In 2008, during the last contested Democratic primary, eventual nominee Barack Obama chose all the members of the party’s platform committee, which sets policy priorities at the convention.
This year, the committee is being chosen much differently, a reflection of the philosophical divide between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.
Although Clinton is expected to secure the nomination, Sanders will still have a sizable voice when the party works out the platform.
He chose five of the committee’s members, one fewer than Clinton. Four more were chosen by the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida.
Sanders’ choices are Keith Ellison, a congressman from Minnesota; environmental advocate Bill McKibben; social justice activist Cornel West; James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute; and Deborah Parker, a Native American activist.
Clinton chose Wendy Sherman, a former State Department official under Clinton; Neera Tanden, a former aide and president of the Center for American Progress; Ohio state Rep. Alicia Reece; Luis V. Gutierrez, a congressman from Illinois; former White House environmental advisor Carol Browner; and Paul Booth, a union leader.
Wasserman Schultz’s picks were Elijah E. Cummings, the Democratic congressman from Maryland who will head the committee; Rep. Barbara Lee of Oakland; Howard Berman, a former California congressman; and Bonnie Schaefer, a business executive and philanthropist.
In a statement, Sanders said, “We believe that we will have the representation on the platform drafting committee to create a Democratic platform that reflects the views of millions of our supporters who want the party to address the needs of working families in this country and not just Wall Street, the drug companies, the fossil fuel industry and other powerful special interests.”
Brian Fallon, a spokesman for Clinton, said Sanders' supporters will be "well represented in the drafting of the party's platform."
"The Democratic Party historically has been a big tent, representing a diverse coalition, and Hillary Clinton is committed to continue welcoming different perspectives and ideas," he said in a statement.
