As i said earlier today, i want to thank the Maryland Democratic party, the easter caucus of the dnc for hosting us. The honorable catherine pugh, the mayor of baltimore, for her hospitality, and i want to thank my colleagues on the dnc and our special guests in the audience once again, once again dnc members will be able to talk to the candidates, have a dialogue and those of you are special guests, we have is you know these forms, fill them out we have been bringing the questions to april, april ryan to interact with the candidate. Fill them out. We have some who will be walking around. Therell be many people who like to get into the auditorium. We would like them to commit as well. We are ready to get started. Its my honor to bring back to the stage of veteran journalist, White House Correspondent for the American Urban Radio Network and as i mentioned of a brandnew book at moms knee, april ryan, the author presidency in black and white and chris matthews, and given april a plug because this is a great great book, please see her when the storm is over with, i promise you she will autograph it. Thank you for doing a tremendous job today. Thank you whos going to go fishing after all this is over with. I see how the democrats do it now. This is an allday session. Have you gotten a lot of information thus far . Its very interesting. My first time now. Some people came up earlier asking for the public if they can ask questions. That is why theyre handing out those in the aisle handing out the question forms please raise your hand. That is where your question will be addressed. You get those forms and we will get them and answer your question. Those who are in the dnc will be able to ask questions and write questions out. At this time this is the moment you have been waiting for. There is a change coming. This is the chair candidates form for the dnc. There will be no opening statements. Candidates will have two minutes to answer questions which will be time to buy a clock in front of me. When that read like blows i will cut you off. All candidates will be given the opportunity to provide a one minute closing statement. With that, lets welcome to the stage Sally Boynton brown, jamie harassment, tom press, green, sam ronan, ray buckley, Robert Vincent pete peter and give them a round of applause. [applause] this is a rock and bunching here now. Welcome. You guys are the main act. We thank you for coming. I was started off with the question from patricia. If you dont win, are you committed to working with the winner . For the causes of the Democratic Party to harness all of the great ideas that have been brought forth today . I want to start with you sally. Absolutely. My blueprint that you can find my website, we, the dnc. Org highlights how i puts a how i put to work every democrat in our country. Anybody who stepped up to lead we need to lately. That is the very nature of the new power system that i advocate for. Id ask everyone in my colleagues to look at one of the workgroups i put together the blueprint pick the one they think they can be most passionate about get to work. We have amazing talent in our country. It is only when we bring Diverse Group of thinkers together to solve the problems into the work that is ahead of us that i really believe we will be able to move forward. We have a lot of work to do. It is so important that anybody that wants to take part in it and put their brain behind it and put the muscles behind it, has the chance to get to work. I made a commitment to myself on wednesday morning when i woke up after the election to take the ideas that anybody under the age of 35, and we have some of those folks here today and put those ideas into action. Help them with the support, services and resources they need. I was grateful that we had two teenage Young High School students that came hours after i made that oath to myself. I got to put into practice my words. I got to put them into action. Those two High School Students organized a womans march in our state. We had 5000 people in idaho show up in the snow to march on january 21. [applause] it was amazing how i could sit down with two young women who someone may have hit delete on the keyboard and not even responded to them. In just 30 minutes of my time i was able to help them get the resources they need it, the media list and email list to be able to do something amazing. I think its important to do that. Thank you so much. Thank yall for all for being here. This is a tremendous honor. The fourth of our forms. In short answer, yes. Im committed to this. I remember when i decided to when i decided to run for chair of the South CarolinaDemocratic Party. One of our prominent democrat said why would you want to do that . Its a thankless job. And i said, i am who i am who i am because of this party. It was because of all the people in this party who decided to give a round headed boy from South Carolina chance. An opportunity to be more than what he ever thought he could be. So the commitment to this party is one that does not wane because you dont get the position. It is one that is lifetime. It is one that is intertwined into who i am as a person. The day after the election when we woke up and realize that very soon, and a few months we would have a as a president. For me, i was said. Not only sad only said because Hillary Clinton lost, i was sad because of the world that my 2yearold would have to grow up in. This is more than just a position. It is more than just a job. This is about our country, about the fight to make sure there is opportunity for all despite how you grow up, despite what you look like, despite her you love, despite you praise as your lord and savior. This is about making sure that this is the land of freedom. So, am i committed to the Democratic Party . You damn right i am. We will fight every bit to make sure that we be that loyal resistance. That opposition to make sure that we get change in this country. Thank you. Good afternoon everyone. It it is great to be here in charm city. Its great to be here. The clock please. It is great to be here in charm city where have the privilege of working for the better part of a decade. Baltimore is a remarkable town. Its a resilient town like the town i grew up in buffalo. The answer the answer to your question is, of course. We are all in this together right now. We are only a few weeks removed. It feels like a few decades remove from barack obama. I miss him a lot, my friend. What we have seen in these few short weeks is nothing less than carnage and chaos. Every single day. The rates on immigrants are things that tear my hair part. The decisions in the court of appeals was said to the president , you know it, what, mr. President you need to read the constitution before you start doing things. We see it every single day. The assault on our democracy. Were in this were in this together. This is a remarkably committed group of folks. If people are looking here for chair throwing her whose anatomy parts are bigger, you will not find it here today. You will find a discussion about how to rebuild a Democratic Party that works for everyone. Thats were talking about. Heres what i think about. We have to focus her energies on the basics. Organizing, organizing, organizing. We have to build strong parties and all of the 50 states in the southern territories and district of columbia. We have to be fighting for d. C. Statehood. We have to be making sure everybody has a seat at the table in this process. And we do so by making sure that we are out there listening to people, making house calls like i did in northern wisconsin and kansas. We learned that willie organize, engage, partner with our friends in the movement, the labor movement, planned parenthood parenthood anothers, we are stronger when we are partners. When we change the culture of the dnc to make sure were not electing just a president but people from the school board to the senate everywhere, thats how we went. [applause] the answer is yes. I think that answer will be the say on this table. I dont have the luxury to sit out of this unique moment that were facing as the democratic a Democratic Party. No one in this room has the luxury to sit out of this unique moment. This moment is our time to look at her strength and weaknesses as a democratic family. And and to assess how we innovate, organize an experiment on how we engage in new and exciting race. I think this moment is bigger then just what happens in the 2016 election. Theres a lot of conversation about transformation. Transformation doesnt come easy. Its not not going to happen if every Single Person on this table does not remain engaged in this process. Transformation is not going to happen if everyone in this room does not remain engaged in this process. Transformation requires willingness, radical candor, and strong change management. My position in this race and rightly continue no matter what the outcome is that we have this opportunity, this unique moment to transform our party and make sure that we ask ourselves some tough questions. How do we strengthen our home to be a welcoming place for the resistance . How do we reimagine and restructure our processes . How do we rebuild and rebrand and how do we reengage . That the conversation on that cant and today and its a conversation that we all have to participate in the matter what side youre on. Thank you. [applause] i believe the question was, what i be willing to work with these great men and women if they became the chair, the short answer is yes. I dont remember being released my old, i intend to continue serving my country. Thank you. Do i get to use remaining of his time . Now, you can do two minutes, thank you sir. Thank you. I dont think is a person in this room are watching this are going to be reading this that tells for one minute that ray buckley is going to be standing next to the next chair of the dnc because i spent my entire life. I started volunteering when i was eight years old. I have never missed an election. I believe in the Democratic Party. Where the only hope for the working people of this country. For not united not united to my dont think the question for me really is where im going to be, what i have already set is immediately upon my election analyses people to join me backstage along with the officers and well sit down and sit together and divide up the work. Thats a problem weve had in this party. Its been the chair in a few staff. It has not been the screw. I know, ive been a vice chair and i dont know what the hell is going on in this party anymore than you. Let me tell you, when im elected chair, every officer of the parties going to be involved. Every member of the executive committees going to be involved. Every Single Member of the dnc is going to be finally involved. Every state Committee Member and every county and local and allied activists and volunteer an elected official. If we dont do this together working to keep repeating the same thing over and over, thats called losing. When i grew up in New Hampshire it was a republican state. The last ten years weve won 11 out of last 13 races. Races. If you look at the turnout results in New Hampshire and across the country in 2014, New Hampshire number one increase in turnout. 2016, same damn thing. You want to win elections, youll like the guy that can win elections. I that can win elections. I love these people, they are terrific, nobody can match my record. Thank you, sir. Sir. Ray buckley. Good evening democrats. My name is Robert Benson into the question, yes. I am from d. C. And im proud of it. I am for statehood and we needed. It will help the Democratic Party. There is one thing that all of you should know who want an outsider. Im your man. Im from d. C. , but i am the outsider on this panel. So, yes i will work work with whoever is elected and hopefully we will walk out of here together as democrats to go the party. Thank you. Thank you. Robert. [inaudible] my name is pete thats your campaign slogan. These people are tripping over my name so around how people just call me mayor pete. And thank you for moderating. Thank you for the opportunity to be here. Short answer of answer of course is yes. The longer answer is, we have got to emerge from this process is a unified Democratic Party. We know what what were up against and it is not each other. [applause] the truth is, even had we won the white house in 2016 our party would be in trouble. Look at where we are in the state houses, and the state by constitutional offices and in congress, our party has a lot of work to do. There is no way we can do it in for not unified. If we dont have the humility to recognize everyone appear bring Something Different to the table and everyone of us has something to offer. I dont just mean those competing for chair. I mean everyone of the millions of members of the Democratic Party. We have to engage. [applause] of course i think the best chair would be me. Ill tell you why. Among all of the good democrats we are seen similar things. The question is can i come down to who is best positioned to deliver what were say needs to be done. My argument is, if are going to reach for a new generation of organizers whenever its for new generation of leaders. [applause] when i put in the candidate that was at the womens march whose volunteers have been out walking the walk in delaware and the election thats going to decide the balance in the center. Who is in a product of a faction but someone whos here to deliver the fresh starter party needs. If we recognize the answers come for local communities, put in a local organizer, local mayors local mayors been running and winning elections. Thank you. Peter, your next. Yes, my name is peter, my website is peter for dnc. Com. I plan to. I plan to continue to support the goal of the Democratic Party regardless of who wins the election for chair. Im doing my best to make sure that person is me. I think we have to agree that we have to get together and organize this party locally, theres changes which need to be made both in the organization and the way that the dnc functions. Weathers more openness to be an impartial and evenhanded as the charter requires requires an conduct in the nomination process for president 2020. , whether its informing the members of the dnc of the past prophet and loss statements in the future of the dnc which i think should happen. I expect members when they get the documents will keep them secure. Whether its protecting the data we have at the dncs or large donors and all of our donors are not subjected to Identity Theft because the dnc do not properly handle their data. There are many things that have to happen. We have to to listen to whats going on in the states. The states and localities know whats going on in the country. For example next week and i plan to be in miami speaking for the wyoming state party. In discussing with them what their goals are. For the coming year. They have to off road ahead and hopefully the dnc will be able to help them meet those goals. With the d. Answer is clearly yes i would be happy to serve if you go to the state parties across the state ive been to 28 of them to last ten years, nebraska, new jersey, georgia. I will do whatever you need me to do. I helped raise a Million Dollars if you wont need me. I will help do that because theyvivegiven millions upon ms ticket. I would be happy to do that because i am here today some young people brought up 750,000 signatures on a petition supporting me for the chair but if you need me to get ive led hundreds of rallies all ov over. Its everybodys job to make the American People know deep in their hearts that the Democratic Party is here to fight for them every single day. The Democratic Party is here to make sure they have prosperity for their families and that is the reason the steelworkers support me [inaudible] [cheering] i have an offer like every other member in the room. Thank you very much. [applause] if anyone has a question there is a microphone right there. Stand up and we will be going to you soon. There is some disease that we are facing right now like the aca. Supreme court coming Immigration Reform and the travel ban. I want to ask how you will engage in all citizens turned activist that are moving across the country in any movement. Theres the courage of their convictions and humility. We do have to make sure the party is there, shoulder to shoulder with the activists and the organizers who are telling the stories at the local level. They rely on the local nationals in afghanistan who were among us. Given the way they are treating the refugees. Whether it is tearing a mother out of her family farms in the middle of the night we have to tap into that and yet we have to ddo it with a certain character or certain tone that makes people want to do it. Because of the hypocrisy you can smell it. You can smell it from all the way in washington. I will be damned we are going to have a draft dodging president iof the United States that thins that he is too ordering the people back [inaudible] i will pose the same questi question. As i understood the question, people are feeling the pain and anxiety how can the Democratic Party engage to make sure that we convert all this Excellent Energy out there to the electoral gain. The way to do it if you want a friend, youve got to be one in solidarity in the peoples movement. When freddy gray was killed, people were hurting in the streets. To talk about how it is we can bring dignity to people whove not been getting it from the people who started it. We have to say the word. Thats what we have to do. We hav