Democratic Party of West Virginia
For Immediate Release:
June 9, 2016
 
Contact: Brittni McGuire

West Virginia Democratic Party State Convention Kicks Off Tomorrow

Democrats statewide gather in unity

Charleston, WV — The West Virginia Democratic Party State Convention will begin tomorrow on Friday, June 10 and will last through Saturday, June 11 at the Charleston Civic Center.
 
Following the May 10 Primary Election in the Mountain State, the State Convention is an opportunity to unify behind the Party’s nominees across the ballot, as well as elect delegates to the Democratic National Convention, approve the Party Platform and elect a Chair and Vice chair to a four-year term.
 
“Statewide, Democrats are energized to come together and organize our Party and communities toward success in November and beyond,” said Belinda Biafore, Chair of the West Virginia Democratic Party.  “As Republicans – both at the national level and here in West Virginia – use hate and fear to divide us, West Virginia Democrats are determined to unite and deliver results that will help working families and put people first.”
 
The convention is open to the public and the media. The agenda can be found online here wvdems.org/2016-democratic-convention, and includes appearances by all of the Democratic nominees for statewide office.  Registration for delegates begins at 3 p.m. on Friday at the Civic Center. 
 
Those interested in following along via social media can do so by following #WVDPSC16 and #WVDems.

West Virginia Republican Party

Delegates Walk Out On Justice, Vote For More Drugs, Less Voter ID

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The chaos of the West Virginia Democrat Party hit a fever pitch this weekend, as that Party fades into irrelevance.
 
At their convention here Saturday, the squabbles between supporters of Bernie Sanders and the Super Delegates and insiders backing Hillary Clinton surfaced. And things got twitchy.

Sanders forces showed their influence by making multiple resolutions and platform changes in the Convention portion of the program. Three resolutions passed promoting using more hemp, medical cannabis and recreational marijuana, separately and jointly. They also voted to support a $15 minimum wage and passed an action asking that the Democrat National Committee fire its Chair, Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Shultz.

"These people are frustrated. But you can understand their anger about being kept out of the process," said West Virginia Republican Party Chairman Conrad Lucas. "Their Party, using Super Delegates and pressure from those who have managed their version of the Titanic for the last several years, has abandoned their true base on the Left. It's no great surprise to see these liberals now feel left out of their own Party."

After voting to also abolish Super Delegates and suspend the newly passed Voter ID law, dozens walked out of the event, to avoid a speech from deadbeat billionaire Jim Justice.

"The Democrats have a real problem," said Lucas. "They've lost conservative and moderate voters to the Republican Party via their support of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. But now, stuck with an embarrassing candidate like Jim Justice as a nominee, they are clearly telling the liberal base of their own Party they don't care about their issues either. I'm proud that our Republican Party has strong conservatives across West Virginia and Bill Cole as our gubernatorial nominee. As Democrat leaders of the past self-destruct, the Republican Party strides into to a strong future."
 
 
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West Virginia Progressive Democratic Caucus
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 
June 15, 2016

The members of the West Virginia Progressive Democratic Caucus would like to issue the following statements.

WEST VIRGINIA MOVES FORWARD

This past weekend, the West Virginia Democratic Party passed a strongly progressive platform, as well as a set of resolutions, at the 2016 West Virginia Democratic Party State Convention. The West Virginia Progressive Democratic Caucus was gratified to see that this platform was passed with nearly unanimous approval from both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanderssupporters. This unequivocally demonstrates West Virginia Democrats’ widespread support for the issues raised by Sen. Sanders’ campaign.

The convention made national news for the resolution calling for the resignation of DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, but the truth is that other resolutions and platform amendments are far more worthy of coverage. Among many other topics, this historic platform included support for full cannabis and hemp legalization, public funding of elections, overturning Citizens United, support for universal single-payer healthcare, and an opposition to disastrous trade policies such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

We eagerly await the publication of this party platform, and we look forward to working alongside the West Virginia Democratic Party leadership to utilize this revised platform in a manner which will energize Democratic voters to take back our state legislatures from Republican control. We encourage Ms. Belinda Biafore and other members of the WVDP State Executive Committee as well as our elected officials to embrace these positive changes, thus proving to West Virginians that our people are our most valuable resource and will be treated with the utmost respect.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

1.) First and foremost, the WVPDC would like to formally congratulate Mr. Curt Zickafoose, and the West Virginia Democratic Party, for hosting such a successful and genuinely democratic 2016 Convention.

2.) The WVPDC offers our appreciation to Mr. Robert Brown of AFT-West Virginia. Mr. Brown served admirably in his role as chair of the convention. We also acknowledge and thank Dr. Charles Brichford, Parliamentarian, for the valuable expertise he offered in his role as a consultant.

3.) We acknowledge and thank the members of the West Virginia Democratic Party State Executive Committee whom participated in our quorum. While we believe quorum would have been re-established regardless, this solidarity demonstrates their willingness to allow productive, engaging discussions about the future of the WV Democratic Party.

4.) While we congratulate the newly elected and re-elected officers of the WVDP State Executive Committee, we must also offer our sincere appreciation and gratitude to the incredible work and outreach of Mr. Christopher J. Regan. His guidance and leadership during his tenure as Vice Chair showed thousands of West Virginia Democrats the true meaning of party progress and unity. Mr. Regan was an inspiration to so many of us who had previously been disenfranchised from the political process, and his writing gave voice to the voiceless. We hope he will continue to serve West Virginia as a member of the State Executive Committee as well as in other capacities in the near future.

For more information, contact wvprogressives@gmail.com.