Delegates – Democratic State Central Committee
The governing body of the California Democratic Party is the Democratic State Central Committee (DSCC). The DSCC is made up of approximately 3,500 members ++ (“Delegates”) coming from each of the following three groups in roughly one-third proportions:
Delegates Elected Through County Central Committees
Count: 4 per County Central Committee plus 1 for every 10,000 registered Democrats in the county
When: Depending on the County, CA Democratic County Central Committees elect delegates between the General Election of the even year and March of the odd year
Voting: Delegates are nominated by fellow members of their County Central Committee
Forms: Contact your local County Central Committee for more details
Delegates Elected Through Assembly Districts (ADDs)
Count: 14 AD Delegates (7 self-identified female and 7 other than self-identified female) are elected at Assembly District Election Meetings (ADEMs) held in each of the 80 Assembly Districts
When: ADEMs are held in January of odd-numbered years
Filing: The deadline to file as a candidate is 30 days before the ADEM elections
Voting: Any Democrat residing and registered to vote in that AD, can: 1) run for Delegate; 2) attend and vote at the ADEM
New is 2023: If a potential candidate is someone that is unable to register to vote due to their citizenship status, they must register using a paper registration form. This registration process will be subject to the same timeline and due date described in the General Registration above. On a form provided by the Chair of This Committee and posted alongside the General Candidate Registration Form, potential candidates will: 1) attest that if eligible to register to vote, they would do so and do so as Party Preference Democratic; and 2) attest that they reside at an address within the Assembly District of their candidacy and provide that address; and 3) have obtained the name, voter registration address, and signature of a registered Democrat in the state of California, which person will be serving as a reference for the person submitting the form; and 4) Attest that they agree to abide by the Code of Conduct.
Forms: Assembly District Delegate applications are available on the Party’s website: cadem.org
Delegates Appointed by Elected Officials / Nominees
Count: All Democratic elected officials and nominees (including Congress members, Statewide Officials, State Legislators, and the Vice-President of the United State if from California) are delegates; each is also allowed to appoint between 2 and 6 delegates, Leg/Cong Leadership are not only delegates and will appoint their allotted delegates as mentioned above and may also appoint 90 (30 each) more delegates, CDP Leadership (two vice chairs, controller and secretary) can appoint 30 delegates (6 each)
When: The deadline for submitting all DSCC delegates to be eligible to vote at the next meeting of This Committee is no later than by a date publicized by the Chair of This Committee, which is at least 60 days before the Organizing Convention of an odd-numbered year, or the next business day if the date falls on state holiday or weekend.
Additional information for other Delegate positions to the CDP
- The DNC State Party Delegates (CA DNC members)
- Current/Past Officers Statewide Officers and Regional Directors)
- California Democratic Council
- California Young Democrats
- Statewide Organizations (Chair only)
* All Delegates must be submitted to the State Party 60 days prior to the State Convention, annually, to be credentialed at the State Party Convention.
Role of the Delegate During the State Party Convention
Together, Delegates will take part in organizing actions, vote and conduct Party business at the yearly State Convention, including:
- Election of CDP Officers: Chairman, two Vice-Chairs, Secretary, and Controller (in odd-numbered years after presidential elections)
- Election of 16-25 Regional Directors who function as liaisons between the California Democratic Party, County Central Committees, and Democratic Clubs in regions comprised of 3 to 5 Assembly Districts (in odd-numbered years)
- Endorsements by the California Democratic Party for partisan legislative and statewide offices in California
- Positions on Ballot Propositions (as needed)
- Establishment of the official California Democratic State Party Platform (in even-numbered years)
- CDP Resolutions (in all odd-numbered years)
CDP EXECUTIVE BOARD
While the entire Democratic State Central Committee (DSCC) meets only once a year at the State Convention, the Executive Board (E-Board) of the DSCC meets at least two additional times each year to conduct business that comes up between conventions. This includes Standing Committee and Caucus meetings and electing members to the Democratic National Committee (in presidential election years).
Elections to Become an EBoard Member
County Committee Representatives: (1 for each 100,000 registered Democrats in the county) Election held at DCCC meetings in odd-numbered years after the convention.
Assembly District Representatives: (1 per Assembly District) Election held at ADEMs in January of odd-numbered years.
There are approximately 350-390 E-Board members, including:
- United States Vice-President Kamala Harris (1)
- U. S. Senators (2)
- U. S. Congress members (2)
- Statewide Officials + BOE Members (10)
- State Legislators (2 Assembly members / 2 Senators)
- Standing Committee Chairs / Co-Chairs (20-35)
- Caucus Chairs (19)
- CA Democratic National Committee Members (23)
- County Central Committee Representatives (100-150)
- Assembly District Representatives: 1 per AD (80)
- President, California Democratic Council (1)
- President, California Young Democrats (1)
- Chair of a CDP Statewide Chartered Organization
- All current and immediate past CDP officers (40-42)
