For Immediate Release:

DATE:  September 21, 2023

Contact: Jonathon Dworkin (NewDEAL), 202-660-1340 x5, jonathon@newdealleaders.org

 

‘We Are the Party of Freedom’: DNC Chair Jaime Harrison Marks 200th Episode of An Honorable Profession Podcast

Chair Harrison discusses the importance of state and local elected leaders as we near the crucial 2024 election.

Washington, D.C. – NewDEAL is celebrating the fifth anniversary and 200th episode of its award-winning podcast, An Honorable Profession, with an inspiring conversation between Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison and hosts Debbie Cox Bultan (NewDEAL CEO) and Ryan Coonerty (former Santa Cruz County, CA Supervisor and Santa Cruz, CA Mayor). The episode, released today, features Harrison delving into issues ranging from the importance of local leaders to the untold accomplishments of the Biden Administration and how he first got involved in politics. He talks about the outlook for the 2024 election, how the Biden Administration has beaten the odds, and what the party is doing to defend democracy and combat voter suppression efforts nationwide.

Watch here and use this link to listen wherever you find your podcasts

Harrison emphasizes that the Democratic Party’s communications should not come from Washington but, instead, from local leaders.

“Talk about how Democrats have delivered, and you’ve got so much to say… How we delivered on the environment. How we delivered on education. How we delivered on criminal justice reform. How we delivered on student loans. How we delivered on health care. And then you – on a local level – pick and choose what works for the people you represent and the people that you know,” Harrison said. “You know that already. You need folks on the local level to pick [from] the multitude of things we’ve been able to accomplish across the board.”

“Chair Harrison summed up the message of the Democratic Party beautifully – we are the party of hope, not fear. Heading into 2024, Democrats have such an impressive record of accomplishment to run on,” Bultan said after the interview. “He reminded us that elected officials at all levels can and must spread the message that Democrats have delivered, and are committed to continuing to build a more just, prosperous, and safe America.”

“An Honorable Profession has been an incredible journey over the past five years,” Coonerty said. “We are the preeminent podcast showcasing the incredible future of American political leadership. It’s gratifying on our anniversary that Chair Harrison doubled down on the importance of these leaders for our democracy. I can’t wait for the next 200 episodes.”

An Honorable Profession is a weekly podcast featuring rising Democratic stars and influential thinkers in government and public policy. Past guests include U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), State Senators Mallory McMorrow and Sarah McBride, and more. Like Harrison, many guests tell their origin story of how they first got involved in electoral politics, discuss how to address the biggest issues facing our country, and share what motivates them to continue to fight for a better town, city, state, and nation.

Key Quotes from Chair Harrison’s Interview:

On Democratic Values: “We are the party of freedom. We’re the party that believes, as the Founders said, that all people are created equal. And we believe that to the core of who we are. All people in this country should have the ability to live their American Dream, whatever that dream may be. Regardless of their background. Regardless of their race. Regardless of who they pray to. Regardless of who they love. Regardless of how they identify themselves. They should all have the power to live their American Dream. And when they run up against a barrier or an issue or an obstacle to that, then we as a party utilize all the things we have to eliminate that barrier. That’s who we are, fundamentally, as a party.”

On Democracy: “American democracy as we know it, as we love it, is on the line this election cycle. We can’t be silent. We can’t be complacent.”

On Voter Protection: “We, the Democratic Party, are the party of voting rights for all of America’s people.”

On President Biden’s Accomplishments: “The largest infrastructure bill since Dwight Eisenhower. When you look at the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest investment in fighting back against the climate crisis ever in the history of the world, by any country… For the first time, Medicare is going to be able to negotiate the price of prescription drugs… The millions of people who had student loans forgiven, and how transformative that is going to be.”

On What Keeps Him Going: “The thing that keeps me going is hope. Here in South Carolina, we have a motto, ‘While I breathe, I hope.’ I think it’s a beautiful motto. As a young black man growing up the way I did, all I had at times was hope. Hope that things would be better. Hope that the tough times in the night would go away with the bright opportunities in the morning.”

On Advice to Those Getting Involved in Politics: “Stay focused on how you improve the lives of constituents… It’s not about you coming in to offer solutions, but you going in to [listen].”

An Honorable Profession is available on iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or anywhere podcasts are found.

About NewDEAL

The NewDEAL supports a network of about 200 state and local officials — statewide officials, legislators, mayors, council members, and other local leaders across the country — who are pro-growth progressives. The organization brings together leaders focused on expanding opportunity, helping them develop and spread innovative ideas to spur economic growth that is broadly-earned and sustainable.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 29, 2023
Contact: Jonathon Dworkin, 202-660-1340 x5

New Report Offers Fresh Insight on School Choice Attitudes and Policies
NewDEAL releases messaging and policy recommendations from issue-area experts and elected leaders.

Washington D.C. – As students across the country continue to go back to school, more of them are seeing education funds in their states go to private schools as a result of a private school vouchers push by state Republican leaders. To highlight how anti-voucher policymakers should respond with effective policy and politics, NewDEAL has released a briefing providing an overview of public attitudes around the issue and recommendations for school choice policy and messaging. The report’s findings stem from a recent virtual convening that brought together members of the NewDEAL network of state and local leaders from across the country, including New Hampshire House Minority Leader Matt Wilhelm and Georgia State Representative Phil Olaleye, along with experts from Democrats for Education Reform (DFER).

“Embracing public school choice can help remind parents, and all voters, that Democrats value high-quality education for every child,” said Debbie Cox Bultan, CEO of NewDEAL. “At a time when the Republican education agenda consists of education welfare for the wealthiest among us, as well as efforts like extremist book bans that fan the flames of our culture wars, Democrats have the opportunity to remind the public which party has allchildren’s best interests at heart.”

From polling to best practices, this report provides support for policymakers fighting for real school choice, including traditional and public charter schools. Experts emphasize the importance of engaging in discussions about school choice, forming coalitions with unlikely partners, cutting through the noise of unproductive cultural war debates, and prioritizing the real needs of teachers, families, and students.

Read the full report here.

This report highlights findings and recommendations about school choice legislation and public opinion, including:

• Public charter schools are popular across key constituencies with 65 percent of all respondents in a recent DFER poll and 72 percent of Democratic voters favoring public charter schools. Voters of color in particular view them favorably.

• Voters favor new ideas rather than simply more funding. Many parents wish to see more policy solutions that emphasize quality control rather than funding increases exclusively.

• Public school choice options are viewed more favorably than private vouchers and highlight the inequities of voucher systems.

  • New Hampshire’s voucher program has gone over budget with significant resources going to students who were already enrolled in private schools or homeschooled.

• Democratic policymakers ought to rebuild trust with parents and students and take control of the debate on education in part by supporting public school choice measures and initiatives. Fighting back against efforts to fund private institutions with taxpayer dollars also presents the opportunity to reach across the aisle and build coalitions with parties that aren’t always aligned.

  • A private school choice expansion bill in Georgia was voted down despite unified Republican control of the legislature and governor’s office. Common cause brought together a coalition of Democratic and conservative rural policymakers who were concerned about taking away funding from public schools that serve as hubs in their communities.

“The choice versus no choice debate has been had, that debate’s been settled. Choice won, and choice resonates deeply. And now what we say is the new battleline is the form of choice that Republicans are offering, private school choice, and the form of choice that Democrats are offering, or that we hope we more fully embrace and offer, is public school choice,” said DFER CEO Jorge Elorza.

If you would like more information about the DFER public opinion survey, conducted with Emerson Polling and involving 1,000 registered voters, click here.

About NewDEAL

The NewDEAL is a national network of rising state and local elected leaders who are pro-growth progressives. Our mission is to bring together leaders focused on expanding opportunity and to help them develop and spread innovative ideas to spur economic growth that is broadly-earned and sustainable. We do this by connecting NewDEAL Leaders with each other to exchange ideas, and connecting them with other pro-growth progressive political, policy, and private sector leaders.