Chapter Three

Delegate Selection

Individuals run to be elected as a delegate. These are political positions, and as such, getting elected requires a great deal of time and energy. Each state has its own process for selecting delegates. Therefore delegate candidates must be familiar with their state’s Delegate Selection Plan and obtain the necessary filing forms to run. While each state’s process is unique, several key points apply to all delegate campaigns:

• Register to Vote
  To run for delegate and vote in a presidential primary or participate in a caucus, an individual must be a registered voter and a Democrat. In addition, anyone who wishes to support a delegate candidate must be a registered voter and wish to participate as a Democrat.
• Identify Which Presidential Candidate to Support and Become Involved in His or Her Campaign
  Delegates are allocated to presidential candidates in proportion to how well the candidate does in the primary or caucus. Each campaign needs supporters to run for delegate. Delegate candidates should get involved in the presidential campaign early and discuss their interest in running for delegate with presidential campaign organizers.
• Meet Filing Deadlines and/or Petition Requirements
  All states require delegate candidates to file a “declaration of candidacy” and a signed pledge of support for a presidential candidate. In some cases, the declaration includes a requisite number of signatures of registered Democratic voters from the area. It is critical to know, understand and follow all filing requirements.