"True Compass" ~ Leadership
My final thoughts and learnings from "The Lion of the Senate"
I'm back, fellow readers and supporters. Rest and recalibrating is always a good idea. I didn't know how much I needed to step back and take care of myself. We're, Gen Xers, taught to be fighters and get things done - because we just had to. I'm learning to reprogram and, as a result, become much more productive.
As we navigate the complexities of our current political landscape, it's clear that the path forward requires a multifaceted approach prioritizing voter engagement, community building, and progressive values. To build a stronger democracy, we must engage voters and elect new Democratic leaders at all levels, ensuring our values are represented up and down the ballot. State houses are the front lines, enacting legislation that works for everyone, including protecting our right to vote.
By focusing on our "True Compass"
✅ running candidates in every district -> Sweet spot statehouses
✅ demystifying how to run for office
✅ building a robust media ecosystem
✅ sustainable year round connection with voters
✅ leadership development
… we can create a more inclusive and effective political strategy and reverse voter apathy. Together, we can forge a brighter path that includes all 92 Counties that make up Indiana and beyond. Now let’s get into it.
Let's get reconnected…where to begin…
Being away and tending to my dad for an extended period, diving into Senator Ted Kennedy's memoirs, "True Compass," and then returning to write my final piece on the "Lion of the Senate" on Leadership resulted in a mental roadblock. This was my sign to reset. I was struggling to land on that “one” piece about Senator Kennedy's legacy that spoke to this moment, but taking time to reflect and care for myself helped. For me, it meant diving deeper into the challenges facing our democracy. The more I know, the more comforting it is. Within knowing, a solution can be found.
When I started writing "92 County Plan," the goal was to expose systematic issues, explain why we're not increasing voter turnout, and stress one of the most needed solutions to reversing voter apathy: running candidates in every district. That was my lane, my offering to help solve this crisis of democracy. However, I've been coming back to the question - why are Democrats running in circles? We can't solve these issues unless we address one core issue across the Democratic ecosystem: Leadership. We need bold leadership.
Before diving into Leadership, let's define the Democratic ecosystem. In prior posts, I've referred to the strength of our movement on a state level as dependent on all pieces of a triangle working together within their legal frameworks: The State’s Democratic Party, candidates, and the Soft side (501c3, 501c4, PACs).
Amy Pritchard of Gain Power takes it a step further, providing a nationwide 360-degree overview, which is crucial for understanding when trying to impact change.
“The Democratic Party is not one monolithic organization with a CEO handing down top-down directives. It's an ecosystem. A sprawling, decentralized network of campaigns, committees, coalitions, donors, labor unions, advocacy groups, and movement partners—each with different roles, resources, legal constraints, and accountability structures. And that doesn’t even include the wider movement groups.”
While Amy is correct that the Democratic Party isn't run like a corporation with a CEO, there are areas where we can learn from the corporate side to achieve our collective goals. One key area is ensuring that the larger community and voting population understand who Democrats are and what we stand for. This needs to be ingrained in the American people's minds, but it's not happening. I introduced the importance of Branding in an earlier piece…. “Messaging - Are Democrats Getting it Right? - The difference between Branding and Marketing”
“In the world of politics, branding is often an afterthought. And it has cost us dearly - in votes, in momentum, and in the narrative. Effective branding is essential for establishing a clear and lasting identity that resonates with voters. When done correctly, branding can last for years, even decades. The Democratic Party, in particular, has struggled to grasp this concept.”
We have to acknowledge that Democrats have a branding issue and, as David Salzillo wrote, a trust issue too. ~ Who do you trust ~ All of this is interconnected and impacts the other pillars of campaigning. Colin Delany reports valid concerns regarding field operations, but if the brand is damaged, knocking on doors and showing up in our neighborhoods becomes increasingly difficult.
We can’t deny that campaigning and organizing have become complicated. Colin Delany points out in "How Did Democrats Forget These Four Things about Field Organizing?", that many 2024 campaigns didn't start grassroots organizing until GOTV season, which is too late to build something lasting. Well-known brands plan months in advance for major events like back-to-school shopping and the holiday season. Cue the holiday decorations soon to be appearing at a Costco near you!
Getting back to leadership, even though we're not a single corporation, some fundamentals need to be aligned. Who is stepping up to pull this cohesive thread through the democratic political ecosystem ?
Take, for example, the situation David Hogg faced when a procedural complaint triggered a DNC Vice Chair re-election. David Hogg opted not to run for re-election. This wasn't because he's unqualified to lead; he was essentially pushed out. I appreciate Ken Martin's honesty, but blaming someone else for his challenges is misguided. The issue isn't David Hogg; it's that Ken Martin and other Democratic leaders struggle with leading through change - a fundamental aspect of Change Management 101. Instead of embracing new ideas, we're seeing internal struggles driven by fear of change. In my corporate experience, blaming my team for my failures would have been a clear path to termination. Recall Ken Martin's comments during a recent Zoom meeting.
“No one knows who the hell I am, right? I’m trying to get my sea legs underneath me and actually develop any amount of credibility so I can go out there and raise the money and do the job I need to to put ourselves in a position to win,” Martin said, addressing Hogg. “And again, I don’t think you intended this, but you essentially destroyed any chance I have to show the leadership that I need to. So it’s really frustrating” ~ Politico
What is “change management”? A simple definition is a systematic approach to preparing, supporting, and guiding an organization, teams, or individuals through transition. Some resist change due to fear, misinformation that creates false narratives, or lack of stakeholder involvement. Change is a hallmark of successful organizations. For example, the CEO of Kronos, a workforce management software company, built a billion-dollar business while proactively working to disrupt his own business model. He didn't fear change; instead, he embraced it and empowered employees to lead from within, creating a new business.
The thread here is leadership. David Hogg is right; too many Democratic leaders aren't meeting this moment. It's imperative to keep young people in the ecosystem through pipeline development, succession planning, and mentorship.
The lack of leadership foresight and succession planning leads many within the party to view emerging progressive leaders as inexperienced, unready, or too young. Not including young leaders creates a self-inflicted problem. Change is challenging, but it's true that two things can be true simultaneously. David Hogg's organization is doing many things right, having raised millions, trained, and supported young leaders, and increased voter participation among younger populations. While there's room for improvement, removing his seat at the table cuts off unknown future opportunities.
We need to take a cue from the voters - When the voters have a chance to decide, they are opting for change - The New York City Mayoral Primary is a perfect example.
The Democratic Party has not truly invested in succession planning and bench building. Succession planning goes beyond weekend workshops on running for office. Every time I think about the $900 million spent in the last election, I'm troubled. We've also recently read about the mismanagement of funds at Mothership. Thank you Adam Bonica.
The Mothership Vortex: An Investigation Into the Firm at the Heart of the Democratic Spam Machine
While huge investments are needed to win presidential elections, it's not just about big ad campaigns - a perspective from someone in the communications/marketing pillar. Many of those dollars should have been invested in infrastructure and people. Building collective power starts with leadership that supports infrastructure embracing new members and ideas.
I've said it before: “culture eats strategy for breakfast.” Unless we change our culture, we'll continue fighting the wrong battles. In the corporate sector, some of the most successful companies offer leadership development. The Democratic Party lacks this, resulting in a gap in leadership skills to create “a future that would not otherwise exist.” The old patterns of operating are no longer sustainable. While there are many great leaders, we're missing something significant.
The system is not designed for candidates or campaign staff to learn; it's often a high-pressure environment. While organizations like Arena, Run for Something, Emerge, and NDTC are working to address these challenges, it's not enough. Kudos to Amanda Litman for challenging leadership norms - we need more of this.
True Story: During the 2024 election cycle, a state house candidate I assisted hired a campaign manager with glowing reviews. Although the campaign manager hadn't previously managed a campaign, they were deemed ready for the next leadership step, having worked on a team in a swing state that flipped from red to blue. However, it became apparent that this individual had the skills and knowledge but lacked leadership development training. This hindered the candidate's success, and senior leadership decided to replace the campaign manager. New skills can't be developed during a competitive campaign; they should be honed during previous experiences. We often rush through campaigns without prioritizing leadership development, and it's now coming back to haunt us.
My final thoughts:
We need bold leadership and a cultural shift - it starts with you. Leadership isn't about waiting for someone else to take the lead; it's about you stepping up. You have something to offer. Senator Kennedy didn't become the "Lion of the Senate" by accident. In fact, a significant event contributed to his future success: a plane crash while flying from DC to Massachusetts with Senator Birch Bayh of Indiana. Senator Kennedy suffered serious injuries, including a broken back, punctured lung, and broken ribs, requiring five months of hospitalization. However, he used this time to study Senate rules, history, and procedures, being tutored by Harvard professors. This period was a key turning point in his Senate career. He learned his craft and executed it with passion, finding and owning his lane. What can you focus on that's needed in your community?
Thanks for the reference, Mary.