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Wednesday-Friday: Rising Democratic Leaders Convene about Midterm Lessons and What Comes Next

News Category: Statements and Press Releases

Senator Mark Warner, Rep.-elect Jennifer Wexton, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Dr. Leana Wen to address conference on future of Democratic politics and policy

Washington, DC – More than 60 of the most innovative state and local Democrats from across the country will come together in Washington from Wednesday - Friday, November 28 -30, to reflect on the midterm elections, discuss the Party’s path forward, and lay out a policy agenda for Democrats across the country to address key economic issues.

The eighth annual NewDEAL (Developing Exceptional American Leaders) Leader Conference brings together rising pro-growth progressives from the organization’s network of elected officials, who represent 46 states, along with other top officials and thought leaders. In addition to surveying the political landscape, key topics include policy ideas on the future of work, climate change, and restoring democracy.

A schedule of conference highlights and list of some of the NewDEAL Leaders planning to attend is below.

A kick-off dinner on Wednesday, November 28, will feature remarks on lessons from this month’s elections by NewDEAL Honorary Co-Chair and former Delaware Governor Jack Markell, U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, U.S. Representative Conor Lamb, and U.S. Representative-elect Jennifer Wexton, who flipped a Republican Congressional seat and is one of the NewDEAL members ascending to higher office after the midterms.

Sessions on Thursday, November 29, will begin by addressing the future of work and will feature remarks by NewDEAL Honorary Co-Chair U.S. Senator Mark Warner (VA). Other program segments will be based on policy recommendations released at the event by the NewDEAL Future of Work Policy Group -- a select group of NewDEAL Leaders who have partnered with the Aspen Institute and other prominent non-profit organizations. They have developed an agenda for policymakers to improve workforce education and training, modernize the social safety net, and support innovation.

A pair of keynote addresses on Friday will be delivered by South Bend, IN Mayor Pete Buttigieg, the NewDEAL member named as one of the top future leaders of the Party by President Obama, and Dr. Leana Wen, the President of Planned Parenthood.

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NewDEAL Leaders scheduled to attend include: Senator Kate Bolz (Lincoln, NE), Mayor Pete Buttigieg (South Bend, IN), Mayor Greg Fischer (Louisville, KY), Mayor Lee Harris (Memphis, TN), Mayor Ben McAdams (Salt Lake County, UT), Senator Elena Parent (Atlanta, GA), State Treasurer Tobias Read (Oregon), Senator Troy Singleton (Mount Laurel, NJ), and Delegate Kathy Tran (Springfield, VA)

About NewDEAL

Co-chaired by U.S. Senator Mark Warner (VA) and former Delaware Governor Jack Markell, the NewDEAL is a network of 165 pro-growth progressive state and local officeholders in 46 states, and was founded to support innovative leaders in developing and spreading policies that spur economic growth that is broadly-earned and sustainable. The organization facilitates policy development and the exchange of ideas among its members, and connects them with other pro-growth progressive political, policy, and private sector leaders..

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Conference Schedule Highlights

Wednesday November 28

National Press Club, 529 14th Street, NW

6:00 - Kick-off Dinner: Remarks from NewDEAL Honorary Co-Chair and former Delaware Governor Jack Markell, U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, U.S. Representative Conor Lamb, and U.S. Representative-elect Jennifer Wexton, who was one of the NewDEAL members who ascended to higher office in the midterms.

Thursday November 29

Westin Washington DC City Center, 1400 M Street NW

8:15 a.m. – Preparing for the Future of Work: Opening session features remarks from NewDEAL Honorary Co-Chair U.S. Senator Mark Warner (VA), as well as the release of the NewDEAL Future of Work Policy Group’s Agenda, and conversations of specific policy recommendations with: Winston Fisher; Alastair Fitzpayne, Aspen Institute Future of Work Initiative; Amy Loyd, Jobs for the Future; Kristin Sharp, New America Foundation; and NewDEAL Leaders Mayor Chris Cabaldon (West Sacramento, CA), Mayor Greg Fischer (Louisville, KY), and Senator Troy Singleton (Moorestown, NJ)

12:45 p.m. – Panel Discussion: The Midterms and What Comes Next, featuring Jamal Simmons, The Hill; with Allison Abney, Emerge America; Lanae Erickson Hatalsky, Third Way; and Steven Olikara, Millennial Action Project

3:15 p.m. – Panel Discussion: The Global Economy, featuring a conversation with Tomas Baert and Esther Nieto Hernandez, European Union Delegation to the United States

Friday November 17

Westin Washington DC City Center, 1400 M Street NW

9:30 a.m. – Panel Discussion: Combating Climate Change, moderated by Grist CEO Brady Walkinshaw, with Bob Perkowitz, EcoAmerica, and NewDEAL Leader Councilmember Andria McClellan (Norfolk, VA)

10:45 a.m. - Restoring Democracy: Breakout sessions on topics that include ranked-choice voting, election security, and access to voting

12:15 p.m. – Closing Session, featuring remarks by South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Dr. Leana Wen, President of Planned Parenthood

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