Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., is one of three House Democrats who have yet to pay their DCCC dues in full despite plans to return to top committee jobs next year, according to a draft of the DCCC’s September dues report seen by Semafor.
The document, which is not final, only reflects dues paid through last month; Waters has paid $450,000 in dues to date, or about two-thirds of her goal, rather than the report’s $200,000, a person familiar told Semafor, which will be reflected in the DCCC’s October dues report.
Other committee ranking members lagging on the goal, according to the September draft: The top Democrats on the House Administration and Ethics committees — Reps. Joe Morelle of New York and Mark Desaulnier of California, respectively.
Outgoing ranking members Angie Craig of Minnesota and Nydia Velázquez of New York are also behind, though retiring members and frontliners generally don’t pay dues in full.
A person familiar with DeSaulnier’s thinking said he always paid his dues in full and intends to continue to do so.
House Democrats are considering rules changes to mandate dues payments to serve on committees like Appropriations and Financial Services. The clashes over dues are a perennial issue among House Democrats that has animated previous challenges to gavels, but they’ve taken on increased importance as Democrats try to flip the House. And with House races becoming more expensive, some in the party think the dues issue will resonate with the caucus.
Virginia Rep. Bobby Scott, the top Education and Workforce Committee Democrat who is facing a competitive race, has paid his dues in full.