The Democratic Party’s dirty laundry exposed its own rigging scandal when a former DNC chair confirmed what Bernie Sanders supporters suspected all along: the 2016 primary was manipulated to crown Hillary Clinton before voters ever cast their ballots.
Story Highlights
- Former DNC Chair Donna Brazile revealed Hillary Clinton’s campaign secured control over the DNC through a secret funding agreement in August 2015, before the primaries began
- The deal gave Clinton’s team influence over DNC staffing, strategy, and operations in exchange for bailing out the financially struggling committee
- Even Elizabeth Warren admitted the primary was “rigged,” while President Trump called for a Justice Department investigation into Democratic collusion
- Democrats have a long history of contesting elections without prosecution, from Clinton’s 2016 claims to Stacey Abrams refusing to concede in 2018
The Secret Deal That Hijacked Democracy
Donna Brazile dropped a bombshell in her 2017 book exposing an “unethical” joint fundraising agreement between Hillary Clinton’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee. The cash-strapped DNC, desperate for funds after the 2014 midterm losses, sold its soul to Clinton’s Hillary Victory Fund in August 2015. Clinton’s team provided financial life support to the committee in exchange for unprecedented control over party operations, staffing decisions, and strategic direction—all before primary voters had their say. This arrangement fundamentally compromised the DNC’s obligation to remain neutral during the nominating process.
Establishment Power Versus Grassroots Voices
The Clinton machine deployed every establishment weapon to crush Bernie Sanders’ insurgent campaign. Over 700 superdelegates endorsed Clinton before voters weighed in, creating an insurmountable perception of inevitability. The DNC limited debates to just 10 compared to the Republicans’ 27, effectively shielding Clinton from scrutiny while suppressing grassroots momentum. WikiLeaks emails revealed DNC staffers actively favoring Clinton’s odds, confirming suspicions of institutional bias. Debbie Wasserman Schultz resigned as DNC chair on July 24, 2016, after the email revelations proved too damaging to ignore, though the damage was already done.
Voter Irregularities Fueled Distrust
Sanders supporters documented troubling patterns across key primary states that suggested systematic suppression of their candidate. New York saw approximately 121,000 provisional ballots issued, with 90,000 ultimately rejected, disproportionately affecting Sanders-leaning voters. Chicago election audits allegedly showed votes being erased or manipulated to favor Clinton, though these claims remain unconfirmed. Voter purges in multiple states raised questions about whether DNC voter lists were weaponized against Sanders supporters. These irregularities, combined with the revealed funding agreement, validated progressive concerns that the establishment had predetermined the outcome regardless of grassroots energy.
Democratic Election Denial Goes Unpunished
The pattern of Democrats contesting election legitimacy extends far beyond 2016, yet prosecutions remain conspicuously absent. Hillary Clinton spent years claiming Russian interference “stole” her 2016 victory from her, undermining confidence in American elections. Stacey Abrams refused to concede her 2018 Georgia gubernatorial race, calling it “rigged against voters” and maintaining her election denial through 2021. Democrats objected to George W. Bush’s victories in both 2000 and 2004, establishing a precedent of challenging Republican wins. The double standard becomes glaring when contrasted with aggressive prosecutions targeting those questioning the 2020 election, revealing how the justice system applies different rules based on political affiliation.
Lasting Damage to Party Unity
The 2016 rigging scandal fractured the Democratic coalition in ways that persist today. Progressive distrust of the establishment deepened, fueling Sanders convention protests and creating lasting resentment among grassroots activists. The DNC implemented partial reforms, including changing superdelegate rules to bind them only on second ballots starting in 2020, but these cosmetic changes failed to address fundamental power imbalances. The scandal normalized intra-party rigging rhetoric and weakened Democratic unity heading into subsequent elections. This internal conflict demonstrates how party elites prioritize maintaining control over respecting the democratic process, even when it means alienating their own base and handing ammunition to political opponents.
Sources:
Opposites agree: Trump, Warren say Democratic primary was ‘rigged’ – Politico
Was the Democratic Primary Just Manipulated, or Was It Stolen? – Truthout
