Mission Statement
The mission of the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club (WDRC)
Electoral Action Committee (EAC) is to provide the endorsement
process for California candidates and propositions of interest
to and within the geographic reach of the WDRC. The endorsements
are based on the principles of the WDRC as stated in the
WDRC platform.
Endorsement Process
The process is used as a guide to the WDRC, in order to
make informed decisions about candidates and issues before
the voters.
EAC DECISIONS
All decisions are made by and become effective with a majority
vote of those present at EAC meetings. The EAC may decide
to take a vote via e-mail. If a vote is taken by e-mail,
the majority of those who vote will be the final decision
of the EAC.
The EAC will, for every election:
1. determine which electoral race(s), in its geographical
reach, to consider for endorsement
2. review the qualifications of all Democratic candidates
in the race(s) being considered for WDRC endorsement
3. review the qualifications
of any Democratic candidate a WDRC member recommends
(nominates & secures 10 votes
at a general WDRC meeting) for consideration
4. Send all of the selected candidates the letter inviting
them to request the Candidates? Questionnaire
5. Send the candidates the Questionnaire with a note stating
the deadline for returning the questionnaire, and that the
candidate can expect a reply from WDRC.
Actions
1. The EAC will send all Democratic candidate(s) in the
selected race(s) the Introduction Letter.
2. When a member of the WDRC wants the WDRC to endorse a
candidate not within the geographic reach of the WDRC, the
EAC will send the Introduction Letter to that candidate.
3. After the EAC receives the requests from the candidate(s)
for a
WDRC endorsement, the EAC will forward those candidates?
the Questionnaire.
4. When the EAC gets the Questionnaire back from the Candidate(s),
the EAC will review the Questionnaires and send them to the
CC with EAC recommendations.
Time Line
A. Primary elections
Nine (9) months before a primary election the EAC will meet
to review the known candidates and issues.
B. Elections
1. Primary Elections
a) After a primary election, if the endorsed candidate wins,
the EAC?s work is complete for that race and the WDRC endorsement
process continues for the general election.
b) If the endorsed candidate does not win the primary, the
EAC will repeat the endorsement process using the Questionnaires
it has in hand or send new ones to any Democratic candidate
who did not receive one for the primary election.
2. General Elections
The endorsement process as stated above is used.
3. After the
endorsement process is completed, the EAC work
shifts to voter registration (VR) and get out the vote (GOTV)
activities, i.e., precinct work, phone-banking, etc.
C. Special Elections
1. If a special election is called, the EAC will meet to
review the candidates and issues.
2. As appropriate, the EAC may then implement the endorsement
process.
CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS
There are three (3) categories of candidates, each with
explicit requirements in order to earn an endorsement.
Generally, for a candidate to be considered for WDRC endorsement
the following rules apply; requirements vary, as shown, below:
1. The candidate must return a completed Candidate Questionnaire
to the EAC within the established time line.
2. The invited
candidate must appear in person at the WDRC
endorsement meeting. If the candidate cannot appear due to
scheduling problems, health reasons, or other unavoidable
absence, the EAC will consider whether another person may
represent the candidate at the endorsement meeting.
3. Candidates
are grouped in three categories, to identify
the requirements to qualify for a WDRC endorsement.
Category 1 Candidates for the following offices are eligible
for endorsement without a) completing the Candidate Questionnaire
or b) attending the WDRC endorsement meeting:
US President
US Senate
California State Constitutional Offices
Governor
Lt Governor
Secretary of State
Attorney General
Insurance Commissioner
Superintendent of Public Education
Controller
Treasurer
Category 2 Candidates who are outside of the WDRC geographic
reach. Candidates for the following offices are eligible
for endorsement if a) they complete and return the Candidate
Questionnaire, but b) they are not required to attend the
endorsement meeting:
U.S. Congress
State Senate
State Assembly
Category 3 Candidates who are within the WDRC geographic
reach. Candidates for the following offices are eligible
for endorsement if a) they complete and return the Candidate
Questionnaire, and b) they attend the WDRC endorsement meeting:
U.S. Congress
State Senate
State Assembly
Local Races
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