Arizona Democratic Party Chairman Initiates New Political Internship

Arizona Democratic Party Chairman Initiates New Political Internship  Students Engage in Historic Transfer of Power at the Democratic National Committee’s 2025 Winter Meeting 

National Harbor, Maryland – Arizona Democratic Party (ADP) Chairman Robert E. Branscomb,  II led the Arizona delegation of Democratic National Committee members to the annual  Democratic National Committee’s Winter Meeting, at the Gaylord National Resort and  Conference Center in suburban Washington, D.C. from January 29 through February 2, 2025.  This year’s meeting was highlighted by the historic transfer of power from Democratic  Chairman Jaime Harrison of South Carolina to newly-elected Chairman Ken Martin of  Minnesota, who will serve a four (4) year term. Chairman Harrison, only the second African American to lead the Democratic Party, did not seek re-election.

Chairman Branscomb, who was joined by Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, created the internship  with former White House political appointee Erika L. Van Croft for the purpose of “exposing  interested college students to the practice of high level politics in real time.” Five students  were selected for the inaugural Arizona Democratic Party-DNC internship. The students who  were selected are: 

Briana Codio of Whitman, Massachusetts; Shelby West of Houston, Texas; Clifford Ayers Brown of Charlottesville, Virginia; Aniyah Smith of Memphis, Tennessee; and Garrison Andrews  of Stone Mountain, Georgia. 

The internship, coordinated through the Ralph E. Bunche International Affairs Center at Howard  University in Washington, D.C., allowed the students to participate in a wide variety of high  profile political events. The students who were selected represent a cross section of the  country. 

The interns’ duties included staffing Mayor Gallego and Chairman Branscomb; reporting on the  activities of various private caucuses meetings; attending the MSNBC live debate; meeting  with members of Congress – including Congresswoman Maxine Waters of California – and DNC  senior leadership. The interns were present for the election of Chairman Martin and the six  Vice Chairpersons, including Malcolm Kenyatta of Philadelphia, PA. 

Briana Codio, of Whitman, Massachusetts said of the internship experience, “I speak for all of  us that it was such a privilege and pleasure to work with you and Mr. Branscomb.”