The various nooks and crannies of the County Parties • Authorized by state law, with some requirements from the DPO • Terms must be no longer than 25 months • Elected PCPs elect officers • Appointed PCPs (those elected by the county party) join the elected PCPs to elect delegates, and vote on other matters • Send delegates and alternates to SCC and CD committees under a formula set by state law: Two delegates, plus one for each 15,000 registered Democrats • Delegates must be balanced by gender A little bit about the DNC … • Membership is approximately 450 • 250 elected by state, district, and other Democratic parties • 75 appointed by DNC Chair • Others appointed by allied organizations, such as NEA , DGA and DSCC • Terms are for four years • DNC normally meets twice a year, with one meeting in the DC area and the other elsewhere in the country • DNC regional caucuses meet once a year separately from the DNC … and Oregon’s role in it • The state chair and a vice chair of opposite gender are members of the DNC and of the Association of State Democratic Chairs (ASDC) • Oregon has three “regular” DNC members, elected for four-year terms during a presidential election year • Oregon has additional DNC members, appointed by the DNC Chair, or by Democratic groups • DNC rules require that elections for DNC members (including chair and vice chair) be on signed ballots • The DNC keeps a strong hand in the delegate selection process for the national convention The DPO • Authorized by state law, governed by its own bylaws and standing rules, with some requirements from the DNC • Must reorganize in the first quarter of the year after a general election • SCC made up of delegates sent from counties, officers, DNC members, representatives of the congressional districts and caucuses • Meets four times a year, with approximately half the meetings in the Portland area • SCC elects the chair, male and female vice chairs, and a secretary, for two-year terms • SCC members vote on resolutions, bylaws, standing rules, rules for conventions, and set DPO policies • SCC members elect 3 DNC members for four-year terms Admin and EC committees Administration Committee • Made up of officers, which include DNC members • It usually meets twice a month • It governs DPO on a day-to-day basis, and recommends changes in policy to the SCC Executive Committee • Consists of officers, DNC members, committee chairs, representatives of caucuses, representatives of the congressional district parties, representatives of the SCC, and any elected Democrat at the Legislature level or above • Meets on DPO conference call with county chairs each month, and as needed • Charged with electing a treasurer, approving budgets, making initial decisions on special group caucuses, electing temporary officers to fill vacancies, and acting in place of the SCC when necessary CD committees • Established by the DPO • Delegates are from counties within the congressional district, using the same formula set in state law for the SCC • Must reorganize in the first quarter of the year after a general election • Elect a chair, vice chair(s), secretary, and if wanted, a treasurer • Elect a representative to the SCC • Elect DPO standing committee members, with the participation of SCC members living in their congressional district Standing Committees • Budget Committee prepares a budget for the EC • Credentials Committee registers delegates for SCC and EC meetings, helps with other events, and helps conduct elections • Platform and Resolutions Committee handles resolutions and works to make the Platform Convention a success • Rules Committee maintains bylaws and standing rules, develops rules for conventions, and works with proposed special group caucuses • Local Events and State Fair Committee helps operate the booth at the State Fair, helps county parties with their local fairs, and helps counties with other events if needed • Standing committees often meet on SCC meeting weekends, but also meet separately during the year, depending on the task at hand Special Group Caucuses • The DPO has established several caucuses since the first one was established in 1997 • In order to be accepted, a proposed caucus must get a mission statement approved by the EC, have bylaws approved by the Rules Committee, and win approval by the SCC • Caucuses are required to have at least 30 members, meet at least semi-annually, and file a report of its activities with the DPO • As long as the caucus meets those requirements, it has a representative on the EC • If it cannot meet those requirements, the caucus loses its EC membership and is listed as inactive • The SCC may vote to eliminate a caucus Platform Conventions • Are held in the spring of an election year • Each county party has a delegate for each 1,000 Democrats, with a minimum of two delegates • Delegates create a platform and a list of legislative action items, starting with draft documents prepared by the Platform and Resolutions Committee • The SCC can make changes to the platform in between platform conventions Replacing legislators • In a replacement convention, the county parties in a district recommend 3-5 candidates to be selected by the county commissioners who cover the district • In a nomination convention, the county parties in a district elect a nominee to replace a Democratic candidate on the ballot • The conventions are usually chaired by the chair of the county party having the largest numbers of Democrats living in the district • There is no replacement convention process for constitutional officers • The DPO has a process for nominating constitutional and federal candidates, but it hasn’t been used since 1986 Democratic National Convention • The DPO will get instructions, rules and a sample delegate selection plan from the DNC in late 2018 • A final delegate selection plan will be sent to the DNC by May 2019 • The DNC will review the plan over the summer, and will give final approval and/or require changes by September 2019 • The DPO will do presentations and trainings on the plan through May 2020 • The filing deadline to participate at all levels, including running for delegate, will be around the time of the May 2020 primary • District and state conventions will be held in June 2020 • The national convention is usually held in early September Party time! The Oregon Summit • Is a party conference held in the fall of every odd-numbered year • It has always been held in central Oregon, with the last several years in Sunriver Wayne Morse Gala • Is the prime fundraising and social event for the DPO • It has been held in the Portland area in the spring of each year • The Wayne Morse Gala has been held in some capacity by the DPO dating back to 1975 Election stuff Coordinated Campaign • Is a consortium of Democratic campaigns and allied groups, financially administered by the DPO • Its main job is to boost voter turnout for all Democratic candidates Voter File • Is a system owned by the DNC, in partnership with the DPO and other states • It’s used to help campaigns, track voters, and help increase turnout • Each county has access to their county’s portion of the Voter File, and uses it to help local candidates • There are rules regarding access to the Voter File. Each county signs an agreement with the DPO concerning how it will be used www.dpo.org Has information about the DPO, including: • Contact information for leaders and staff • A calendar of events • Information about meetings • The Platform, and resolutions approved by the SCC • Bylaws and Standing Rules • Information about special events, such as conventions • News from the DPO and our elected Democrats .