Jay Jacobs eyes internal Democratic Party reforms

After a mixed electoral showing for Democrats in New York last year, the state party leader says they’re going to be making some internal changes to the Democratic Party’s campaign apparatus in the Empire State.

Speaking on Monday’s edition of The Capitol Pressroom, New York State Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs said the party can do a better job with candidate training, grassroots infrastructure, messaging through the county committees, strengthening ties with labor organizations and resource development. “We are making some changes,” he said.

The Nassau County Democrat wouldn’t reveal additional details, saying he first planned to make a full report to the party’s executive committee and county chairs.

The plan will likely not include a new approach to when and how the Democratic Party weighs in on primaries, which has drawn some criticisms from the left wing of the party, who argue the establishment puts its thumb on the scale against more progressive candidates. Jacobs made the case that the party largely remains out of intraparty skirmishes, weighing in on a case-by-cases basis.

“‘When there are these – assaults if you will – primaries against some of these incumbents, who’ve, again, been progressive, done a great job, etcetera, we’re going to take a look at that,” he said.