News

Want to be a Delegate to the National Convention?

April 28, 2016

Deadlines are fast approaching for paperwork to be submitted to the State Party in Seattle by individuals interested in being chosen as delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

Update! Paperwork may now be submitted via a webform at the State Party National Convention website. There's also the opportunity to see if your paperwork has been received and processed!

Two deadlines exist:

• Friday, May 6 at 5:00 pm for individuals interested in being chosen at the 5th Congressional District Caucus on Saturday, May 21 in Spokane.
• Friday, June 10 at 5:00 pm for individuals interested in being chosen as an at-large delegate at the Washington State Democratic Convention in Tacoma on Sunday, June 19.

One form may be submitted to be considered at both meetings. The form must be properly completed and signed, and submitted so that it is received on or before the applicable deadline. 

Here's how the selection process works at each meeting:

• At the 5th CD Caucus, delegates to the 5th CD Caucus chosen at the LD Caucuses on April 17 and the County Conventions on May 1 will choose the three women and two men who will represent the 5th Congressional District at the Democratic National Convention. The allocation of delegates between the two presidential preferences will be based on the presidential preferences of the seated delegates at the 5th CD Caucus. Based on an assumed support level of 75% Sanders and 25% Clinton, it would be expected that 4 of the 5 delegates would be chosen by the Sanders sub-caucus (and would likely be two women and two men) and 1 of the 5 delegates would be chosen by the Clinton sub-caucus (and would likely be a woman). The actual allocation of delegates is based on the presidential preferences of delegates (and alternates seated in the absence of delegates) attending the Caucus.
• At the State Convention, delegates are chosen by the State Committeemen and State Committeewomen representing the 49 legislative districts. No proxy voting is permitted under the Delegate Selection Plan rules. The allocation of at-large delegates and alternates between presidential preferences is based on the division of the presidential preferences among congressional district-level delegates chosen on May 21. The process will begin no earlier than 10:00 am and at least one hour after the election of PLEO delegates has been completed. Priority of consideration is to be given first to African Americans, Hispanics, Enrolled Native Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and women. Priority of consideration shall be given other groups by virtue of race/ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. If necessary, the election of at-large delegates and alternates shall be used to achieve the equal division of positions between men and women and may be used to achieve the representation goals established in the Affirmative Action section of the Delegate Selection Plan.

At each meeting, individuals interested in being a delegate should be prepared to talk briefly about themselves and why they should be selected. Each meeting will have rules that govern the delegate selection process and the exact amount of time allocated to each delegate candidate.