Progressive activists launch takeover bid of Cuyahoga County Democratic Party

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Progressive activists, along with a suburban mayor who lost last year's party leadership fight, say they have filed hundreds of candidates in their insurgent bid to seize control of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party's central committee.

It's not clear how viable the takeover effort is. But the internal fight has raised tensions and could disrupt the party in an election year when Democrats otherwise have the potential to make big gains in Ohio. Cuyahoga County is of key political importance to Democrats statewide, and a functioning party organization helps raise money and organize voters.

Trevor Elkins, mayor of tiny Newburgh Heights, said he personally has submitted petitions for about 100 candidates. Activists with the Cuyahoga County Progressive Caucus, an off-shoot of Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign, say their members have filed for more than 150 committee seats themselves.

County elections officials say nearly 1,000 candidates have filed to run for about 730 committee seats. As of Wednesday afternoon, more than 120 had withdrawn, many of whom may attempt to run as write-in candidates, and another 80 have been recommended for rejection, based on technical problems with their petitions, said Pat McDonald, the county elections director.

Read more: http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2018/02/cleveland_ohio_progressive_act.html