The Democrats of Virginia are now turning to women of color to head out: NPR

When you talk to the Democrats of Virginia these days, you hear a lot of words like "disappointing" and "frustrating."

This is because men at the top of the state government – and at the center of these scandals – have been appreciated by many who have worked hard to help them elect them.

"It's really hard to count – some of your heroes cause embarrassment, shame, disappointment or anger," said Alexsis Rodgers, president of Virginia Young Democrats.

Rodgers said many local activists were asking for help and advice since the famous photo was published two weeks ago in the governor's school of medicine yearbook. Virginia, Ralph Northam. Northam said that he was not on this picture, but that he had appeared in black as part of a costume at the same time. He apologized and asked for time to start a dialogue about the breed.

Since then, two women have been charged with sexual assault against Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax – a rising young African American star of the Democratic Party. Fairfax denies the allegations and has requested an investigation.

Despite widespread calls from the Democratic leaders for both men to step down, Northam and Fairfax hold on, putting the Democrats of Virginia under a cloud as they attempt to close the legislative session and prepare for the Senate elections and of the Senate this fall. The third top official, Attorney General Mark Herring, recently apologized for wearing the blackface at a party in 1980.

It's time to re-examine the party leadership

That's a lot for young Democratic activists, Rodgers said. They called to ask, "How can I direct my chapter? How can I lead my group of friends and people that I have convinced to vote for the first time or to vote for a democrat for the first time, what do we do now? "

One answer on many Democrats is that the time has come to re-examine who is leading the state and the party. The State Del. Lashrecse Aird is a member of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus and the Democratic State Party Steering Committee, who both called Northam and Fairfax to step down.

"It's also an opportunity for us to take a critical look at why we do not have more people of color in the state's elected offices," Aird said. "Why do not we have more black women in state offices?"

These issues are particularly pressing for the Democrats of Virginia in a year in which they hope to broaden the historical gains of the 2017 elections. The Democrats nearly took control of the House of Delegates, largely because of the fact. a wave of Democratic women who ran and organized following the 2016 elections. But women and people of color remain underrepresented in the legislature and in state offices.

The events of the last two weeks have sparked difficult discussions in Democratic circles on how to move forward, exposing divisions by age, race, and gender.

"It's hard to hear that we are defending women and racial equity when party leaders are issuing conflicting messages," Del said. Marcia Price, Secretary of the Virginia Black Legislative Caucus.

Price said that black women are touched by all these issues and should be at the center of these discussions.

"I really think that the time has come to amplify the voice of black women because we have the prospect of hitting all these things," she said.

Rodgers, along with Virginia Young Democrats, said the party needed to train diversified leaders long before a new crisis.

"The historic Democratic Party has not been a place for people who look like me for leadership positions," Rodgers said. "Did they count on black women to vote?" "Absolutely." But have we always been at the head of the government?

According to Rodgers, to diversify the leadership of the party will require systems accessible to a greater number of people, starting with paid internships with campaigns and legislative positions.

Policy diversification efforts

Progressive groups are working hard to encourage more women and people of color to enter politics.

The current scandals in Virginia seem to accelerate these efforts, says Julie Copeland of Emerge Virginia, who recruits and trains women Democrats to run for office.

"I hear on social media, in phone calls and in e-mails from all over the country, from national donors wishing to raise funds," said Copeland. "They say," women are the solution "or" we would not be here if women were in charge ".

Copeland says she expects to see many women – including women of color – on the ballot this year and in 2021, when the Virginians will elect a new governor.

Tram Nguyen, of the New Virginia Majority group, said these efforts had important political implications.

"I think we may be in a moment of political realignment of what it means to be a democrat," said Nguyen, "and what it means to defend working families, people of color, women and young people. . "