As 2019 draws to a close, the time has arrived to look forward to the 2020 Democratic Primary in March. Below, please find the information on how to get involved with the 2020 cycle as either a candidate seeking office or by applying to become a member of one of HCDP’s Nominating Committees.
If you wish to serve on Nominating Committee ahead of the 2020 primary, please read below and notify us of your interest by Friday, November 29th.
Regards,
Eddie Davenport
Executive Director
Hamilton County Democratic Party
Call for 2020 Candidates seeking endorsement
If you are a Democrat wishing to run for local office in 2020, please reach out to us here at HCDP and let us know! Email us at HCDP@hamiltoncountydems.org with subject line “2020 Candidacy” and let us know which office you are considering running for, and provide basic contact information (phone number, address, etc).
Candidates expressing interest will be sent a questionnaire in 2nd week of December. Any candidate not previously sent a questionnaire that submits valid petitions by the December filing deadline will have an endorsement questionnaire sent to them on December 19th, 2019.
Questionnaires are due back to the Hamilton County Democratic Party by email to HCDP@hamiltoncountydems.org by 11:59 PM on Tuesday, December 31st, 2019. Interviews will be scheduled for a date between January 4th and January 16th of 2020.
Any questions with the process should be directed to HCDP@hamiltoncountydems.org, or to HCDP Democratic Headquarters by phone at 513-421-0495.
Apply to Serve on a 2020 Nominating Committee
Endorsements will be done through three separate committees. A Judicial Nominating Committee, a County Nominating Committee, and a Congressional/Legislative Nominating Committee.
The Judicial Nominating Committee is chaired by Judicial Committee Co-Chairs Frmr. Judge Mariana Bettman and David Sturkey. This nominating committee has already completed its selection process and call for candidates seeking endorsement. The Judicial Nominating Committee is currently working to complete its process of interviewing candidates before making its endorsement recommendations to the HCDP Executive Committee on November the 23rd.
The County Nominating Committee will be chaired by HCDP Chairwoman Gwen McFarlin and HCDP Officer Britt Born. This Nominating Committee will handle endorsements for our Hamilton County Executive offices including Sheriff, Prosecutor, Clerk of Courts, County Commission, and other county-wide offices.
Congressional/Legislative Nominating committee will be chaired by HCDP First Executive Vice Chair Alex Linser and HCDP Officer Mayor Chuck Johnson. This nominating committee will handle endorsements for our Congressional races, as well as our State House and State Senate races.
If you wish to be considered to serve on either nominating committee, please email HCDP@hamiltoncountydems.org by 5:00 pm on Friday, November 29th.
In that email, use subject line “2020 Nominating Committee” and please include the following information:
- Your name, phone number, and personal email address.
- Which nominating committee you would like to serve on.
- Your past involvement with the Hamilton County Democratic Party (committees, campaigns, etc).
- Brief paragraph of why you should be selected to serve on a HCDP nominating committee.
- Any declarations of support (whether by donation, your position on campaign/host committee, or other means) you have made for a candidate in their campaign building towards a 2020 election.
The selection of applicants to become members of a specific Nominating Committee will follow the rules as dictated by the “Hamilton County Democratic Party Nomination/Recommendation Ground Rules” that were discussed at the HCDP Executive Committee on July 20th, 2019 by former Vice Chair Janaya Trotter Bratton. Those rules can be found at the bottom of this email.
The deadline to apply for a nominating committee consideration is Friday, November 29th at 5:00 PM. Applicant consideration will occur as applications are made aware to the co-chairs with the final selection of each nominating committee occurring by December 5th. Committees will then convene to discuss further timelines and meeting requirements.
Questions pertaining to the selection process can be directed to HCDP@hamiltoncountydems.org or by calling the Hamilton County Democratic Party Headquarters at 513-421-0495.
How Are Committee Members chosen?
- All Precinct Executives should be notified when a Committee is formed and given the opportunity to apply.
- You must be a registered Democrat with the Board of Elections to serve on a Nominating Committee, with preference given to Precinct Executives and members of Executive Committee.
Voter registration records will be examined prior to appointment on a committee!
- Every effort will be made to have the process of choosing Committee members transparent to the organization as a whole.
- The Committee Co-Chairs will endeavor to make the committee representative of the demographics of the Party & City/County.
- Representation includes taking into consideration Minorities, Women, LGBTQ Community, Labor, and Geography.
- NOTE: Judicial Committee must include at least some non-lawyers, preferably with Court experience.
- The Committee Co-Chairs will recruit people based on representation needs.
- The Co-Chairs will consider an individual’s activity level in the party, including attendance at regular CDC and HCDP meetings.
- Elected officials and/or anyone running for office are unable to serve on the Nominating Committee for which their office falls under (i.e. State representative cannot serve on legislative nominating committee).
- This restriction does not include an office holders or candidates ability to serve on standing committees that are not nominating committees involving their office (i.e. Judicial Committee).
- Hamilton County Democratic Party Chair or Co-Chairs have final approval of any formed Nominating Committee.
Size of Nominating Committees
- 9 to 15 excluding Committee Co-Chairs for CDC Nominating Committees.
- 9 to 20 excluding Committee Co-Chairs for Judicial Nominating Committees.
- 9 to 15 excluding Committee Co-Chairs for all other HCDP Nominating Committees.
Conflict of Interest rule
- Campaign managers, candidates, candidate staff, and any individual who has publicly declared a preference for a candidate for office cannot be on the Nominating Committee that falls under the office the candidate is seeking. Publicly declared preference is defined as a person who has demonstrated vocal support for a specific candidate seeking endorsement for a current race, and their demonstrated support would give the appearance of impropriety and possibly affect the purpose of the committee to be fair and impartial to all candidates seeking endorsement.
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- Note: this restriction on publicly declared preference is limited to each current election cycle.
