DISQUS

greenchiledem · 2 years ago

Haven't I seen that graph before? Yes, it's all coming back to me!  Thanks Leslie for the reminder.

ohwilleke · 2 years ago

Competitive yes, but deceptively so. Turnout at precinct caucuses is very low (less than 1% of registered Democrats most years), and few are bothered to sign up for the two intervening meetings that follow.  Competition to go to the county level, and then to thte state level is rarely particularly intense.

So, getting into the final 4,000 or so in the running usually isn't all that difficult (I've never failed to get to a state convention when I really wanted to do so).

Now, getting into the magic three dozen from this number is much harder when the convention is in Denver, than it would be when the convention is in say, Boston, which is more inconvenient to attend.

Part of the magic is picking the right horse in the Presidential preference poll.  And, probably only 10% of those who attend the state convention are seriously interested in going further.  But, this still does leave plenty of competition.

Those who still want a piece of the action, and can't get a delegate seat, however (and hell, the race is almost always decided in reality by August anyway, it is mostly the event and connections and not the voting that matters) can be rewarded with one of hundreds of volunteer positions that will need to be filled by local Democrats in the event.

Leslie Robinson · 2 years ago

Corrections Thanks to Dan Willis over at ColoradoPols: the date of the precinct caucuses has been changed from the 2nd Tuesday in April to the 4th Tuesday in March. So the Precinct Caucuses will be held March 25th, 2008. I'll make that change on my chart today.

Also, Dan correctly pointed out that the minority thresholds are not requirements, but goals which every Democratic state party works very hard to accomplish.

pdt · 2 years ago

Getting to the national convention While it's possible to get a national convention seat by means of the State Convention, your odds are better by means of the Congressional District Convention. In 2004 in the CD6 Convention, there were some 40 people vying for 6 seats.

Even there, the competition is intense and you will have to be prepared to campaign. That means making yourself well-known to your whole district (not just your county) as an effective volunteer and leader. That takes time so now is a good time to start. At the CD Convention you can then print up a brochure to remind everyone of all the great things you will have done over the preceding two years.

Just like running for town council or state rep or anything else, you can't just show up at the CD Convention and expect to get elected. Name recognition is everything.

pdt · 2 years ago

More I should clarify that you can run for national convention delegate through both the Congressional District and State Conventions (you don't have to choose just one or the other).

Also, a minor correction: your county rules may be different from what is described in the diagram. For example, your county may allow you to be elected a delegate without actually attending the caucus, though this in practice is nearly impossible. Also, the Assembly and Convention don't have to be the same date and the slates of delegates to the two events don't have to be identical (though they usually are).