By Zach Hester, Reporter • zach@southerntorch.com

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — After being at odds for quite some time with Alabama Democratic Party Chair Nancy Worley, Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.) is urging Alabama Democrats to adopt new party bylaws and elect new leadership. 

The website fixtheparty.com (Fix The Party), which is paid for by Jones’ Senate campaign, includes a list of new bylaws and a petition calling for the State Democratic Executive Committee (SDEC) to meet this weekend in Montgomery.

Last year, Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tom Perez began withholding funds from the state party because of its failure to meet the basic requirements of a functioning organization. The monthly payment of $10,000 was first suspended in September 2018.

“Alabama is the only state party in the country from which the monthly payment has been withheld,” said Perez. “We are in the midst of a critically important election cycle. We have real opportunities to win critical races in Alabama. The party can and must play an important role in these efforts. It is impossible to do so without leadership in place.” 

The DNC states that Alabama’s bylaws don’t follow along with national party rules and declared the rules of last year’s leadership election, which saw Worley re-elected as Chair amidst controversy, invalid due to the improper credentials of several SDEC members who voted in the election. The national party revoked Worley’s and Vice Chairman Randy Kelley’s credentials in August. 

Worley initially called a meeting of the SDEC for October 12, but a majority of the committee’s 250 members voted to meet this weekend instead.

“This show of support from SDEC members across the state is the first step in creating a more transparent, diverse and inclusive Alabama Democratic Party and complying with the DNC guidelines,” the Jones campaign said in a statement.

Will Boyd, the 2018 Democratic nominee for Lt. Governor and Tabitha Isner, the 2018 Democratic nominee for Alabama 2nd congressional district are running against Worley for party chair. 

Worley has blamed Jones for an “all-out attack” on the state party for the last year.

The State Democratic Executive Committee will meet this Saturday, October 5 at 11am at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Montgomery to consider new bylaws, followed by new chair and vice chair elections.