RI Dem Party Director Warns All-Male Congressional Delegation About Women’s Caucus
Saturday, December 14, 2019
The Executive Director of the Rhode Island Democratic Party is denying a rift with the newly formed Rhode Island Democratic Women’s Caucus, after sending an email to the Chiefs of Staff of Rhode Island’s Congressional delegation warning them of the women’s caucus “end game.”
GoLocalProv.com obtained a copy of the email sent by Rhode Island Executive Director Cyd McKenna what started off, “Hi fellas,” which informed the Chiefs of Staff of the upcoming state committee convention in May— then launched into the Women’s Caucus.
McKenna wrote:
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe democratic women’s caucus is NOT affiliated with the Democratic Party. In fact, the majority of their executive board is also on the executive board of Matt Brown’s group, the Political Co-op.
Please be mindful as this new caucus approaches you in fundraising asks. They are running candidates against Senate Majority Leader McCaffrey and Senator Erin Lynch Prata to name a few, so please be understand that when this group approaches you, this is their end game.
The Rhode Island Democratic Women's Caucus voted in November to break away from the state democratic party -- led by Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello and Chairman Joe McNamara.
Women’s Democratic Caucus "Takes Issue" With Claims
Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Liz Gledhill responded to the charges in the email.
“I want to start by saying that we have a 13 person executive committee, of which 4 are supported by the [Political] co-op — so the boards are not the same,” said Gledhill. “It’s not as though we formed these groups to join. Our priorities overlap with many organizations — it doesn’t mean we share the same exact priorities of any particular one.”
The Rhode Island Political Cooperative was announced in September by former Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Matt Brown along with two co-chairs as a structure to support and fund progressive candidates.
“Those four [co-op] members have been members of the women’s caucus for the past 4 years and they’ve always supported the caucus,” said Gledhill. “When it was revealed the co-op formed — we said any member of the Executive Committee who is a member of the co-op will not be part of nomination or endorsement process.”
“I take issue with the fact that [the email] said we’re running particular candidates against incumbents — that’s a falsehood to put out there, before we’ve actually endorsed anyone before the primary. I'm disappointed that they would push that narrative,” said Gledhill.
“Our causes aren’t going to change, which are to fund and support Democratic women candidates,” said Gledhill. “We couldn’t do that under the existing rules — we asked our membership, and they said we need to leave [the Democratic caucus]. That’s why we left.”
Party — and Office — Responds
“They’re not in the state party, and I wanted to make sure [the Congressional delegation] knew the difference,” said McKenna. “The women’s caucus is not part of the Rhode Island Democratic Party.”
McKenna said she believed the overlap of the Women’s Caucus and the co-op was “75%.”
“I felt it was important that [the Congressional delegation] know what the landscape is here. Anyone is free to run. But this was more informational about what’s happening here in Rhode Island [for the delegation],” said McKenna. “I’m in Texas right now with other state Democratic Party Executive Directors, and it’s nice to know we’re not unique. Other states have issues with factions of their party.”
“There’s no rift,” said McKenna. “We’re a big tent. We need to be about party.”
Ray Simone, Chief of Staff to Senator Jack Reed, said he believes there’s “no rift.”
“There might be some growing pains. There are always going to be difference of opinion,” said Simone. “And I go back a long time.”
Simone said at the time of interview he had not spoken with Reed or other Chiefs of Staff about the email.
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