California’s Democratic Party will show its true blue colors by featuring two Massachusetts liberals as its keynote speakers at its convention next month in Anaheim: Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and retired Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA).
Progressive darling Warren has been touted by the party’s left-wing activists as a potential challenger to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the presidential nomination in 2016 (though Warren has declined to run thus far).
Curiously, Gov. Jerry Brown’s name was not mentioned in a party release for the conference, listing “Who’s on the Agenda for 2015?”
California Democratic Party Chairman John Burton announced, “Sen. Warren and retired Rep. Frank embody Democrats’ fight for fairness in our economy and financial reforms that reward Americans’ hard work and hope for the future,” according to a CDP release.
Warren is likely to focus on her signature issue, income inequality. That, at least, is suggested by comment in Burton’s statement: “Democrats must redouble their efforts to combat growing income inequality so that the American dream is attainable for a new generation of Americans, and California Democrats must lead that charge.” It is unclear whether Warren will touch on prolonged economic troubles in deep-blue California, or attack inequality on a national scale.
“As California Democrats, we’re proud to count so many elected leaders who are in the same tradition,” Burton said, despite divisions among hardline progressives and more Wall Street-friendly liberals like Clinton.
Frank is noted as the first openly gay member of the House, and for his work to pass the controversial 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reforms. He held office from 1981 to 2013.
Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi will also join the convention, which will also highlight expected 2018 gubernatorial candidate Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom; gun control advocate and 2016 U.S. Senate candidate Attorney General Kamala Harris; and other stars of California’s Democrat Party.
Democracy for America launched a Run Warren Run campaign in December in cooperation with MoveOn.org. In an announcement of that effort, Beltway insider Chris Cilizza of the Washington Post was quoted as saying: “At the moment, there is no story bigger in politics than what Warren will do. She can use that attention to push her pet issues–restricting corporate America and addressing income inequality.”
If Warren plans to launch, it seems that California Democrats are keen to provide her the platform.
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