Article X:  Candidate Endorsements

 

Preamble

 

            The Central Committee’s policy and intent in its endorsement of candidates in both partisan and non-partisan races is to promote outstanding Yolo County Democratic candidates who support the Democratic Party platform and will fight for Democratic values. The Yolo County Democratic Central Committee is committed to strengthening and cultivating Democratic candidates in both partisan and non-partisan elections with a fair and open endorsement process that is inclusive and gives all registered Democratic candidates for office the opportunity to earn the endorsement of the Yolo County Democratic Central Committee.

 

            In 2010, voters replaced the closed primary system with an open primary system, which eliminates party affiliation on the ballot and allows for the top two candidates regardless of party affiliation to qualify for the final run-off. This open primary system endangers the promotion and election of Democrats by effectively changing conventional partisan elections to “non-partisan” elections.  However, under the new open primary system candidate endorsements will be listed by party affiliation in the pre-election materials sent out to voters, such as voter guides from the office of the Yolo County Clerk Recorder and/or the California Secretary of State. To maximize the promotion and visibility of Democratic candidates, the endorsement process makes an important change in the election campaign calendar.

 

            To accommodate this candidate promotion opportunity, endorsements need to be finalized in the meeting of Yolo County Democratic Central Committee prior to the close of the filing deadlines.

 

Section 1.  

 

            A.        The Central Committee may make one or more pre-primary endorsements in a partisan or non-partisan election in which more than one registered Democrat is a candidate.  Notwithstanding the foregoing and with respect to state-wide partisan elections, candidates of the California Democratic Party, as defined in Section 2 of Article VIII of the By Laws of the California Democratic Party, the Committee and/or the County Chair must not make any endorsements which conflict with the endorsements from the California Democratic Party.

 

            B.        The Central Committee shall endeavor to assure the full participation of its Members at regional pre-endorsing conferences held pursuant to Section 2 of Article VIII of the By Laws of the California Democratic Party.

 

Section 2.     

 

            A.        All candidates shall adhere to the same process in order to ensure a fair and open process. This Committee shall adhere to the following procedures during the endorsement process in both partisan and non-partisan elections in order to ensure a fair and open endorsement process:

 

                        1.         The Chair of this Committee shall instruct the Candidate Development Committee to convene a meeting for the purpose of recommending endorsement(s) of this Committee.  The Candidate Development Committee may recommend candidates for endorsement upon a majority vote of its members.

 

                        2.         Endorsements for a particular office may take place prior to the deadline for filing for the particular office has passed.

 

                        3.         In order for an endorsement to be considered in any non-partisan office, the request for endorsement must be made in writing by either the candidate who has taken out papers for the non-partisan office or by a member of this committee. Endorsements in partisan elections may be considered without written request from the candidate who has taken out papers for the non-partisan office or by a member of this Committee.

 

                        4.         In all races, irrespective of any other consideration, where an endorsement procedure is instituted all candidates who are registered Democrats shall be notified of the date, time and place of all relevant meetings and of their right to consideration.  This Committee shall maintain a proof of service of the notices to candidates.

 

                        5.         In order for a candidate in a partisan or non-partisan election to be considered by the Central Committee, she or he must:

 

                                    a.         Submit a completed and signed copy of the written candidate questionnaire designed by the Candidate Development Committee, which must include the following questions:

 

i.          "Do you support the California Democratic Party's Platform?"

 

ii.         "Do you pledge to not endorse, or to rescind your present endorsement, of any non-Democratic candidate for non-partisan office, who is opposed by a candidate endorsed by the Democratic Party?"

 

                                    b.         Complete an oral interview.

 

Applicants must be given opportunity to explain their answers to the Candidate Development Committee and this Committee in a fair and open process.

 

Failure to complete the questionnaire terminates the endorsement process, as the written questionnaire is a prerequisite for the oral interview. Failure to answer questions in the oral interview terminates the endorsement process and the applicant will not be considered for endorsement by the Central Committee.

 

                        6.         Recommendation(s) for endorsement in partisan and non-partisan elections shall be made to this Committee by the Chair of the Candidate Development Committee or his/her designee who shall set forth, in full, the reasons for any recommendation.  The Candidate Development Committee shall also state which applicants are not recommended, and the reasons for the non-recommendation.  The acceptance of the Candidate Development Committee’s report by this Committee shall not constitute an endorsement, rather, the actions of the Candidate Development Committee shall serve to scrutinize candidates and educate this Committee on the candidates. The Central Committee may then choose through voting which candidates, if any, it wishes to endorse.  Under no circumstances shall this Committee endorse any candidate who fails to comply with the process detailed in Section 2.A.5 above.

 

                        7.         This Committee shall make no form of endorsement other than an official endorsement as expressly provided herein and shall not support in any way a candidate who is not a Democrat.

 

                        8.         In a race between multiple candidates who are registered Democrats over a single seat, each Member of the Central Committee will have one vote.  In a race between multiple candidates who are registered Democrats over more than one seat, each Member of the Central Committee shall place the number of votes corresponding to the number of open seats up to the number of registered Democrats running for the open seats.  Multiple votes cannot be cast towards a single candidate on the Member's ballot.  For example, in a race where three registered Democrats are running for two open seats, each Member's ballot must show the selection of only two candidates who are registered Democrats.

 

                        9.         Voting for candidates for endorsement shall be by rounds.  The first round shall include all candidates.  Those candidates receiving more than 60% of the votes cast will be endorsed by the Central Committee .The remaining candidates shall participate in the second round in which the Members will cast votes consistent with Section X.2.A.8. Those candidates receiving more than 60% of the votes will be endorsed by the Central Committee.  If no candidate receives more than 60% of the votes, the results will be recorded as “No Consensus”.  In such a case, the Central Committee may not make an endorsement, but it may take other actions the Central Committee deems appropriate to support Yolo County Democratic candidates without an official endorsement.

 

                        10.       Candidates must receive above 60% of the votes cast to receive an endorsement. “No Endorsement” shall be an option on each ballot and shall be counted toward the total. “Neutral” shall be an option on each ballot and shall be counted toward the total. If no candidate or candidates receive above the listed thresholds, the results will be recorded as “No Consensus.”

 

                        11.       Ballots shall be counted by at least two Members of the Committee. All ballots shall bear the name of the Member voting and be consistent with Section X.2.A.8.  Ballots inconsistent with Section X.2.A.8 shall be disregarded in voting and not considered. However, the Member casting the non-conforming ballot shall be given the opportunity to correct his or her ballot so that it is consistent with Section X.2.A.8 prior to the votes being counted. Ballots shall be only viewed by the Members charged with the vote count and after the votes are recorded, the ballots shall be destroyed and not disseminated to any other members.

 

                        12.       If a special election in Yolo County is called to take place within thirty day after the close to filing, the Executive Committee may endorse by a majority of two-thirds of eligible members voting for any Democrat who has filed for office, unless there is a scheduled meeting of this Committee prior to the election.

 

                        13.       No secret ballot(s) may be used during the endorsement process.

 

Section 3.

 

            All endorsements for State Democratic Party Office and ballot measures shall be conducted through submissions of a resolution in accordance with Article VI, Section 1H. For statewide ballot measures, this committee will adopt the position of the State Committee, unless the vote the State Committee votes to take “No Position”, at which point this Committee can vote to take a position.