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Still think Democrats Aren't Fighting Back? Introducing Malcolm Kenyatta. [1]

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Date: 2025-04-28

We’re moving away from the House and Senate and into the DNC for this Monday’s Introducing series. And, no, I’m not profiling the two DNC executive members getting a lot of attention over the last few days.

Today I’m profiling Malcolm Kenyatta, a current Vice President of the DNC. He first came to my attention during the Pennsylvania Senate Primary in 2022. Because I can’t help myself, I started researching the candidates running in that primary. I was never a fan of John Fetterman (and please don’t turn my mentioning of his name into a Fetterman sucks-athon in the comments) for a number of reasons, neither was I impressed with Connor Lamb. Thought to myself, “self, if I lived in Pennsylvania I’d be looking for a third choice”. And it was at this point that I discovered Malcolm Kenyatta.

At the time, Kenyatta was a Democratic, 32 year old elected member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Most of the comments about him focused on his age and lack of experience compared to the two other candidates, but I saw someone with progressive ideology and a dynamic voice.

Below is a story played in Philadelphia the day he launched his campaign. In this interview, he announces his candidacy by asserting, “there’s no tablet from on high saying that America has to be successful. Every generation has worked to take the American promise … to preserve and expand that promise to include more people”. “I think that we’re in a position right now, that if we’re going to get from where we are to where we need to go, if we’re going to get into the business of ensuring that promise, that freedom, justice, the pursuit of happiness, is accessible for everybody, I think a big part of that is having people in government who know in their bones what is broken”.

As he describes in this video (he starts speaking at the one minute mark), he’s someone who grew up in a home where his mother, a diabetic, had to ration insulin. He is a Black, gay man who understands what it is to be on the outside looking in, to be without, and also understands what his candidacy represents. As he said in another interview with a local ABC station (abc.com/...), “I know there will be kids looking up and saying, “oh my gosh, look at somebody who looks like me, who maybe loves the way that I love, saying, wow, I can do anything.”

In spite of his age, I quickly recognized his political skill and announced that he was going to be my candidate for that senate race. Unfortunately, no one listened to me, progressives rallied around Fetterman instead, and Kenyatta finished a distant third in the primary.

Malcolm Kenyatta, at age 18, founded a poetry collective called Babel. They twice won the College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational. At 26 he was a Hillary Clinton delegate at the Democratic Convention. In 2017, at age 27, he was named, “Neighbourhood Champ” by Philadelphia magazine. He has said his community activism was centered around poverty, which he called "the moral and economic issue of our generation." In 2018, he won election to the Pennsylvania House, a position he maintains. In 2024 he ran for Auditor General in Pennsylvania but, again, no one listened to me and he lost to the Republican incumbent.

Here is his impassioned speech to the Democratic National Convention with a focus on Project 2025.

In 2025, Malcolm Kenyatta was one of three individuals elected as VP of the DNC. Finally, I thought, someone is listening to me. Someone saw this dynamic speaker and recognized the promise he held.

So, what has Malcolm Kenyatta been doing as a newly minted DNC executive member to fight Trump? Let’s have a look.

He has attended Democratic Party meetings across the country, inspiring local Democratic groups to take up the mantle to help fight Trump. He even went to Europe to meet with members of America Abroad. He is working to build the Democratic Party from the ground up. Here he is attending a meeting in Alabama that helps people considering running in any election as a Democrat.

x 🚨 Thinking about running for office? 🚨 Join Blueprint Alabama for Blueprint Live: Candidate Kickstart with Malcolm Kenyatta Whether you're just thinking about it or already planning your campaign, this event is your jumpstart. RSVP here: tinyurl.com/ysp3j72a — Blueprint Alabama (@blueprintalabama.bsky.social) 2025-04-06T18:46:45.270Z

And speaking to voters in Republican districts whose representatives are too cowardly to meet their constituents.

x Last night we did the town hall Dave McCormick refuses to do. I drove from Harrisburg to Lansdale to a packed room where hundreds showed up. Real leaders answer questions. McCormick? Still missing. Shoutout to Indivisible Montco and every voter demanding answers. #WheresDaveMcCormick — Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (@malcolmkenyatta.bsky.social) 2025-04-24T15:39:24.863Z

One of the things that most impress me about Malcolm Kenyatta is his ability to cut through issues and speak to real concerns in a blunt and, sometimes, wholly deserved profane manner.

x John Roberts could have sent a message to Trump by not giving him fucking immunity when he was charged with a bunch of crimes. — Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (@malcolmkenyatta.bsky.social) 2025-03-19T14:39:49.814Z

x Today millions of hard working Americans are going to file our taxes. Trump wants to fuck us all over to give a massive tax cut to Elon Musk and friends. — Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (@malcolmkenyatta.bsky.social) 2025-04-15T17:42:50.315Z

x Republicans would rather bankrupt your grandma and gut healthcare than just tax the damn billionaires. — Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (@malcolmkenyatta.bsky.social) 2025-04-10T21:15:21.011Z

As threats to democracy and due process increase, Malcolm Kenyatta continues to respond with straight talk to the American people, calling what is happening what it is — fascism.

x They arrested a sitting Judge. This is insane. Every day, the Trump admin commits another blatant act of lawlessness — not just to test our systems, but to test us. I will not grow weary of saying it plainly: We have no kings in America. We must not be silent or look away. — Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (@malcolmkenyatta.bsky.social) 2025-04-25T22:42:34.679Z

x Disappearing people without any due process is fascism — full stop. I’m sick to my stomach and we all should be. — Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (@malcolmkenyatta.bsky.social) 2025-04-13T12:53:16.748Z

The message that Malcolm Kenyatta gave at the beginning of his senate campaign, that there is no sacred tablet guaranteeing Democracy in the country, it has to be achieved and fought for over and over again, remains a core part of his speeches and his philosophy. He continued this theme at a recent speech, proclaiming, “The arc of justice doesn’t bend towards justice because it bends, it’s because we bend it.”

Honestly, I challenge anyone to listen to this series of clips from a recent speech and not be moved and inspired.

x Here he is again—Malcolm Kenyatta, bringing the facts, ferocity, and fight. He speaks truth, stands tall, and never backs down. If Democrats want to win and lead with purpose, they should take notes. He’s not just showing up—he’s setting the standard. @malcolmhq.bsky.social — Jennifer ✨Get In Good Trouble (@thejenniwren.teamlh.social) 2025-03-21T22:49:22.769Z

x THIS is the fire that we need! “I’m not rolling over to a would-be King. Not now, not ever." — Pat Fuller (@bannerite.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T01:31:34.100Z

And he defines the moment the United States is in perfectly.

x A fight fails without a dream. It’s our moment to fight hard and dream big. — Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (@malcolmkenyatta.bsky.social) 2025-04-06T13:03:32.316Z

Malcolm Kenyatta is one of the biggest rising stars in the Democratic Party. He hasn’t gotten anywhere near the attention his dynamism, charisma, focus, passion and intelligence deserves. He has taken his role of VP of the Democratic National Committee to heart by building up and inspiring Democrats across the country.

He may not be in congress, and sadly he’s not the senator from Pennsylvania, but he has a unique background, unique history, and unique voice. He deserves to be heard by a much larger audience.

As I have said, it is important for readers of this site to know that the vast majority of Democrats are committed to fighting back against Trump. Diaries from readers and from the Front Page are often click bait designed to foment a rage that does nothing to help this fight. We often hear that, “only this person is fighting back” when the fact is most Democrats are working hard to push back against Trump’s ongoing descent into fascism. No one is fighting back with more passion, intensity and vision than Malcolm Kenyatta.

Americans need to join with those engaged in the fight against Trump. Their actions need to be highlighted, their work recorded, and their courage supported. It is for this reason that I chose to amplify the vast majority of Democrats, especially those like Malcolm Kenyatta, that are unheralded and less well known, who are meeting the moment with strength and resolve every day.

If you want even more information on how Democrats are attacking this illegal and corrupt administration, go seek out Janesaunts diaries “Dems Doing What We Want them to do”, which is published three times a week, and lpeacocks Thursday diaries on the Congressional Black Caucus.

T2 has also just begun a series called the Rainbow Roundup, where focus is placed on LGBTQ lawmakers and journalists. And Billboteach has one focusing on Hispanic elected Democrats.

You can gain easy access to all these diaries by following the Democratic Party Spotlight, where all these diaries can be found www.dailykos.com/...

My diaries appear Monday and Friday.

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