2020 War Room: Update from the Fight to End GOP Gerrymandering (sponsored panel)
Session Type(s): Panel
Starts: Thursday, Jul. 16 6:45 PM (Eastern)
Ends: Thursday, Jul. 16 8:00 PM (Eastern)
Right-wing gerrymandering was bad in 2010, but John Roberts’ Supreme Court can still make it a whole lot worse in 2020 – particularly for Latino and other minority communities who stand to lose the most when Republicans draw the lines. But Democrats are already organizing NOW to take back the redistricting pens before the 2020 Census. Please join a panel of Democratic legislative leaders, campaign strategists, and the founder of the newest progressive weapon in the redistricting fight – the Advantage 2020 super PAC – as we update the Netroots community on this cycle’s crucial redistricting targets, the changes brought about by brand-new court decisions, and Democrats’ long-term strategy to flip the legislative chambers that could shatter the Tea Party’s hold on Congress.
This panel is sponsored by the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee
Moderator
Jess McIntosh
Jess McIntosh is a Democratic strategist, Executive Editor of Shareblue Media, CNN commentator, and co-host of the award-winning SiriusXM radio show Signal Boost along with Zerlina Maxwell. Jess has written extensively about politics and gender for Shondaland.com, ELLE, Lenny Letter, and more.
Most recently she served as a senior communications advisor for Hillary Clinton, who received 3 million more votes than Donald Trump and really should be the President. Prior to that honor, she was the Vice President of Communications for EMILY’s List, an organization devoted to electing pro-choice progressive women. She was the first campaign and Senate spokesperson for Al Franken, and helped with the elections of New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Jess is a graduate of New York University, where she earned a M.A. she has never found occasion to use in English Literature. She currently resides in Brooklyn with the boy she’s had a crush on since 1996.
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Panelists
State Rep. Charlene Fernandez
Charlene earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Northern Arizona University. She worked for Congressman Ed Pastor for twelve years, coordinating constituent services for the western portion of then Congressional District 2. . She also served in a similar capacity for Congressman Raul Grijalva. With her vast experience she became a consultant for a software company that produced a Constituent Management System for the U.S. House of Representatives. Charlene later served Governor Janet Napolitano as a liaison for the Arizona Department of Environment Quality in Yuma County.
As an educator Charlene decided to make an impact outside of the classroom by being elected to Yuma Union High School District Governing Board, serving as president and vice president. Charlene devotes time to local charities serving on boards and lending her experience to their challenges.
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State Senator Martín Quezada
Senator Quezada was elected to represent Legislative District 29 in the AZ State Senate in November, 2014. He currently serves as the Democratic Whip and the Ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee. He also serves on the Senate Government and Rules Committees. Prior to that he served 3 years in the AZ State House of Representatives where he served as Chair of the AZ Legislative Latino Caucus and as the Ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary and Government Committees.
Sen. Quezada also serves as an elected member of the Pendergast Elementary School District Governing Board having first been elected in 2010 and re-elected in 2014.
Professionally Sen. Quezada is an attorney with his own practice in Phoenix.
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Michael Sargeant
Michael Sargeant has been the Executive Director of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee since 2007. He joined the DLCC in 2001 as a political director and rose to become National Political Director in 2004. Even before joining the DLCC, Michael had many years of campaign experience. He’s served as the Tennessee House Caucus director and also managed campaigns at virtually all levels, from mayoral to state legislature to congressional races in New Jersey, Michigan, Missouri, and California.
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