Progressive Bloggers Joining the “Establishment”

Browsing through the blogs today I found a few stories about the new process for electing Assembly District Delegates to the State Democratic Party. One of the more interesting points I found was that there are a number of “progressive bloggers” running for seats on the state party.

My fellow blogger Claudio over at Orange Juice and I have both been members of the state party through the 69^th Assembly District Committee for the last two years. This year I am running for a seat in the 54^th AD (Long Beach) and Claudio in the 69^th (Santa Ana). But joining us in these contests this year are Joe Shaw from Orange Juice in the 67^th (Huntington Beach) and Andrew Davey in the 69^th.

The active campaigning and unusually large field of candidates is due for the most part to a change in the State Party Bylaws in 2006. The change eliminated local Assembly District Committees in favor of a more open process that permits any registered Democrat in an Assembly District to run, and for any registered Democrat in the Assembly District to vote in the local caucus. This process is similar to the way Congressional District Delegates are selected for the Democratic National Convention.

The opening up of the field seems to have garnered a greater interest among grass roots Democrats in participating in what was previously considered a “less than open” process.

Here are some links to posts and articles I came across in an effort to make it easier for you to read more about this story.

Calitics: CA Blogosphere Growing Up
LA Times Blogs/Political Muscle: Lordy Help Us