How is the DNC Chair chosen?

[Seabiscuit]

Amidst all the discussion about Terry McAuliff and Howard Dean and the possibility of Dean taking over as Chairman of the DNC, I've been wondering: how is the DNC Chair chosen? Who chooses? Is there a vote? An appointment? Who, in the Democratic Party, decides who their leader will be? Is it done in in a secret DLC committee meeting?

Does anyone know?

I'm not being facetious. I'm truly ignorant on the subject. And I haven't located a thread on DU which addresses the question.

[MoonRiver]

1. I wish somebody knowledgeable would answer!

I'm not really sure, but I think there is some kind of chair committee. I remember a lot of acrimony over McAulliffe's nomination. Clinton pushed him through.

[Skink]

2. It involves Al From and some undercooked chicken...

:hurts:

[MoonRiver]

4. LOL!

[Seabiscuit]

7. Raises more questions. Who exactly is Al From and what exactly is

his function within the Democratic Party? What position does he hold in the DLC (Democratic Leadership Council)? And how exactly does his position in the DLC impact the DNC?

[scarletwoman]

16. Al From is the CEO of the DLC.

His "function" is to destroy the Democratic party from within.

This is an old article -- from 2000, before the election -- but it will spell it out for you fairly clearly:

Behind the DLC Takeover
http://www.progressive.org/nich1000.htm

sw

[Seabiscuit]

20. Thanks for the link. Great article - I'm reading it now.

[scarletwoman]

21. You're welcome! (n/t)

[Maat]

25. Thanks, Scarletwoman.

I just found your post.

Things have only gotten worse.

I've got to support the progressives. They will have to listen to us if they want our vote.

[janx]

3. I'm not terribly knowledgeable, but I do know that there is

a handful of DNC representatives from each state. Collectively, these people will come together from all of the states to elect the DNC chair.

Edit: So if you have a preference, you can let them know. To find out who they are, find your county Dem chair (probably available through a local web site) to find out.

[Seabiscuit]

5. So in your opinion the DNC Chair is "elected" by vote of County chairs

from each county in America? That's a lot of counties. How and where does this vote take place?

And if that's how it happens, how could, in the first responder's opinion, Clinton "push through" Terry McAuliff?

I'm still in the dark.

[janx]

12. No, not county chairs. As I said, there are DNC committee chair

people in each state. Those are the ones who elect the national chair. The vote is to take place in February, but I don't yet know where.

As for "pushing through" MacAuliffe--all kinds of people express their opinions to these committee people before the vote.

[Cheswick2.0]

6. Each state has commitee DNC members

Their are so many from each state and they come together to vote for Chairman. They are active democras involved in party organizing activity. They are sometimes also big donors to the party.

The DLC has nothing to do with is except for the financial and arms twisting power they can put on commitee members.
Somewhere on DU someone posted a list of all those commitee members.

The only power we have is to e-mail or write to members who do have a vote.

Here is the list from KOS.

Redding Pitt Montgomery, AL
Amy Burks Decatur, AL
Hon. Alvin Holmes Montgomery, AL
Hon. Yvonne Kennedy Mobile, AL
Joe Reed Montgomery, AL
Scott Sterling Anchorage, AK
Hon. John Davies Fairbanks, AK
Claudia Douglas Wasilla, AK
Cindy Spanyers Juneau, AK
Allimau Scanlan Pago Pago, AS
Deanna Fuimaono Pago Pago, AS
Fagafaga Langkilde Pago Pago, AS
Clara Reid Pago Pago, AS
Martin Bacal Tucson, AZ
Janice Brunson Paradise Valley, AZ
James Pederson Phoenix, AZ
Alexis Tameron Mesa, AZ
Sue Tucker Tuscon, AZ
Ron Oliver N. Little Rock, AR
Don Beavers N. Little Rock, AR
Karla Bradley Fayetteville, AR
Martha Dixon Arkadelphia, AR
Hon. Lottie Shackelford Little Rock, AR
Steven Alari Long Beach, CA
Jeremy Bernard Los Angeles, CA
Rachel Binah Little River, CA
Hon. Willie Brown San Francisco, CA
Hon. Yvonne Burke Marina Del Ray, CA
Michael Davis Los Angeles, CA
Mary Ellen Early Sherman Oaks, CA
Patricia Ford Washington, DC
Nely Galan Venice, CA
Alexandra Gallardo Rooker Paramount, CA
Inola Henry Los Angeles, CA
Hon. Mike Honda Washington, DC
Alice Huffman Sacramento, CA
Aleita Huguenin Rancho Murieta, CA
Hon. Carole Migden San Francisco, CA
Hon. Gloria Molina Los Angeles, CA
Bob Mulholland Chico, CA
Hon. Kevin Murray Sacramento, CA
Mona Pasquil Walnut Grove, CA
Christine Pelosi Washington, DC
Hon. Nancy Pelosi Washington, DC
Robert Rankin Carson, CA
Garry Shay Los Angeles, CA
Christopher Stampolis San Jose, CA
Hon. Art Torres San Francisco, CA
Norma Torres Pomona, CA
Keith Umemoto Sacramento, CA
Hon. Antonio Villaraigosa Los Angeles, CA
Hon. Maxine Waters Los Angeles, CA
Vernon Watkins Washington, DC
Hon. Diane Watson Washington, DC
Hon. Rosalind Wyman Los Angeles, CA
Steven Ybarra Sacramento, CA
Chris Gates Denver, CO
Andrew Boian Denver, CO
Julia Hicks Arvada, CO
Mary Alice Mandarich Denver, CO
Hon. Ramona Martinez Denver, CO
Jonathan Postal Denver, CO
Hon. Wellington Webb Denver, CO
Hon. George Jepsen Hartford, CT
Hon. Anthony Avallone Milford, CT
Bernice Bowman West Haven, CT
Ellen Camhi Stamford, CT
Martin Dunleavy Washington, DC
Mona Mohib Washington, DC
Dorothy Mrowka Colchester, CT
Phil Wheeler Middle Haddam, CT
Richard Bayard Wilmington, DE
Leah Betts Milton, DE
Bert DiClemente Greenville, DE
Karen Valentine Magnolia, DE
Morton Bahr Washington, DC
A. Scott Bolden Washington, DC
Donna Brazile Washington, DC
Mary Eva Candon Washington, DC
Yolanda Caraway Washington, DC
Arrington Dixon Washington, DC
Maria Echaveste Washington, DC
Patricia Elwood Washington, DC
Hartina Flournoy Washington, DC
Harold Ickes Washington, DC
Ben Johnson Washington, DC
Minyon Moore Washington, DC
Mirian Saez Washington, DC
Barbara Lett Simmons Washington, DC
Elizabeth Smith Washington, DC
Christine Warnke Washington, DC
James Zogby Washington, DC
Hon. Scott Maddox Tallahassee, FL
Hon. Clarence Anthony South Bay, FL
Jon Ausman Tallahassee, FL
Cathy Bartolotti Tampa, FL
Terrie Brady Jacksonville, FL
Mitchell Ceasar Plantation, FL
Hon. Joyce Cusack DeLand, FL
Diane Glasser Tamarac, FL
Chuck Mohlke Naples, FL
Lula Rodriguez Key Biscayne, FL
Andrew Tobias Washington, DC
Hon. Diana Wasserman-Rubin Southwest Ranches, FL
Ashley Bell Gainesville, GA
Carole Dabbs Kennesaw, GA
Hattie Dorsey Atlanta, GA
Hon. Shirley Franklin Atlanta, GA
Robert Kahn Marietta, GA
Herb Mabry Atlanta, GA
Richard Ray Atlanta, GA
Benjamin J. F. Cruz Piti, GU
Isabel S. A. (Becky) Lujan Barrigada, GU
Michael Phillips Hagatna, GU
Taling Taitano Barrigada, GU
Brickwood Galuteria Honolulu, HI
Stephanie Ohigashi Wailuku, HI
M.Dolly Strazar Hilo, HI
Hon. John Waihee Honolulu, HI
Hon. Carolyn Boyce Boise, ID
Hon. Gail Bray Boise, ID
Hon. Edgar Malepeai Pocatello, ID
Peter Richardson Boise, ID
Willie Barrow Chicago, IL
Margaret Blackshere Niles, IL
Joseph Cari Chicago, IL
Hon. Cardiss Collins Alexandria, VA
Maria Garcia Aurora, IL
Hon. Constance Howard Chicago, IL
Hon. Thomas Hynes Chicago, IL
Hon. Emil Jones Chicago, IL
Thomas Lakin Wood River, IL
Hon. Michael Madigan Springfield, IL
Hon. Iris Martinez Chicago, IL
Hon. John Rednour DuQuoin, IL
Edward Smith Springfield, IL
Phoebe Crane Whitestown, IN
Cordelia Lewis Burks Indianapolis, IN
Robert Pastrick E. Chicago, IN
Mary Lou Terrell Vincennes, IN
Kipper Tew Indianapolis, IN
Terry Thurman Indianapolis, IN
Hon. Chet Culver Des Moines, IA
Gordon Fischer Des Moines, IA
Hon. Michael Fitzgerald Des Moines, IA
Pat Marshall Cedar Rapids, IA
Hon. Tom Miller Des Moines, IA
Hon. Sally Pederson Des Moines, IA
Ken Rains Des Moines, IA
Julianne Thomas Cedar Rapids, IA
Hon. Tom Vilsack Des Moines, IA
Chris Gallaway Alexandria, VA
Lawrence Gates Overland Park, KS
Teresa Krusor Winfield, KS
Larry Tenopir Topeka, KS
Constance Wray Louisburg, KS
Moretta Bosley Owensboro, KY
Bill Garmer Frankfort, KY
Terry McBrayer Lexington, KY
Kerry Morgan Bowling Green, KY
Jo Etta Wickliffe Harrodsburg, KY
Patsy Arceneaux Baton Rouge, LA
Hon. John Breaux Washington, DC
Hon. Renee Gill Pratt New Orleans, LA
Jerry McKernan Baton Rouge, LA
Mike Skinner Baton Rouge, LA
Mary Lou Winters Metarie, LA
Dorothy Melanson Falmouth, ME
William Bryan Bowdoinham, ME
David Garrity Portland, ME
Hon. Dale McCormick Augusta, ME
Gwethalyn Phillips Bangor, ME
Thomas Buffenbarger Brookeville, MD
Alvaro Cifuentes Washington, DC
Maria Cordone Upper Marlboro, MD
Hon. Elijah Cummings Washington, DC
John Gage Washington, DC
Janice Griffin Arlington, VA
Hon. Sue Hecht Frederick, MD
Weldon Latham Washington, DC
Hon. Isiah "Ike" Leggett Annapolis, MD
Belkis (Bel) Leong-Hong Gaithersburg, MD
Richard Michalski Upper Marlboro, MD
Glenard Middleton Baltimore, MD
Hon. Thomas "Mike" Miller Clinton, MD
Mary Jo Neville Dayton, MD
R. Scott Pastrick Washington, DC
Hon. Gregory Pecoraro Westminster, MD
Carol Pensky Washington, DC
Michael Steed Washington, DC
John Sweeney Washington, DC
Beatrice Tignor Upper Malboro, MD
Susan Turnbull Bethesda, MD
Philip Johnston Boston, MA
Virginia Allan Hull, MA
Clinton Bench Swampscott, MA
Hon. Raymond Jordan Springfield, MA
Elaine Kamarck New York, NY
Hon. William Keating Sharon, MA
Debra Kozikowski Chicopee, MA
David O'Brien Concord, MA
James Roosevelt Cambridge, MA
Alan Solomont Newton, MA
Margaret Xifaras Marion, MA
Mark Brewer Clinton Twp., MI
Arthenia Abbott Lansing, MI
Lu Battaglieri E. Lansing, MI
Elizabeth Bunn Detroit, MI
Debbie Dingell Dearborn, MI
Joel Ferguson Lansing, MI
Melvin "Butch" Hollowell Detroit, MI
Hon. Kwame Kilpatrick Detroit, MI
Joyce Lalonde Eastpointe, MI
Hon. Christina Montague Ann Arbor, MI
Erin Parsons-Wright Lansing, MI
Jeffrey Radjewski Chesterfield Twp., MI
Virgie Rollins Detroit, MI
Richard Shoemaker Detroit, MI
Jim Sype Okemos, MI
Richard Wiener Lansing, MI
Tarryl Clark St. Paul, MN
Mike Erlandson Minneapolis, MN
Ken Foxworth Minneapolis, MN
Greg Knutson Grove City, MN
Sarah Lewerenz Duluth, MN
Jackie Stevenson Minneapolis, MN
Hon. Harvey Johnson Jackson, MS
Johnnie Patton Jackson, MS
Carnelia Pettis Fondren Oxford, MS
Hon. William Wheeler Golden, MS
Doug Brooks Joplin, MO
Mark Bryant Kansas City, MO
Joe Carmichael Springfield, MO
Hon. Sharon Carpenter St. Louis, MO
Hon. Emanuel Cleaver Kansas City, MO
Sandra Querry Lee's Summit, MO
Hon. May Scheve Reardon St. Louis, MO
Hon. Bob Ream Helena, MT
Carol Juneau Browning, MT
Jean Lemire Dahlman Forsyth, MT
Hon. Ed Tinsley Helena, MT
Steven Achelpohl Omaha, NE
Bill Avery Lincoln, NE
Kathleen Fahey Omaha, NE
Cynthia LaMere S. Sioux City, NE
Frank LaMere S. Sioux City, NE
Hon. Yvonne Gates Las Vegas, NV
Steven Horsford Las Vegas, NV
Adriana Martinez Las Vegas, NV
Hon. Dina Titus Las Vegas, NV
Brian Wallace Gardnerville, NV
Kathleen Sullivan Manchester, NH
Hon. Raymond Buckley Manchester, NH
Gaetan DiGangi Merrimack, NH
Anita Freedman Portsmouth, NH
Mario Baeza Englewood, NJ
Tonio Burgos New York, NY
Hon. Joseph Cryan Union, NJ
Alfred DeCotiis Teaneck, NJ
Hon. June Fischer Scotch Plains, NJ
Hon. Douglas Palmer Trenton, NJ
Hon. Joseph Roberts Camden, NJ
Christine "Roz" Samuels Montclair, NJ
Hon. Bonnie Watson Coleman Trenton, NJ
George "Jeep" Gilliland Albuquerque, NM
Mary Gail Gwaltney Las Cruces, NM
Hon. Patricia Madrid Albuquerque, NM
Gloria Nieto Santa Fe, NM
Bill Richardson Santa Fe, NM
Annadelle Sanchez Espanola, NM
John Wertheim Albuquerque, NM
Donald Afflick Bronx, NY
Hon. Dominic Baranello Blue Point, NY
Eugene Callendar New York, NY
Hon. Vivian Cook Jamaica, NY
Hon. Inez Dickens New York, NY
Hon. Herman Farrell New York, NY
Emily Giske New York, NY
Hon. Judith Hope East Hampton, NY
Denise King Chatham, NY
Maria Luna New York, NY
Hon. Thomas Manton Astoria, NY
Dennis Mehiel New York, NY
Hon. Clarence Norman Brooklyn, NY
Hon. Roberto Ramirez New York, NY
Hon. Marguerite Relin Rochester, NY
Jeffrey Soref New York, NY
Marianne Spraggins Atlanta, GA
Irene Stein Ithaca, NY
Sylvia Tokasz Depew, NY
Randi Weingarten New York, NY
Maureen White New York, NY
Robert Zimmerman Great Neck, NY
Barbara Allen Raleigh, NC
Jeanette Council Fayetteville, NC
Hon. Joycelyn Johnson Winston-Salem, NC
Jerry Meek Raleigh, NC
Muriel Offerman Cary, NC
David Parker Statesville, NC
Everett Ward Wake Forest, NC
Tom Dickson Bismark, ND
Hon. Jim Maxson Minot, ND
Renee Pfenning Bismarck, ND
Mary Wakefield Grand Forks, ND
Denny White Columbus, OH
William Burga Columbus, OH
Hon. Jane Campbell Cleveland, OH
Enid Goubeaux Greenville, OH
Lloyd Mahaffey Maumee, OH
Hon. Mark Mallory Columbus, OH
Ronald Malone Columbus, OH
Hon. Rhine McLin Dayton, OH
Patricia Moss Columbus, OH
Hon. Stephanie Tubbs Jones Cleveland, OH
Hon. Mary Ellen Withrow Bethesda, MD
Jay Parmley Norman, OK
Jim Frasier Tulsa, OK
Debbe Leftwich Oklahoma City, OK
Betty McElderry Purcell, OK
Mary Botkin Portland, OR
Hon. Kate Brown Portland, OR
Jim Edmunson Eugene, OR
Wayne Kinney LaGrande, OR
Gail Rasmussen Eagle Point, OR
Meredith Wood Smith Portland, OR
Rena Baumgartner Kunkletown, PA
Anna Burger Washington, DC
Carol Ann Campbell Philadelphia, PA
Hon. Ronald Donatucci Philadelphia, PA
William George Harrisburg, PA
John Karoly Allentown, PA
Leon Lynch Pittsburgh, PA
Hon. Sophie Masloff Pittsburgh, PA
Gerald McEntee Washington, DC
Hon. Jean Milko Pittsburgh, PA
Ian Murray Erie, PA
Evelyn Richardson Pittsburgh, PA
Hon. T.J. Rooney Harrisburg, PA
Hon. Ruth Rudy Centre Hall, PA
Patricia Scarcelli Washington, DC
C. Delores Tucker Silver Spring, MD
Hon. Roberto Prats San Juan, PR
Celita Arroyo de Roques San Juan, PR
Hon. Kenneth McClintock Cidra, PR
Hon. Charles Fogarty Harmony, RI
William Lynch Pawtucket, RI
Edna O'Neill Mattson N. Kingstown, RI
Edward McElroy Washington, DC
Hon. Frank Montanaro Cranston, RI
Hon. Eleanor Slater East Greenwich, RI
Mark Weiner Cranston, RI
Hon. Gilda Cobb-Hunter Orangeburg, SC
Joe Erwin Greenville, SC
Donald Fowler Columbia, SC
Waring Howe Charleston, SC
Carol Khare Columbia, SC
Bernice Scott Gadsen, SC
Hon. Thomas Daschle Washington, DC
Judy Olson Duhamel Rapid City, SD
Dennis Langley Rapid City, SD
Hon. Nick Nemec Holabird, SD
Sharon Stroschein Mansfield, SD
Randy Button Kingston, TN
Will Cheek Nashville, TN
Inez Crutchfield Nashville, TN
Hon. Lois DeBerry Nashville, TN
Jimmie Farris Memphis, TN
Hon. Myron Lowery Memphis, TN
Hon. William Owen Knoxville, TN
Charles Soechting Austin, TX
Linda Chavez-Thompson Washington, DC
Blanche Darley El Paso, TX
Hon. Yvonne Davis Dallas, TX
Hon. Al Edwards Houston, TX
Jaime Gonzalez McAllen, TX
Gabrielle Hadnot Houston, TX
David Holmes Austin, TX
Hon. Eddie Bernice Johnson Washington, DC
Hon. Ron Kirk Dallas, TX
Hon. Iris Lawrence Amarillo, TX
Sue Lovell Houston, TX
Hon. Ed Miller Texarkana, TX
Hon. Carroll Robinson Houston, TX
Bob Slagle Sherman, TX
Hon. Oscar Soliz Corpus Christi, TX
Rosa Walker Austin, TX
Donald Dunn Salt Lake City, UT
Jim Humlicek Salt Lake City, UT
Mary Palley Logan, UT
Nancy Jane Woodside Provo, UT
Scudder Parker Montpelier, VT
Linda Almy Underhill Center, VT
Deb Markowitz Montpelier, VT
Chuck Ross Hinesburg, VT
Allison Sultan Montpelier, VT
Carmen Gonzalez St. Croix, VI
Maria "Chi-Chi" Heywood St. Croix, VI
Derek Hodge St. Thomas, VI
Hon. James O'Bryan St. Thomas, VI
Hon. Kerry Donley Alexandria, VA
Barbara Easterling Alexandria, VA
Hon. Alexis Herman Washington, DC
Hon. Jerrauld Jones Norfolk, VA
Miguel Lausell Washington, DC
Daniel LeBlanc Richmond, VA
Terence McAuliffe Washington, DC
Jennifer McClellan Richmond, VA
Mame Reiley Alexandria, VA
Susan Swecker Richmond, VA
Paul Berendt Seattle, WA
Charlotte Coker Spokane, WA
Ed Cote Vancouver, WA
Hon. Gary Locke Olympia, WA
Karen Marchioro Bellevue, WA
David McDonald Seattle, WA
Hon. Ron Sims Seattle, WA
Ya-Yue Van Indianapolis, IN
Jim Bowen Charleston, WV
Nick Casey Charleston, WV
Alice Germond Washington, DC
Emilie Holroyd Princeton, WV
Marie Prezioso Charleston, WV
Linda Honold Milwaukee, WI
Stan Gruszynski Green Bay, WI
Ken Opin Madison, WI
Mary Rasmussen Boyceville, WI
Tim Sullivan Verona, WI
Paula Zellner Shawano, WI
Hon. Mike Gierau Jackson, WY
Hon. George Bagby Rawlins, WY
Nancy Drummond Sheridan, WY
Vickie Goodwin Douglas, WY
Rachelle Valladares United Kingdom
Peter Alegi Italy
Robert Bell Canada
Lois Grjebine France
Christine Schon Marques Switzerland
John McCreery Japan
Ruth McCreery Japan
Ronald Schlundt Armed Forces Abroad

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/11/11/203150/32

[Seabiscuit]

8. You seem to be saying something similar to poster #3.

How, when and where exactly does all of this happen? Does anyone know?

And how does the DLC engage in "financial and arms twisting power they can put on comittee members"?

[Cheswick2.0]

11. read my last post for edit

How does any money organization twist arms? The DLC takes corporate money and funnels it to democrats who agree to do the corporations bidding. If you are Tom Vilsack and you have taken XXXXX dollars from the DLC and they have helped you get elected by making sure other players got their people to back you........... well then eventually they are going to call in their chips. "Want more money Tom? Want to make sure Joe Blow doesn't switch his support from you to Bob Smith, then you vote for (for instance) Harold Ickes for Chairman".
This is how politics works.

[janx]

15. Note:

Cheswick posted some great information about who these people are in each state. But be careful to verify these on a local level in your state before you write to them with your recommendations, because some of them in fact might change. (There's supposed to be some kind of possible change in my state of Colorado, for instance, before February. I was cautioned about this at our last DFA Meetup.)

So double check through your state or county Dem party before you write letters.

[otohara]

17. Thanks For Posting This

I will gather the names and e-mails for CO and send to friends

[scarletwoman]

18. Thanks for posting the list!

I was trying to find it, now you saved me the trouble! :D

sw

[Algorem]

9. they label a golf ball "corporate cash" and see who can suck it through a

garden hose?

[Seabiscuit]

24. LOL!! McAuliff must have won it that way last time around. :)

[Orangepeel]

10. Ironically, the official Democratic party is run like a republic.

Members of the DNC vote for the chair. Members of the DNC are elected. How they are elected varies from state to state.

In Florida, members of the DNC include certain automatic members (e.g., federally elected Democrats) and people elected to represent Florida by State Committeemen and State Committeewomen.

State Committeemen and women are also elected. There is one of each representing each county in the state. At the state level, they have weighted votes depending on a complex formula determined by population of the county and the percentage of the population voting Democratic in the last presidential election.

State Committeemen and women are elected by precinct men and women in each county. New ones need to be elected in early December. The precinct men and women (one from each precinct, unless there are more than 1000 registered dems in the precinct and then there are two of each) were elected during the Democratic primary on Sept. 30.

So, you had a chance to pick your precinct man and woman in the primary. You even could have run to be one yourself. They have a chance to pick their state committeeman and woman in December. These people then have a chance to pick the DNC members who will pick the DNC chair.

[Seabiscuit]

13. Thank you all for your input so far...

I'm beginning to grasp something about it.

Related question: if someone like Howard Dean has ambitions to become DNC Chair, what must he do and how does he go about "campaigning" for that position?

[janx]

19. Well Howard Dean is in a unique position...

He'll have *many* regular citizens doing that for him, should he decide to run. ;-)

But just remember that the vote is ultimately up to those DNC representatives from the various states. A lot can be done to influence their votes, and you can be sure that all kinds of things will happen in that department.

The DNC chair candidates are in Orlando today, appearing before all of those DNC state representatives who are on the committee to select the new chair. This is the beginning of it.

Edit: *IF* Howard Dean decides he wants to run for DNC chair, I will contact my state/county Dems to find out where to send my letters. And then I will send them.

[scarletwoman]

14. Here's the deal...

There are 440 DNC delegates that vote for the DNC chair. These delegates are either elected or chosen from each state. The number of delegates per state is determined by the voting population.

In my own state, Minnesota, our DNC delegates are elected by all the party delegates at our state convention. The delegates to the state convention are elected out of the caucus system, which begins at the precinct level.

So our Minnesota DNC delegates come out of the grassroots of the state party organization. This is true for a few other states, but certainly not all.

In other states, the DNC delegates are chosen by their state party officers, so there's not the same sort of direct input from the rank and file.

Contact your state's party organization to find out who your state's DNC delegates are.

DailyKos had a list up a few weeks ago of all the DNC delegates by state, but I haven't tried to look for it recently. It may still be posted in one of the Kos diaries or the dKosopedia.

I also posted the list here, but that long ago went into the archives. I'll see if I can find it...

sw

on edit -- I see that Cheswick has already posted the list, YAY!

[MaineDem]

22. The DNC meeting is Feb 10-12

All the DNC members will gather to vote for their Chairperson.

The list of members from Kos is out-of-date.

The meeting being held in FL now is for the Association of State Democratic Chairs. These people are mebers of the DNC but this is not a DNC meeting.

Most state party websites list the DNC members. The State Party Chair and Vice Chair are also DNC members.

According to the Bylaws of the Party -
Section 2. The Democratic National Committee shall be composed of:
(a) the Chairperson and the highest ranking officer of the opposite sex of each recognized state Democratic Party;
(b) two hundred additional members apportioned to the states on the basis set forth in Article Two, Section 5(a) of the Charter, consistent with the full participation goals of Sections 3 and 4 of Article Eight of the Charter; provided that each state shall have at least two such additional members;
(c) the Chairperson of the Democratic Governors' Association and two additional governors, of whom, to the extent possible, at least one shall be of the opposite sex of the Chairperson, as selected by
the Association;
(d) the Democratic Leader in the United States Senate and the Democratic Leader in the United States House of Representatives and one additional member of each body, who, to the extent possible, shall be of the opposite sex of, and appointed by, the respective leaders;
(e) the Chairperson, the five Vice Chairpersons, the National Finance Chair, the Treasurer, and the Secretary of the DNC;
(f) the Chairperson of the National Conference of Democratic Mayors and two additional mayors, at least one of whom shall be of the opposite sex of the Chairperson, as selected by the Conference;
(g) the President of the Young Democrats of America and two additional members, at least one of whom shall be of the opposite sex as the President, as selected by the organization biennially in
convention assembled;
(h) the Chairperson of the Democratic County Officials and two additional county officials, at least one of whom shall be of the opposite sex as the Chairperson, as selected by the organization;
(i) the Chairperson of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee and two additional state legislators, at least one of whom shall be of the opposite sex as the Chairperson, as selected by the Committee;
(j) the Chairperson of the National Democratic Municipal Officials Conference and two additional municipal officials, at least one of whom shall be of the opposite sex as the Chairperson, as selected by the Conference;
(k) the President of the National Federation of Democratic Women and two additional members selected by the Federation;
(l) the President of the College Democrats of America and the Vice President, who shall be of the opposite sex, as elected by the organization annually;
(m) the Chairperson of the National Association of Democratic State Treasurers and the Vice Chair who shall be of the opposite sex, as selected by the Association;
(n) the Chairperson of the National Association of Democratic Lieutenant Governors and the Vice Chair who shall be of the opposite sex, as selected by the Association;
(o) the Chairperson of the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State and the Vice Chair who shall be of the opposite sex, as selected by the Association;
(p) the Chairperson of the Democratic Attorneys General Association and one additional attorney general who shall be of the opposite sex of the Chairperson, as selected by the Association;
(q) the Chairperson of the National Democratic Ethnic Coordinating Committee, who is not otherwise a member of the Democratic National Committee and one additional member, who shall be of the
opposite sex, as selected by the Coordinating Committee;
(r) the Chairperson of the National Democratic Seniors Coordinating Council, who is not otherwise a member of the Democratic National Committee and one additional member, who shall be of the
opposite sex, as selected by the Coordinating Council;
(s) additional members as provided in Article Nine of this Charter.

No more than seventy-five additional members of the Democratic National Committee may be added by the foregoing members.


The Bylaws can be found here: http://a9.g.akamai.net/7/9/8082/v002/www.democrats.org/pdfs/charter.pdf

[Seabiscuit]

23. Thanks again to all - I think I get it now.

[Rhiannon12866]

26. I don't know, either, so am grateful that you asked

I was thinking that Howard Dean would be the obvious choice, especially since he also wants the job, but I guess that it's much more complicated than this. I just hope that they make the intelligent and right decision, but I think that Dean would be the best choice.:shrug:

[Pepperbelly]

27. The Democratic National Committee votes and decides. nt

[formernaderite]

28. I thought it was the super delegates who got to vote...

...maybe I'm wrong, but that's what I recall.