Bernie Sanders’ run for the presidency ended last July, but the fervor he ignited has not gone away. His campaign brought millions of citizens, especially young people, into the political world. And while the election is past, the movement for change remains alive.
On December 13, 175 people gathered at the third-floor event space of the Solar Arts building for a meeting sponsored by Our Revolution MN, a volunteer group dedicated to (from their website) “engage in political advocacy and education to promote sustainability as well as economic and social justice in Minnesota.” A fair number of attendees wore Bernie buttons or tee shirts.
A handout listed the intention of the meeting, “Caucus 101: Why do Caucuses Matter? Building Power in 2017,” as a course in the practical aspects of influencing the political process at the caucus level.
The meeting’s first speaker began by stating the group’s goals: to develop a platform for progressive issues, to endorse candidates who stand by these issues, and to support these candidates through the convention and the election.
Galen Ryan, who describes himself as a transportation and land-use activist, introduced newly elected state representative Ilhan Omar. She thanked her campaign manager, Daniel Cox, noting: “We are the show horses and get all the attention, but the real work is done by campaign managers, who must deal with budgets, fundraising, and all those calls to delegates.”
Matt Musel, manager of the major gifts program at the Minnesota Historical Society, introduced three panel members (Cox; Lynne Bolton, labor organizer with the Minnesota Federation of Teachers; and Sieng Lee, campaign manager for state representative Fue Lee), all of whom have had political experience. Musel reminded the audience that Minnesota caucuses will be held on April 4 this year.
Cox said, “Caucuses create the universe; they determine what’s possible for the rest of the election cycle, and the most important way you can build power in the caucuses is to invest in people development.”
Bolton added, “Sometimes the DFL party forgets there’s an ‘L’ in its name. I come from the labor side; it’s not just about the candidates, but about the issues. We need to set the agenda to make lives better for working families, and support those candidates who support our values.”
Lee, an artist and graphic designer, said, “I’m really a newbie here. Fue Lee came to me and said, ‘Let’s run a campaign.’ I began without knowing what a caucus was. In getting out the Hmong vote in North Minneapolis, I needed volunteers and interpreters. But I really liked helping my elders take their first steps in the democratic process.”
In a later interview, Arco Bordayo, Our Revolution MN’s head of diversity and engagement, described his own introduction to the organizing process: “I moved here from Texas in 2001. My older sister was in college in Wisconsin, and on one of my visits, I felt that I could assist communities here to organize for change. My mother was undocumented, and that was part of my desire to help others. When Bernie began moving in the primaries, I went online to volunteer for his campaign. I flew to San Diego, visiting the hardcore barrios, making phone calls and door knocking every day to register new voters. It was beautiful to see the response by poor people to Bernie’s simple, just platform of equality.” He said that subsequent meetings in the Twin Cities, at St. Peter’s Church and Waite House, drew hundreds of participants.
The split within the national Democratic Party between supporters of Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton reached its boiling point during July’s Democratic national convention. After Clinton’s nomination and Sanders’ endorsement, a group called Our Revolution was started, with Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver at its helm. Its stated aim was to keep alive the movement that Sanders had championed during his candidacy.
An August 24 New York Times article, “Bernie Sanders’s New Political Group Is Met by Staff Revolt,” described tensions within the Sanders staff about the choice of Weaver, who was accused by some of mismanagement, and there were questions about the proposed group’s tax status. At that point, a number of national campaign staff members resigned. Nonetheless, on August 24, 2016, the group launch was livestreamed to some 2,600 organization parties across the country.
Below: Matt Musel speaking to a packed audience at the Caucus 101 event. It was sponsored by Our Revolution MN, which had its statewide launch on September 18 in Minneapolis. (Photo by Mark Peterson)