Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party

The caucus and convention process provides Minnesotans with an excellent opportunity to become actively involved with their local DFL Party unit and participate at the most grassroots level of democracy.
 
The DFL Party uses precinct caucuses and conventions to endorse candidates, and debate and set the issues the Party will stand for.  The caucus and convention process sets the framework for the DFL Party by helping shape the platform and Action Agenda, selecting candidates who will receive endorsements, electing party leaders, and voting on the party constitution and bylaws.

These meetings are are a great way to get involved in the democratic process and make your voice heard -- even if you've never attended before. Browse through this section of the website for more information, or please contact us with any questions you have on how to participate.

General Tasks at Caucuses and Conventions:

• Election of local area, organizing unit, congressional district, and state DFL Party Leadership
• Election of delegates and alternates to the next level of conventions in the DFL structure
• Discussion of proposed resolutions to the DFL platform and Action Agenda
• Candidate endorsements
• Deliberation of Proposed Amendments to County Unit, Senate District, Congressional District, State DFL Constitutions

The Four Levels of Caucuses and Conventions of the DFL Party:

Precinct Caucuses

The precinct is the first level of the DFL Party structure. A precinct is comprised of the voting precinct which can be a township, an entire town, or a voting precinct within a larger community.

The precinct caucuses are a foundational pillar to the DFL Party's grassroots history because all Minnesota constituents have the ability to participate at this level.

Important Caucus Tasks:

Those in attendance have to opportunity to speak with city, county, and congressional district candidates, participate in a preferential straw ballot, and compose resolutions that have the potential to be forwarded to their local unit conventions and the state convention for deliberation for acceptance to the official DFL Ongoing Platform and Action Agenda.

Have a scheduling conflict on caucus night? Know your rights:

Minnesota Statutes Section 202A.19 permits Minnesota residents to take time off from work without pay to attend precinct caucuses provided they give their employer written notice at least 10 days in advance.
State universities, community colleges, and public schools may not hold classes or events after 6:00 p.m. on the evening of precinct caucuses. State agencies, school boards, county boards, township boards, city councils and all other political subdivisions may not conduct meetings after 6:00 p.m. on caucus night.

Still have questions? Here is an Informational Precinct Caucus Handout (pdf).

Organizing Unit Conventions

The Organizing Unit is the second level of the DFL Party structure. Delegates are elected to their Organizing Unit conventions at their local precinct caucuses. Then, these delegates will endorse candidates for the state legislature and choose delegates to move on to the state and congressional district conventions.

Organizing Units may be based on county, senate district or house district boundaries. In larger counties such as Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, St. Louis, Scott, Stearns, Washington, and Wright, most Organizing Units are full Senate Districts. In these areas, the Organizing Unit and Senate District conventions are combined into one convention that both endorses legislative candidates and handles other party business. In areas where Organizing Units aren't full Senate Districts, separate conventions are held to endorse candidates. (The different Organizing Units are defined in the Article V of the DFL Constitution.)

Like at the state party level, organizing unit and senate district conventions are generally held on even-numbered years, with a few exceptions. The organizing unit central and executive committees are the governing bodies of the organizing unit between conventions.

Organzing Unit/Senate District Convention Tasks: 

• To endorse candidates for State Senate and House
• To conduct local party unit business
• To present and consider platform resolutions

Congressional District Conventions

The congressional district, an area established by law for the election of representatives to the U.S. Congress, is the third level in the DFL Party structure. The boundaries of congressional districts are determined by State legislature and are dependent on the population of the state and the number of U.S. representative seats given to Minnesota. In general, each congressional district is to be as equal in population to all other congressional districts in the State.

Between conventions, the congressional district central and executive committees are the governing bodies of a congressional district party unit. On even numbered years, Congressional district conventions are held with delegates who have been elected at the DFL organizing unit conventions.

Congressional District Convention Tasks:

• To endorse Minnesota candidates for U.S. Congress
• Elect members to State Commissions and committees for the State Convention

State Convention

The State Convention is the supreme governing body of the Minnesota DFL Party. At the State Convention, Party members: 

• Endorse candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state and state auditor, and U.S. Senate. 
• Elect DFL Party officers 
• Present and deliberate proposals to the State DFL Constitution and Bylaws 
• Consider proposed resolutions to the DFL Platform and Action Agenda

State Conventions are held on even-numbered years with over 1,300 voting delegates in attendance. The convention is open to the public, and is held in different parts of the state every two years. The State Central Committee is the governing body of the party between conventions.

Every four years, delegates at the State Convention also elect at-large representatives to serve on the Democratic National Committee along with the state party chair and associate chair.

Want to know what happens after the caucus and convention process? Beyond the Conventions (pdf)