The annual IDCCA County Chairs’ Brunch held in mid-August has become a traditional rallying point shifting Democratic Party activism into high gear. IDCCA President Doug House is confident that this year’s keynote guest and speaker, Former Vice President Joe Biden, will build unprecedented enthusiasm and help boost attendance well beyond last year’s record turnout.

“Over the last three years, our Democratic County Chairs have invested in training, recruitment, coalition development and party building,” said House. “Illinois Democrats are fighting like never before to stop the dangerous Republican agenda to dismantle 70 years of American working and middle-class prosperity. Without question, Vice President Joe Biden, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and J.B. Pritzker will rally, motivate and inspire Illinois Democrats to execute the battle plan to ensure a ‘Blue Wave’ in every county of our state.”

With a keen understanding of the hardships that Bruce Rauner and Illinois Republicans have forced on working and middle-class families, Senator Durbin delivered the party’s pitch and secured the confirmation of Biden as the 2018 keynote guest.

Whatever its larger meaning or impact, Representative Joseph Crowley’s stunning loss to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in last Tuesday’s primary election already has set off one tremor within the Democratic Party: It has thrown House leadership into chaos.

Mr. Crowley is chairman of the Democratic caucus, making him the fourth-ranking Democrat in the House. He also was the heir apparent to the minority leader, Nancy Pelosi. Ms. Pelosi, now 78, has herded Democratic cats for nearly 16 years and has made clear her desire to stay put if the party wins back the majority in November. But she’s expected to face a serious challenge to her rule after the election, whether or not the party reclaims the majority. A swelling segment of Ms. Pelosi’s caucus — especially younger lawmakers — feel it is time for a change, and at least 20 Democratic candidates have pledged not to support her for leader if they win their races or have called for a change in leadership.

I met Tom Korologos in 1970. I was doing interviews for my dissertation on congressional staffs; he was the top staffer for Wallace Bennett, a veteran Republican senator from Utah. Tom not only granted me an interview but also gave me a ton of time and valuable insights. He knew and loved the Senate, knew and loved politics. He has had a remarkable career in Washington, serving several Republican presidents and also working as a top official with the provisional authority in Baghdad and as ambassador to Belgium. If you asked me to name veteran pols who understand how our government and politics work and should work, he would be high on the list.

That makes my disappointment with him even more painful. Korologos, along with former Ronald Reagan national security adviser Richard V. Allen, wrote an op-ed for The Post last week with advice for their fellow Republicans, headlined “Memo to GOP: Forget 2016. Start thinking 2018 and 2020.” The op-ed conceded the presidential contest to Hillary Clinton — and proceeded to give advice on how to combat the incoming president and regain the party’s mojo.