Democratic Delegates

Posted on Tuesday, February 19, 2008

The process used by the South Dakota Democratic Party to pick national convention delegates starts early next month. Party Executive Director Rick Hauffe (HAW'-fee) says the first step will be at legislative district caucuses on March 8th. Delegates chosen there go to a state caucus later in March. Of the 23 delegates to the national convention, seven are members of Congress, state party leaders and others called superdelegates. Ten will be determined by the results of the June 3rd primary election, and the other six are chosen by the party's central committee in late June. Hauffe says the state delegation has to follow national party rules in its makeup. It must be balanced in gender and have delegates who represent American Indians, the disabled, gays and lesbians, and young voters.