What to Expect

Pick a few clear, realistic, and strategic convention goals: 

• Delegates can pick up their voting credential for the weekend within the Credentialing/Registration hours each day of Convention
• All voting delegates should review the Convention schedule for voting window of the endorsement caucuses of district-level and statewide partisan offices 
• Network with Democrats from across California 
• Participate in our training sessions 
• Meet Democratic community leaders 
• There will be events and meetings happening simultaneously. We recommend planning ahead! 

Plan as a team to make sure your bases get covered: 

• Connect with your local Delegates in advance to make sure that desired training events, Caucus meetings, and networking events are covered by at least one person in your group
• While it’s possible, it’s not always ideal to have to leave one event to attend another, so plan ahead and prioritize events you’d like to attend!

Take this opportunity to connect with people: 

• Use this networking opportunity to connect with people from across the state.

FRIDAY

Registration

Registering in advance using the online registration form is the best option; it allows you to save money and time by bypassing on-site registration & payment lines. https://cdpconvention.org/register/

VERY IMPORTANT: You must still sign in and pick up your credential during credentialing / registration hours of convention. You must be credentialed to vote and enter the Saturday and Sunday General Sessions. Credentialing & registration closes before voting begins. If you do not have proper credentials, you cannot vote — there are no exceptions.

On-site credentialing & registration begins Friday afternoon. Please check the schedule to make sure you are in line before credentialing & registration closes for the day. Lines in the early afternoon tend to be longer, so you won’t be able to enjoy other Convention activities until the lines are more manageable. An online schedule can be found here.

Credentials 

Credentials are issued in a whole rainbow of colors, each indicating a different category: Delegate, Observer, Staff, Volunteers, Press, and Campaign Staff. You must have a credential to get into General Session or to vote. KEEP YOUR CREDENTIAL ON YOU AT ALL TIMES. Registration closes before voting begins, so you must be registered and credentialed BEFORE VOTING OPENS. 

While there are several different types of credentials for delegates and the public at large, there are three types of credentialed participants that have access to the General Session Hall:

Delegate: A voting member of the Democratic State Central Committee (DSCC) delegate or the delegates. As a delegate, part of your responsibility is to bring home what you’ve learned. Plan a post-Convention presentation to your local club, County Committee, or sub-committee. Pre-planning will help you focus during Convention. The delegate is responsible for representing their local organizations as well as keeping their local activists informed. 

Proxy: A person representing a Delegate. A Proxy may be chosen from a specific pool of people, depending on the method by which the Delegate was elected or appointed. If you are carrying a proxy for someone, make sure to consult with them, check if they’ve paid their annual delegate dues and that they’ve registered for Convention before you submit the proxy form to be approved by the Credentials Committee. For more information on how to proxy, visit https://cdpconvention.org/register/ and scroll down to the section header “Proxy Information” and click into the proxy submittal form.

Observer: A “guest” of an elected or appointed Delegate or a Democrat wanting to attend the CADEM State Convention. An Observer may participate in workshops and Caucus meetings, social events, and General Sessions — but may not vote.

General Session Seating

Seating for General Session is divided into 22 CADEM Regions. Each region is designated in sections by highly visible signs, listing the region number above the seating section. 

Delegates or their proxies sit in their respective regions; this is important for vote counting. (Reminder: Proxies are expected to vote according to the wishes of their delegate).

Delegate credentials are labeled with the delegate’s name, DSCC ID, assembly district, senate district, congressional district and CADEM region, and will include a space for the delegate’s signature. 

Note: A Democrat who is serving as a proxy will be credentialed as the delegate and will have the delegate’s information, not the proxy’s information on their credential. The delegate’s credential will include an orange “Proxy” sticker. A Proxy will sign the proxy sticker with their signature.

Reminder: The voting delegation is seated in their respective CADEM regions. For more information on CADEM regions, CLICK here.

There are special seating sections for observers and media, distinct from the voting delegation.

Caucus Meetings

Caucus meetings take place both Friday and Saturday and may run concurrently. If a caucus meeting interests you but conflicts with another caucus meeting, we suggest you work with your delegation as a team to cover all of the events and take notes. The schedule can be accessed here.

REMINDER: Pre-register for your Caucuses online to save time. The lines are often long, and you’re likely to miss a part of the Caucus meeting while waiting to get through registration.

Caucuses and Paying Caucus Membership Dues

Each CADEM caucus has its own set of rules and bylaws. Membership(s) of each caucus may expire at different times. Please check your caucus bylaws to determine when your membership begins and when it will expire.

CADEM caucus membership can also be paid in advance online. This will help avoid long lines before caucus meetings. 

Click here to join and pay your Caucus dues now! Need to contact a Caucus Chair? Click here.

Hospitality Suites 

Friday and Saturday evenings include late-evening hospitality suites hosted by candidates and groups. The host determines what is available. There are usually beverages and appetizers provided, and these are good opportunities to network and socialize. They generally run from 10:00 pm until midnight, and delegates are welcome to visit many, if not all, of the suites. All Hospitality Suites are listed on the agenda and will be posted online here before Convention.

SATURDAY/SUNDAY

General Session 

During the General Session, volunteers assist to ensure that attendees are sitting in the correct sections and aisles remain clear at all times. (Reminder: We must keep aisles clear in accordance with the Fire Marshall’s regulations. If you want to have a conversation, we ask that you do it in your regional seating section making sure you are not lingering in the aisles).

Each General Sessions serves a specific purpose. Saturday’s general session “opens” the Convention weekend. Sunday’s general session includes Committee reports and votes, and once concluded, formally concludes Convention. While the format follows Robert’s Rules of Order, sessions can also be impassioned and enthusiastic.

To get into General Session (“on the floor”), you must have one of the following credentials:

• Delegate
• Observer
• Campaign (Floor)
• Volunteer 

NOTE: REGISTRATION CLOSES BEFORE VOTING. YOU MUST BE PROPERLY REGISTERED AND CREDENTIALED BEFORE REGISTRATION CLOSES TO VOTE. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS. PLEASE CHECK THE AGENDA AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE REGISTERED IN TIME TO VOTE. 

SUNDAY

Sunday’s general session closes Convention, and no events are scheduled beyond it. The general session usually ends around midday — however, that is never guaranteed, especially if there are contentious votes, debates, and discussions.

REMINDER: You cannot get into the general session or vote without a credential, even if you’re pre-registered. You must be wearing your credential in order to get into the general session or to vote. 

NOTE: REGISTRATION CLOSES PRIOR TO THE START OF THE SUNDAY GENERAL SESSION. YOU MUST BE REGISTERED AND CREDENTIALED BEFORE REGISTRATION CLOSES. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS.

However, it is still a large venue, and taking a detour may not be especially convenient if you have two competing events (often the case). A convention is very tightly scheduled with varying temperatures, so consider:

• Face Mask
• Sanitizer
• Water/thermos drink
• Snacks (apple, string cheese, nuts)
• Comfortable shoes — you’ll do a lot of walking!
• Pad of paper/pen
• Business cards / pre-written contact information
• Your group’s contact information on a 3×5 card
• Cell phone (make sure your group has phone numbers for one another)
• Chapstick
• Scarf, vest, or sweater (dress in layers; room temperatures vary widely)
• A method for comfortably carrying stuff (backpack or small rolling cart); you will acquire stuff during the day, as well as what you bring with you
• Plan on having a reunion location among your group. (Getting separated is easy.)

What Not to Bring

Planning Suggestions and Tips

Most convention centers are located within convenient distances of many eateries and the building is designed with many entrances/exits, so getting in and out is fairly easy. Review a map of the region and the Convention Center before you arrive. There are places within and around the convention center for gathering or holding an off-site meeting.

We hope this quick overview of what to expect at this year’s convention is helpful. Keep an eye out for email updates to give you a better idea of what to expect, as well as announcements about speakers and events!