Rusty Hicks, candidate for Chair of the California Democratic Party, today announced a major coordinated effort among local Democratic leaders and grassroots activists across the state to hold Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Rep. Devin Nunes—two of President Donald Trump’s closest allies—accountable.
In last year’s midterm election, California Democrats won major victories capturing seven Republican-held seats. Hicks will dedicate significant resources and partner with local Democrats in Fresno, Tulare and Kern Counties, to keep the “Blue Wave” rolling into the Central Valley.
“California Democrats are united in our mission of holding Donald Trump accountable—a campaign that now extends to two of his chief enablers: Kevin McCarthy and Devin Nunes,” said Hicks. “Our state will continue to lead the fight to take our democracy back. We proved what we were able to do in 2018 with historic wins in longtime Republican strongholds—and we’re just getting started.”
The move by Hicks and Central Valley Democratic leaders will kick off the campaigns against McCarthy and Nunes with a robust voter registration drive and an education campaign on their respective voting records.
“McCarthy and Nunes have made it shamefully clear that their top priority is giving Trump cover at all cost—attacking our healthcare, helping with his wall, destroying our environment, and taking our tax refunds” said Hicks. “If the Republican Party’s leaders are not going protect our country’s values, then they are no longer fit to serve in office. I’m inviting every one of California’s nine million Democrats to join us in this fight.”
Hicks’ campaign for CDP Chair has been endorsed by grassroots activists and elected leaders across the state. Elected officials supporting him include State Controller Betty Yee, Congressmember Ted Lieu, Congressmember Lucille Roybal-Allard, State Treasurer Fiona Ma, Senate President pro Tempore Emeritus Kevin De León, Assembly Member Lorena Gonzalez, Assembly Member Robert Rivas, State Senator Maria Elena Durazo, Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, and Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia. Hicks is in the midst of a tour of California’s 58 counties in 58 days to talk to delegates in all parts of the state.
Hicks has a proven record of organizing grassroots power in order to win tough races, as President of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and as a DSCC delegate for over 12 years. He knows the powerful impact of party voter registration, persuasion and turnout efforts. For eight years, he served as Political Director where he led the LA Fed’s day-to-day political operations in campaigns across Southern California.
In his role as President, his work has brought twice as many women into leadership roles at the L.A. Fed, increased leadership among people of color by 60%, and increased overall Fed membership by 23%. He helped win the best new wage enforcement law in California and led the first “Fight for $15” campaign for immigrant workers and workers of color – many of whom don’t enjoy the benefit of a union. He fought Trump’s Janus Court decision, re-energized and re-empowered workers by training nearly 300 organizers, and has helped put unemployed people to work building housing that ordinary people can afford.
The election for CDP Chair will be held at the 2019 state party convention, May 31-June 2 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. More information about the campaign can be found at www.rustyhicks.org.
