Delegates
Contrary to public opinion, we do not live in a Democracy, and the "Democratic" Party does not employ the democratic concept of "one person-one vote" in the process of selecting their nominee for President.
Contrary to public opinion, we do not live in a Democracy, and the "Democratic" Party does not employ the democratic concept of "one person-one vote" in the process of selecting their nominee for President.
Party nominees are NOT directly selected by voters.
Party nominees ARE selected by delegates to the Democratic National Convention.
Those delegates are also NOT directly selected by voters.
Party nominees ARE selected by delegates to the Democratic National Convention.
Those delegates are also NOT directly selected by voters.
COLORADO
https://www.coloradodems.org/colorado-dems-announce-2020-delegate-selection-plan/
DEMOCRATS ABROAD
https://www.democratsabroad.org/2020dspcomments
IDAHO
https://idahodems.org/idaho-democratic-party-delegate-selection-plan-for-the-2020-democratic-national-convention/
IOWA
http://www.PresidentTulsiGabbard.org/IowaCaucuses
MASSACHUSETTS
https://massdems.org/press-releases/massachusetts-democratic-party-releases-2020-dnc-delegate-selection-plan/
MICHIGAN
https://medium.com/@MIDemocrats/michigan-democratic-party-releases-delegate-selection-plan-for-2020-national-convention-e7d943c5a5ef
MISSOURI
https://missouridemocrats.org/media/affirmative-action-delegate-selection-committee-notice/
NEVADA
https://nvdems.com/2020caucus/
NEW HAMPSHIRE
https://www.nhdp.org/2020delegateselectionplan
https://blog.4president.org/2020/2019/03/new-hampshire-democratic-party-nhdp-releases-2020-draft-delegate-selection-plan.html
NORTH CAROLINA
Have not been able to locate the actual plan
https://www.ncdp.org/delegate-selection-plan-feedback/
NORTH DAKOTA
https://www.scribd.com/document/401808149/North-Dakota-Democratic-Nonpartisan-League-2020-DRAFT-Delegate-Selection-Plan
OHIO
https://ohiodems.org/ohio-democratic-party-releases-2020-delegate-selection-plan/
OREGON
https://dpo.org/review-democratic-party-oregons-draft-delegate-selection-plan-2020-democratic-national-convention
WASHINGTON
http://www.PresidentTulsiGabbard.org/WashingtonCaucuses
WEST VIRGINIA
http://www.wvdems.org/wvdp-delegate-selection-plan/
https://www.coloradodems.org/colorado-dems-announce-2020-delegate-selection-plan/
DEMOCRATS ABROAD
https://www.democratsabroad.org/2020dspcomments
IDAHO
https://idahodems.org/idaho-democratic-party-delegate-selection-plan-for-the-2020-democratic-national-convention/
IOWA
http://www.PresidentTulsiGabbard.org/IowaCaucuses
MASSACHUSETTS
https://massdems.org/press-releases/massachusetts-democratic-party-releases-2020-dnc-delegate-selection-plan/
MICHIGAN
https://medium.com/@MIDemocrats/michigan-democratic-party-releases-delegate-selection-plan-for-2020-national-convention-e7d943c5a5ef
MISSOURI
https://missouridemocrats.org/media/affirmative-action-delegate-selection-committee-notice/
NEVADA
https://nvdems.com/2020caucus/
NEW HAMPSHIRE
https://www.nhdp.org/2020delegateselectionplan
https://blog.4president.org/2020/2019/03/new-hampshire-democratic-party-nhdp-releases-2020-draft-delegate-selection-plan.html
NORTH CAROLINA
Have not been able to locate the actual plan
https://www.ncdp.org/delegate-selection-plan-feedback/
NORTH DAKOTA
https://www.scribd.com/document/401808149/North-Dakota-Democratic-Nonpartisan-League-2020-DRAFT-Delegate-Selection-Plan
OHIO
https://ohiodems.org/ohio-democratic-party-releases-2020-delegate-selection-plan/
OREGON
https://dpo.org/review-democratic-party-oregons-draft-delegate-selection-plan-2020-democratic-national-convention
WASHINGTON
http://www.PresidentTulsiGabbard.org/WashingtonCaucuses
WEST VIRGINIA
http://www.wvdems.org/wvdp-delegate-selection-plan/
DELEGATE ALLOCATION
The process by which delegates to the Democratic Convention are ALLOCATED is an enormously complicated "Rube Goldberg" contraption. As of this moment in time (February 25, 2019), the precise number of delegates that are to be ALLOCATED to each state and territory has NOT yet been determined, so it is currently IMPOSSIBLE to state exactly how many delegates will be seated at the convention, and it is also IMPOSSIBLE to determine exactly how many may be needed to achieve a majority and capture the party's nomination.
At this moment in time, the closest approximation is that there will be a minimum of 3,768 "pledged" delegates seated at the convention (this number is likely to be higher). In addition, approximately 764 "superdelegates" may also attend the convention and be able to vote on any ballots after the first ballot.
A quick summary estimate is available HERE
A detailed estimate is available HERE
At this moment in time, the closest approximation is that there will be a minimum of 3,768 "pledged" delegates seated at the convention (this number is likely to be higher). In addition, approximately 764 "superdelegates" may also attend the convention and be able to vote on any ballots after the first ballot.
A quick summary estimate is available HERE
A detailed estimate is available HERE
The information below is presented merely to give you a taste of the astonishing amount of complexity built into the delegate ALLOCATION process.
Base Delegate Count
- one-half of a state’s delegate count for the convention is determined by the number of Presidential Electors (Electoral College) assigned to that state in the last three elections and
- the other one-half is determined by the number of people who voted for the Democratic Presidential candidate in the last three elections as a proportion of the nation as a whole.
- one-half of a state’s delegate count for the convention is determined by the number of Presidential Electors (Electoral College) assigned to that state in the last three elections and
- the other one-half is determined by the number of people who voted for the Democratic Presidential candidate in the last three elections as a proportion of the nation as a whole.
Bonus Delegates
Additional delegates (10%-35% more) may be awarded to states and territories that start their delegate allocation process later in the cycle and/or "cluster" the timing of their delegate allocation process with neighboring states.
Additional delegates (10%-35% more) may be awarded to states and territories that start their delegate allocation process later in the cycle and/or "cluster" the timing of their delegate allocation process with neighboring states.
The details of the delegate allocation process will numb your mind.
A detailed analysis of the process is available HERE
A detailed analysis of the process is available HERE
DELEGATE SELECTION
Below is just one state's example (Washington) of how convoluted and far removed from direct democracy the DELEGATE SELECTION process really is. Each of the 50 states has their own rules and procedures.
During the primaries, caucuses, and state conventions, delegates are generally selected as follows:
- District Delegates are proportionally allocated according to the vote in each Congressional (or other) District.
- At-Large Delegates are proportionally allocated according to the statewide vote. In most jurisdictions, the delegates are selected [according to the results of the primary or caucus] some time after the primary. (Fine point: If a presidential candidate is no longer a candidate at the time of selection of the at-large delegates, that candidate receives NO at-large delegates [Delegate Selection Rules: Rule 11.C.]. )
- Pledged PLEO (Party Leaders and Elected Officials) Delegates are proportionally allocated according to the statewide vote.
- Automatic Delegates (Super Delegates) may vote for whomever they wish starting on the second ballot.
OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS
| call_for_the_convention_8.25.18.pdf |
| 2020_delegate_selection_rules_final_incorporated_9.7.18.pdf |
| regulations_of_the_rbc_for_the_2020_convention_12.17.18_final.pdf |
| dnc-charter-bylaws-8.25.18.pdf |
Please contact James Roguski at 310-619-3055 if you have any questions.