pleased to welcome the new members to the committee that you all have just approved,
00:37:20and we look forward to working with all of them going forward.
00:37:24At the meeting yesterday, DNC staff presented a financial review of our revenues and expenses,
00:37:30and they did this with the highest level of transparency we have seen during my time on the committee.
00:37:36At the end of the last reporting period, the DNC had receipts of approximately $96 million.
00:37:44And of that, grassroots contributions accounted for 85% of the fundraising in that period.
00:37:53That is really a record level, and we should all be very proud of the work that that group does.
00:37:59This unprecedented level of funding allowed us to make key investments throughout the year in staff, technology, the state parties,
00:38:11as well as record targeted investments in the 2025 elections.
00:38:15This, along with lots of work from many folks, helped us to win up and down the ballot all across the country.
00:38:24We also were presented yesterday with a detailed review of a diverse vendor contracting strategy
00:38:30and our grassroots financing initiatives.
00:38:36Additionally, we received an update from the staff on the DNC's efforts to combat scam PACs and their predatory practices.
00:38:45These practices erode the faith of the real people who place their trust in us and help fund the party and our campaigns and candidates.
00:38:57The work the team is doing there is essential to keeping the entire democratic campaign ecosystem healthy,
00:39:04and we will be doing more on this in the future.
00:39:07As you all know, and as the Chair just mentioned, we've made a commitment to a more open and transparent budget oversight and review process.
00:39:16The first step of that will become early next year, when members of the committee will be presented with a draft budget for comment at a meeting in early 2026.
00:39:29So, Mr. Chair, thank you for the support of this new committee,
00:39:32and Doris and I look forward to reporting to this body on the work on the budget in April.
00:39:46Just one second here, folks.
00:40:04We're skipping around a little bit.
00:40:09Let me just bring up to you right now, of course, our wonderful co-chairs of the Rules and Bylaws Committee,
00:40:15Jim Roosevelt and Mignon Moore, to report on their work here,
00:40:20the important work that they have been doing for many, many months now.
00:40:24I really appreciate Mignon and Jim.
00:40:27You know, I said this the last time, but I'm going to say it every single time,
00:40:29because I called them right when I was elected Chair.
00:40:33It was the first call I made to make sure they would be willing to stick on board,
00:40:36because, gosh, help us if they didn't.
00:40:38They're amazing leaders, amazing chairs.
00:40:40Please welcome our RBC chairs.
00:40:42Mignon Moore, Jim Roosevelt.
00:40:49Thank you, Chair Martin.
00:40:51Fellow Democrats, yesterday afternoon, the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee
00:40:56met to consider two proposed charter and bylaw amendments
00:40:59and standing rules for the DNC general session meetings.
00:41:06These were provided to DNC members in the 30-day meeting notice from Secretary Ray.
00:41:11The first proposed charter and bylaw amendment, as well as the standing rules for the DNC general session meetings,
00:41:18were approved unanimously by the committee for adoption by the full DNC.
00:41:23We even adjourned an hour early, I might add.
00:41:27Oh, no, I'm good.
00:41:32They're trying to adjust for the shorty here.
00:41:37Thank you, Jim.
00:41:38The second proposed charter and bylaws amendment that the committee considered was withdrawn with unanimous consent.
00:41:45Now, with that, Mr. Chair, we move that the report of the rules and bylaws,
00:41:50which includes the proposed charter and bylaws amendment, as recommended, be approved by the RNC.
00:41:58I mean, the RBC.
00:41:59Yes.
00:41:59Thank you so much.
00:42:01There'll be something if they're approving our rules report.
00:42:04Wow.
00:42:05But let me again thank the chairs.
00:42:08They have presented the rules and bylaws committee report.
00:42:12At this point, all those in favor of the report say aye.
00:42:16Aye.
00:42:17Any opposed nay?
00:42:18Thank you so much, and congratulations, chairs.
00:42:35Members, I now have the very distinct honor to introduce our next speaker, our dear friend
00:43:00from the great state of California, Vice President Kamala Harris.
00:43:04Now, no, no, no, don't get up yet.
00:43:08Because before we bring up the Vice President, let me say a few brief words.
00:43:13Democrats, you know this.
00:43:15We all know this.
00:43:17Vice President Harris has put it all on the line.
00:43:21She put it on the line, not simply for our party, but for our country.
00:43:25And I'll tell you something, she worked her ass off for those 107 days.
00:43:29Just like she did as Vice President, just like she did as a U.S. Senator representing
00:43:36this beautiful state, and as Attorney General.
00:43:38She brought energy, enthusiasm, and a deep sense of unity.
00:43:43She brought and continues to a vision, and yes, she brought a plan.
00:43:48She fought tirelessly for everybody in this country who feels voiceless, everyone who deserves
00:43:55a champion, everyone who feels that Washington isn't working for them.
00:43:59Kamala Harris inspired Democrats in this room, and she's inspired countless Americans in every
00:44:07corner of our great country.
00:44:09And I am so proud to have her joining us today.
00:44:15DNC, Democrats, let's give it up for Vice President Kamala Harris.
00:44:23Good afternoon.
00:44:26Hi.
00:44:27Hi, friends.
00:44:29Hi.
00:44:30Please have a seat.
00:44:33To all of us, to all of us, applause to all of us.
00:44:50Okay, it's my name.
00:44:52Don't wear it out.
00:44:54Thank you all.
00:44:56I love you back.
00:44:57You know that.
00:44:58We've all been in these rooms together for many years, and I had a chance to greet all
00:45:03of the members of the podium earlier today.
00:45:05And, Ken, I just want to say in front of everybody, thank you for your leadership.
00:45:09You've been doing an extraordinary job.
00:45:15So it's great to see you all.
00:45:17Welcome to California.
00:45:19How's the temperature treating you?
00:45:24So let me just say, let me just start by saying thank you.
00:45:30Thank you, all of you.
00:45:33Not only for the support you have given me and our campaign in 2024, but most importantly,
00:45:40thank you for what you do for our country.
00:45:43You know, I know the hard work that you all do every day.
00:45:47It is the work that is about the weekends that just vanish.
00:45:53It's about the work that does not trend on social media.
00:45:59It's about the work that may not garner you a standing ovation after you have completed an important task
00:46:06that is in furtherance of what is best for our country.
00:46:10But you all are changing lives.
00:46:12And all of that strengthens our country.
00:46:22So I start by just saying thank you, because I am a public face of a lot of the work that we do.
00:46:33And people then come up to me in various places.
00:46:37And when they thank me, they are thanking you for standing up for our democracy, for the rule of law,
00:46:48for values and principles, for community, for the breadth and depth of who we are with all of our beautiful differences as a nation.
00:46:59When they thank me, they are thanking you for the work that you do that are about upholding basic principles
00:47:07that are at the foundation of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States.
00:47:15So thank you for everything that you have done, that you are doing, and you will do.
00:47:24And I know, look, this year has not been easy, certainly for any of us.
00:47:32But the leaders here, you've not been deterred.
00:47:37And last month provides proof of that.
00:47:40Last month provides proof of that.
00:47:43In Virginia, Abigail Spanberger will be the first woman governor in that state's history.
00:47:50In New Jersey, Mikey Sherrill won the governor's mansion.
00:47:58In New York, Zoran Mamdani is mayor-elect, having inspired a broad coalition.
00:48:06In California, we passed Proposition 50.
00:48:09And in the Deep South, where maps were intentionally, over a long period of time, been drawn to silence black voters,
00:48:25the people were undeterred.
00:48:27In Mississippi, Democrats broke the Republican supermajority in the state Senate.
00:48:34In Georgia, Alicia Johnson and Peter Hubbard.
00:48:39Out here, over there, my Georgia friend, flipped two statewide seats.
00:48:45From Richmond to Trenton, from Jackson to Atlanta, from Sacramento to New York,
00:48:54the American people sent a message.
00:48:58They want leaders who fight for affordability, for health care, for the right of people to participate in their democracy.
00:49:11Americans want leaders who fight for them.
00:49:15And that is what we will continue to do in 2026, as we compete in every state, in every district, and every level of government.
00:49:29And obviously, we must focus on the midterms.
00:49:34But Democrats, we must also have a clear vision for what comes after the midterms, and then after Trump.
00:49:46We need to answer the question, we need to answer the question, what comes next for our party and our democracy.
00:49:58And in so doing, we must be honest that for so many, the American dream has become more of a myth than a reality.
00:50:10Whether it's the cost of food, energy, health care, transportation, or housing, America is facing an affordability crisis.
00:50:22A crisis that we are witnessing is fueling cynicism, fear, frustration, and a lack of confidence in our systems.
00:50:37At the same time, AI has started to displace jobs, reshape the future of work, and cause Americans across the country to fear being left behind.
00:50:56Meanwhile, social media, which once promised us to make us feel more connected,
00:51:03is increasingly making us feel more isolated and divided.
00:51:10And all of this is happening against the backdrop of a political system that appears to not only be fractured, but broken.
00:51:23Both parties have failed to hold the public's trust.
00:51:28Government is viewed as fundamentally unable to meet the needs of its people.
00:51:43In these and in so many other ways, the people feel that the very institutions that were designed to support them have failed them.
00:51:55People are done with the status quo, and they're ready to break things to force change.
00:52:12And so, real talk, right?
00:52:14So in comes Donald Trump, casting himself as the change agent, but with empty promises to the American people.
00:52:24Under his leadership, we all know prices are up, inflation is up, unemployment is up, health care costs for millions of Americans are about to double.
00:52:36We all know that in the midst of all this, the truth and reality of the moment,
00:52:42that just a few days ago, he said the economy was, I had to count the pluses.
00:52:47They're five.
00:52:49A plus, plus, plus, plus, plus, plus.
00:52:52That's what he said when asked, rate the economy.
00:52:55A plus, plus, plus, plus, plus, plus.
00:52:58There is nothing A plus about any of this.
00:53:02But real talk, we must be candid and clear.
00:53:16Donald Trump is not the only source of our problems.
00:53:18He and the rise of the MAGA movement, I believe, are a symptom of a failed system that is the result of years of outsourcing
00:53:34and offshoring financial deregulation, growing income inequality, a broken campaign finance system, and endless partisan gridlock,
00:53:50all contributing to how we got here today.
00:53:55So as we plan for what comes after this administration, we cannot afford to be nostalgic for what was, in fact, a flawed status quo
00:54:11and a system that failed so many.
00:54:15We cannot advocate for nor settle for a simple return to what existed in the past.
00:54:31The work ahead requires us to reinvent, to innovate, to inspire, and understand that the task before us is not just a political project.
00:54:51It must be a project of civic renewal.
00:54:56It must be a project of civic renewal.
00:55:00Many of you know, throughout my career, I have invoked a consistent mantra, the power is with the people.
00:55:10Well, this idea, we all know, comes from the founders.
00:55:13It's not an original thought.
00:55:14It comes from the founders, that in a functioning democracy, we, the people, have the power to shape our own fate.
00:55:25But today, Americans are skeptical of whether this remains true.
00:55:30Americans wonder whether hard work alone is enough to ensure a good future for themselves and their families.
00:55:41They worry that the forces impacting their day-to-day lives are beyond their control.
00:55:49And is it any wonder when today, so many of our nation's political and economic power is concentrated in the hands of the very few?
00:56:02Is it any wonder that such concentration of power is the mark of a corrupted system, that it is corrosive to our democracy?
00:56:20So a primary task, I believe, must be to confront this excess concentration of power and provide greater agency, provide greater agency to everyday citizens.
00:56:42We must reform our institutions in ways that will put the people back in charge, in a way that actually promotes the general welfare.
00:56:56And while a project of civic renewal may sound lofty, especially given the challenges of this moment, I believe that it is a necessary endeavor and that it be grounded in certain values that I know we all share.
00:57:19The values that all forms of work contribute to the public good and deserve dignity.
00:57:28And all Americans performing that work deserve to be rewarded fairly.
00:57:36That in addition to economic security, Americans' well-being also depend on health, safety, and connection with family and community.
00:57:51That technology should be harnessed on behalf of the public interest.
00:57:58And at its best, it should always seek to enhance human ingenuity, not replace it, to deepen our connections, not so distrust among us.
00:58:17That the government derives its legitimacy from the people.
00:58:27And so it must be responsive to the actual needs of the people.
00:58:32Be more transparent in its activities.
00:58:36And most of all, that it cannot be bought by outside interests.
00:58:42That the advancement of justice and equality strengthens society as a whole.
00:58:56And upholding the rights of the marginalized fortifies the rights of everyone.
00:59:03That to reinstate a sense of civic solidarity, we should provide more opportunities to perform national service.
00:59:19And we must invest in public education, public spaces, and ambitious national projects that remind us of what we can achieve together.
00:59:30And that the strength of a pluralistic society requires that we embrace our differences with more than just tolerance.
00:59:49But with mutual respect and trust, with the belief that though we are different, each of our fellow citizens is a neighbor.
01:00:04These are the values that I believe must guide our project of civic renewal.
01:00:14So going forward, let us make a new commitment to the common good.
01:00:19One that declares our country will be commanded not by big corporations or career politicians, not by the elite or wealthy, but by everyday citizens.
01:00:35Each working to fulfill their potential, not just for the betterment of themselves, but for the betterment of the country.
01:00:46A commitment that declares that the power of this country does not belong to any king or set of oligarchs.
01:00:57It belongs to we the people.
01:01:08And I'll close by saying the stakes have never been higher, but we are clear eyed with grit, determination, and fire that this moment demands.
01:01:20That when you know what you stand for, you go out and fight for it, we fight for the future, we fight for the people, and we love our country.
01:01:33I thank you all very much. Thank you.
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