State Rep. Brian Sims is running for Lt. Governor in the Democratic Primary, which is tentatively scheduled for May 17. However, the Democratic State Committee tapped State Rep. Austin Davis to be Josh Shapiro’s running mate, at their endorsement meeting on January 29.
That makes Brian Sims an unendorsed candidate, and the leadership of the Montgomery County Democratic Committee (MCDC) doesn’t like it when unendorsed Democrats run against endorsed Democrats. In fact according to the MCDC bylaws, a person who runs against, or even a person who just openly supports an unendorsed Democrat running against an endorsed Democrat – is not eligible to serve as a Democratic Committee Person for two years after having failed their Loyalty Test.
I’m able to run this campaign because of the dedication of groups like the Lower Merion and Narberth Dems. If we’re going to win the primary and keep PA blue in the fall, it’s going to be with their hard work. I’ll be back soon to continue this conversation! 2/2 pic.twitter.com/fjn0vzTkQ3
— Brian Sims (@BrianSimsPA) February 9, 2022
Notwithstanding his outlaw status, Sims was permitted to make an appearance on the Democratic Committee of Lower Merion Narberth’s (DCLMN) regular monthly Zoom meeting, on Tuesday night (February 8).
After Sims spoke, Murray Levin, a Lower Merion resident and also a member of the Pennsylvania Democratic Committee, reminded committee members that they could not support Sims, because the state committee had endorsed Davis.
But DCLMN member, Adrian Seltzer argued that since MCDC hadn’t endorsed anybody for Lt. Governor, committee members should be free to support Sims. DCLMN Chair, Jonathan Shapiro disagreed, pointing out that “endorsements flow down from the state committee.” He explained that MCDC is bound to endorse any candidates endorsed by State Committee, and DCLMN is bound to endorse candidates endorsed by MCDC. Shapiro did note that he personally likes Sims and that Sims is “a friend of DCLMN.”
Not entirely satisfied with Shapiro’s interpretation of the rules, Seltzer called attention to the Pennsylvania Democratic Committee’s Rules, which make no mention any kind of discipline for committee members who support undendorsed Democrats in primaries. The same is true for DCLMN’s bylaws, which prohibit members from supporting members of other parties in general elections, but say nothing about supporting unendorsed candidates in primaries.
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