Progressive Caucus seeks removal of Democratic Elk Grove Mayor, Councilmembers as delegates for support of 'Trump Republican' candidate

The California Democratic Party Progressive Caucus is seeking action against the three Democratic 
Elk Grove City Council members who have endorsed a Republican city council over a fellow party member in an important Sacramento County contest. | 

In an email distributed this afternoon, the California Democratic Party Progressive Caucus seeks the removal of three Democratic Elk Grove City Council members. According to the information released this afternoon, the removal is desired because they endorsed a Republican. 

The three council members are Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen, District 1 Councilmember Darren Suen, and District 4 Councilmember Stephanie Nguyen, a candidate for the open District 10 California Assembly seat. 

Of significance, the Progressive Caucus seeks to remove the three from the District 10 Assembly endorsement process. Nguyen is competing against fellow Democrat, Sacramento City Councilmember Eric Guerra.  

As noted in this afternoon's release, their transgression is supporting a Republican candidate over a Democrat. Along with the three Elk Grove Democrats, the caucus seeks the removal of U.S Representatives Lou Correa and Norma Torres, State Senator Mike McGuire, and Assemblymember Jim Wood.  
The three Elk Grove city council members have endorsed Republican Elk Grove City Councilmember Pat Hume, who is competing against Democrat Cosumnes Community Services District Director Jaclyn Moreno for the open District 5 Sacramento County Board of Supervisors seat. 
Progressive Caucus chair Amar Shergill signed the letter, and two other caucus executives signed the letter. Addressed to California Democratic Secretary Diane Love, the trio asked the Party to consider these actions against Nguyen, Singh-Allen, and Suen:

With regard to Delegates Allen, Suen, and Nguyen, we further request that their votes be considered provisional in the Assembly District 10 endorsement process currently underway, that their removal hearing proceed before the endorsement results are certified, and that their votes not be counted after the Officers remove them from the Party. At a time when Democrats are working hard to keep a Democratic majority on the Sacramento Board of Supervisors, these three Democrats are working hard to flip the Board to a Republican majority that is pro-Trump, anti-science, anti-choice, and anti-gun-control. They should not be allowed to exercise a vote to determine whom we endorse in Assembly District 10. 

Shergill's request is based on Democratic State Central Committee Bylaws Article II, Section 9. Those bylaws say in part: 

This Committee may remove any member if, during their term of membership, such member affiliates with or registers as other than Party Preference Democratic; publicly avows preference for another party; publicly advocates that the voters should not vote for the endorsed candidate of This Committee for any office; or who publicly gives support to or avows a preference for a candidate registered as other than Party Preference Democratic in the voter-nominated top two open primary; or violates the Code of Conduct.

Although county and city races in California are officially non-partisan, party identification is widespread in these elections. As noted by Shergill, should Hume prevail over Moreno, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors would have two Republicans, two Democrats, and one independent member, Rich Desmond, who is considered more amenable to Republican positions.  
Throughout the primary season, Hume has remained silent regarding former President Donald Trump's false elections claims and the January 6 attempted coup d'etat. Instead, Hume has used surrogates such as Singh-Allen to address the coup attempt but has not directly addressed the controversy.  
The complete packet of information regarding the action can be viewed here. Portions of the email are posted below. 
Elk Grove News has contacted Nguyen, Singh-Allen, and Suen. If they respond to requests to comment on the actions, they will be published in a separate story. 


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REMOVAL OF DELEGATES THAT ENDORSE REPUBLICANS

It's a sad reality that there are delegates within our own Party that betray our most basic values by endorsing Republicans. Even as the GOP bends to the Big Lie, protects the Gun Lobby, denies the climate crisis ravaging our planet, and enthusiastically blankets the country in reproductive fascism, some of our fellow California Democrats willfully and knowingly continue to support GOP candidates. The cynical brand of politics preferred by these delegates prioritizes their venal self-interest while damaging the prospects of Democratic candidates and undermining the hard work of so many local organizers, activists, and community members at a time when we are fighting unprecedented, terrifying fascism courtesy of the GOP. Endorsing people running on bigoted, anti-democratic platforms - which have now become central to the Republican Party - should never be an acceptable move for Democrats. Thankfully, some County Parties have been aggressive in removing County Central Committee Members that endorsed Republicans and in ensuring that non-partisan candidates do not do so. We now need to take action statewide.

With this in mind, the Progressive Caucus has filed papers to remove seven delegates that are currently endorsing Republicans; Representative Lou Correa, Representative Norma Torres, State Senator Mike McGuire, Assemblymember Jim Wood, Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen, Elk Grove Councilmember Darren Suen, and Elk Grove Councilmember Stephanie Nguyen. The Statement of Charges and supporting documents are available for review here. 

If you would like to add your name to this effort, please fill out this form. This action is part of the first batch of responses to our recent form asking all of you to advise us which Democrats were endorsing Republicans. We promised some good trouble on this front and we are inviting you to join us.

To be clear, this action will not prohibit these elected officials from calling themselves Democrats or have any affect on endorsements already granted by the Party. However, this is a clear statement from the Party that it is anathema to our values and a blatant conflict of interest to allow pro-GOP Democrats to remain in the Party as delegates. It is paramount that the Party unequivocally condemns any kind of support for the GOP. This is a chance for us to lead the way with consistency, morality, and accountability. 

With regard to Delegates Allen, Suen, and Nguyen, we have requested that their votes be considered provisional in the Assembly District 10 endorsement process currently underway, that their removal hearing proceed before the endorsement results are certified, and that their votes not be counted after the Officers remove them from the Party. At a time when Democrats are working hard to keep a Democratic majority on the Sacramento Board of Supervisors, these three Democrats are working hard to flip the Board to a Republican majority that is pro-Trump, anti-science, anti-choice, and anti-gun-control. They should not be granted power to determine whom we endorse in Assembly District 10.