We Need to Reclaim the Primary Process

[MineralMan]

55. The Primary Process Isn't Just for the Presidential Election.

Primary elections are for every office, including state and national legislative offices. The primary process really begins at least a year ahead of the primary election. That means that the 2014 primary process is already underway. Potential candidates are making decisions whether or not to run, and those who are planning to run are already organizing their campaign resources and lining up contributors.

The Presidential election is important, of course, but it is those legislative and local elections that really make a difference, right where you live. In fact, state legislators are the primary pool where candidates for Congress are developed.

In Minnesota, where we use a combination of caucuses and primary elections, people involved in politics are already working on the 2014 election. For example, precinct and district level party members are querying people thinking about running and encouraging people to actually run. Then, once candidates have stated their intent, they begin contacting party members who are active in the caucus system to ask for support. In non-caucus states, the same principle applies to local party organizations.

It is a terrible mistake to focus mainly on the Presidential primaries. Individuals can do very little to influence those. But, for your state legislators and members of Congress, individuals can have a real impact.

2014 is just around the corner. The people who are actively participating right now will be the ones who determine who will be running in 2014 primaries.

Get involved in your local Democratic Party organization, and you can be a participant in this process. And then:

GOTV 2014!