State party chair candidates make their pitches to Dem activists

Dem state party chair candidates ahead of tomorrow’s election pitched party activists on why they should lead the party.

Third Congressional District Chair William Garcia told the convention he’ll be focused on growing the state party. 

“I’m a lifelong educator, a proud union member and a fierce advocate for democratic ideals,” Garcia said. “I stand before you to ask for the opportunity to lead this incredible, vibrant community of organizers, activists and volunteers.” 

He also praised Democratic organizing and said Wisconsin can win back a trifecta, keeping the governor’s seat and gaining a majority in both chambers of the Legislature. 

“We will win because of this community and, we will win because Democrats have the policies Wisconsin wants,” Garcia said. 

Garcia focused on his mission to “grow, persist, resist.”

He said he planned to grow the party by supporting local county parties and the Young Democrats of Wisconsin. 

Devin Remiker, who previously served as the party’s executive director and holds outgoing party chair Ben Wikler’s endorsement, also praised the current state of the Democratic Party. 

“In Wisconsin, the Democratic Party works,” Remiker said, citing liberals gaining a majority in the state Supreme Court, securing a Democratic governor and ridding the state of gerrymandered maps. 

 “We fought our way back from oblivion,” Remiker said. 

He said he wants to “build on what works.” 

“And folks we know what works. Success isn’t an accident,” Remiker said. “Year-round organizing, showing up everywhere, fighting tooth and nail in every election, spring, fall, special, taking nothing for granted. Now is not the time to reset. Now is the time to double down.”

In his speech, Joe Zepecki, a Milwaukee-based operative, focused on the work Democrats still need to do. 

“We can do better,” Zepecki said. “We must do better.” 

He said Democrats need to focus on better organizing and restoring the party’s “broken brand.” 

Zepecki also shared confidence that Democrats “will win” next year in midterm elections. 

“We are capable of changing for the better, capable of standing strong even as the threat of authoritarianism rises, and even as the threat of political violence shakes us off. Now more than ever, we must keep the faith in the promise of this country in true, real, actual American values,” Zepecki said.