Washington, DC – DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz issued the following statement today on House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s primary defeat:

“Tonight's result in Virginia settles the debate once and for all – the Tea Party has taken control of the Republican Party. Period. When Eric Cantor, who time and again has blocked common sense legislation to grow the middle class, can't earn the Republican nomination, it's clear the GOP has redefined 'far right.' Democrats on the other hand have nominated a mainstream candidate who will proudly represent this district and I look forward to his victory in November.”

Washington, DC – Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz today announced six cities have submitted bids to host the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Cities who submitted bids by the deadline are: Birmingham, Cleveland, Columbus, New York, Philadelphia and Phoenix.

“Hosting a party convention is a true honor and we’re thrilled with all the fantastic options that we have going into the next cycle,” said Wasserman Schultz. “We look forward to evaluating these bids and selecting a city to host this special gathering of Democrats.”

Over the coming months, convention bids will be evaluated by a Technical Advisory Committee, including site visits and other inquiries. A final decision will be announced by Wasserman Schultz in late 2014 or early 2015.

Washington, DC – Today, DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz announced the Arbor Project a collaborative effort between the DNC’s Voter Expansion Project and Project Ivy, the latest generation of the DNC’s data program.

“The goal of the Arbor Project is simple – to empower campaigns, grassroots partners and state parties to run registration programs based on the most accurate and up-to-date data available and arm new and current voters with the information they need to cast their ballot,” said DNC Chair Wasserman Schultz. “Earlier this year, the DNC launched the Voter Expansion Project with a video from President Clinton. Since then we’ve brought on staff who work 24/7 on expanding access to the polls and building tools to help ensure that Democrats keep the Senate, pick up seats in the House, and elect new statewide officials from governor to secretary of state.”

The Arbor Project consists of two symbiotic components – an innovative data set that combines public records, historical turnout results, voter files and targeting model predictions to identify the number of potential new Democratic voters in each state, county, congressional district, and precinct. The second part of the project is IWillVote.com – a voter education and registration site in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The site will launch in conjunction with this weekend’s DNC Executive Committee meeting in Washington, DC.

“Running data-driven campaigns is all about using your finite resources to most effectively connect with voters and potential voters. Our Arbor Project data set will give campaigns an invaluable resource to effectively target and register voters that will be key to Democratic victories. We are able to calculate the potential impact of new voters on voter margins and the difficulty of identifying potential new voters in each area,” said DNC Technology Director Andrew Brown.

The Arbor Project’s data set will also include valuable information on key constituencies of the Democratic base including African-American, Hispanic, and Americans under-30, to better facilitate efforts targeted specifically at these groups.

The DNC’s Director of Voter Expansion, Pratt Wiley continued, “The data set will give campaigns the tools they need to register new voters and IWillVote.com will give voters all the information they need to vote. It is easier and more convenient for a citizen to participate in the electoral process when he or she understands when to vote, where to vote, what to bring with them to vote, and what to expect on Election Day in order to vote.  That is why we have provided all of the ‘rules of the road’ in one simple location.”

Additional Background on the Arbor Project:

The Arbor Project will provide numerous benefits to registration efforts including:

• Allowing campaigns to run geographically targeted digital and communications programs that will reach the highest number of unregistered voters.
• Directing canvassing operations and voter registration drives that target the highest density of unregistered voters to maximize output.
• By launching the Arbor Project in June, the DNC has outpaced previous cycles, allowing campaigns more time to run data driven registration campaigns.

The Arbor Project’s data set includes three estimates to help focus voter registration efforts:

• Potential New Democrats: an estimate of how many Democrats there are to be registered
• Vote Gain: an estimate of how many net votes for Democrats would be produced by registering new voters
• Geographic Registration Density: an estimate of how difficult it will be to find potential voters in an area

And IWillVote.com provides the following useful information for voters:

• Key Dates such as when Early Voting starts or when voter registration ends
• Requirements for registering to vote
• Checking and updating voter registration status
• Residency requirements
• Special information for students to consider
• Special information for former felons to consider
• Identification requirements
• Voting before Election Day

Washington, DC – DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz issued the following statement today on Tuesday’s primaries in Alabama, California, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota:

“Congratulations to the Democratic candidates who advanced to the general election in November. Once again, today’s primary results are indicative of the stark contrast between the priorities of the Democratic and Republican parties. While Democrats are focused on providing economic security for middle-class families, Republicans have nominated out-of-touch candidates beholden to wealthy special interests and a radical Tea Party ideology that embraces government shutdowns and obstructs progress.

“Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley has a proven history championing middle-class Iowans, helping create incentives for business to hire unemployed workers and veterans. The reality of Joni Ernst's record in the Iowa Senate couldn't be a greater contrast. While outside groups and national Republicans from Marco Rubio to Sarah Palin rallied behind Ernst, her positions raise serious concerns for a general election. Ernst could ask Mitt Romney how difficult it is to ‘etch-a-sketch’ away the radical positions taken to win, because it won’t be possible once Iowans get to know her record.
 
“In race after race, Republican candidates have been pulled so far to the right by the Tea Party that it is a distinction without a difference. The likely runoff in Mississippi caused by Tea Party candidate Chris McDaniel shows that the GOP is the Same Old Party, which has failed to learn its lessons from recent elections. Come November, voters will reject a Republican Party which opposes an increase in the minimum wage for hard working Americans, has blocked equal pay for women, and is obsessed with repealing the benefits of the Affordable Care Act for millions of Americans.

“While Democrats have nominated mainstream candidates focused on economic issues, like Gov. Jerry Brown and Sen. John Walsh, the policies of Republican candidates like Mike Rounds and Steve Daines are those of a Republican Party focused only on the interests of the few. The Democratic Party is committed to fighting for opportunity for all, providing voters a clear choice when they cast their ballot this November.”

Washington, DC – DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement on the passing of DNC Women’s Caucus Chair Mame Reiley:

“I am heartbroken by the loss of my friend, Mame Reiley. Mame represented the best of the grassroots activism that is at the foundation of our party and her work ethic, commitment and dedication are irreplaceable. Mame was a leader devoted to the Democratic Party and passionate about advancing women as leaders of our Party and to elected office.

“Ever since she was a child in Virginia cheering on John Kennedy’s campaign for President, Mame was organizing, agitating, and fighting for our party. Most recently, as the leader of the Women’s Caucus, Mame has tirelessly advocated for women in politics and dedicated her life to their success and advancement.

“Her political counsel was valued among many Virginia Democrats, including Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, and Jim Moran, and I can’t blame them. Her wit was sharp, her advice was on point, and her perspective was invaluable. I  have welcomed and appreciated Mame's consistent guidance and counsel on issues important to women throughout my tenure as Chair.

“Most importantly, Mame was a true friend and a resolute fighter. Having undergone my own battle with breast cancer, it has been difficult to see her face this struggle the last four years. She fought cancer as she took on every fight, with grace and a quiet ferocity. On behalf of those who were fortunate enough to have known Mame, she will be deeply missed.”

Washington, DC – DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz issued the following statement today regarding the EPA’s proposed rule to set carbon standards for power plants:

“It is a moral imperative that we bequeath to our children a healthy planet with clean air and water. The costs of delaying action any longer are too high; every moment we waste increases the economic burden of addressing this issue in the future. As a mother, I’m concerned about the detrimental effects of pollution on our children’s health. Already, carbon pollution has contributed to increased asthma attacks among Americans, particularly among the African American and Hispanic communities.

“The proposed standards announced today by the Environmental Protection Agency will reduce the damaging carbon pollution emitted from power plants and greatly benefit public health in our country and the next generation of Americans. Additionally, the impact of climate change is witnessed in extreme weather events, such as droughts, tornadoes and hurricanes, which are more frequent and more severe.

“Fortunately, there is a precedent for America’s ability to respond to such a challenge. We have already set limits for arsenic, mercury and lead, and improved the energy efficiency of cars, trucks, and buildings. I’m confident that these regulations will spur innovation to develop the clean energy technologies that will drive economic growth in the 21st century.”

Washington, DC – DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement marking the start of LGBT Pride Month, which is June:

This June, we celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month. It is an opportunity to recognize the remarkable progress our nation has made towards equality for all Americans and the contributions made by the LGBT community.

Forty-five years ago, in June 1969, the LGBT community had to literally fight for recognition of the discrimination they faced during the Stonewall riots in New York. Last June, the LGBT community achieved a victory when the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act as unconstitutional.

The progress towards equality has accelerated in recent years. Marriage equality now exists in nineteen states and the District of Columbia and public support for gay marriage has reached record highs. Additionally, President Obama oversaw the repeal of the discriminatory Don't Ask Don't Tell policy and ensured hospital visitation rights for LGBT couples.

I’m proud that the world in which my children are growing up is becoming one where people no longer face discrimination based on who they love. There is still work to do, but with each step we move closer to fulfilling our nation’s potential of full equality under the law for every American.

Washington, DC – DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement on the passing of Dr. Maya Angelou:

“I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Maya Angelou.

“Earlier this year, as I watched Dr. Angelou recite some of her greatest works, it was clear that though her voice was weak, her keen insight and wit were stronger than ever. She exuded the strength of character that has enabled her words and example to buoy the spirit of others in difficult times.

“It was Dr. Angelou who said, ‘The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them.’ For decades, Dr. Angelou showed us who she was through literature, teaching, performing arts and activism. Her selflessness and kindness came through in her willingness to share her story and to tell the story of others.

“I know that I express the sentiment of many when I say that Dr. Maya Angelou’s voice and spirit will be greatly missed,  but I am grateful that her words will live on for generations to come.”

Washington, DC – DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement in commemoration of Memorial Day:

“This Memorial Day, we take the opportunity to honor the memory of those who have given their lives in service of this country. These brave men and women answered the call to service with honor and pride. They were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice so that their families, their friends, and all their fellow Americans could continue enjoying the freedoms that define who we are as a country.

“We also take time on Memorial Day to honor those in our communities for whom the cost of defending our freedoms have been greatest– those who have lost a wife or husband, a daughter or son, a mother or father.

“A little more than 150 years ago, President Abraham Lincoln laid forth a challenge to the American people, ‘that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.’ Our gratitude can never be enough for those who gave their lives or lost a loved one, so we must honor their memories by working together to fulfill the ideals for which they died.”