To receive the support from the San Diego County Democratic Party, a candidate or ballot measure must first obtain a formal endorsement. The County Party's process is detailed in our Bylaws; this page provides an overview. 

The San Diego County Democratic Party (SDCDP) endorses candidates for nonpartisan elective offices and ballot measures within San Diego County. Those include county, municipal, educational, judicial, and special districts (e.g., water boards). Endorsements for federal or state-level offices, as well as statewide ballot measures, are made by the California Democratic Party, as set forth in their Bylaws.  ​

Endorsements by the County Party

Endorsements are voted on by members of the SDCDP's Central Committee, most of whom are directly elected by Democratic voters in each presidential primary election. Prior to a meeting when an endorsement may be considered, Democratic candidates are sent a questionnaire assessing their readiness to run and their positions on key issues in the County Party Platform. 

The Central Committee's membership is divided geographically into five Area caucuses: Metro West (central San Diego), East, North Coastal, North Inland, and South (map here). The first vote in the process is on whether to recommend endorsement in a meeting of the Area that contains the plurality of voters in a given district. A 60% vote to recommend at the Area level places that item on a consent agenda to approve at the next full Central Committee meeting. Countywide and San Diego Citywide races are initially voted on by the Executive Board rather than an Area caucus. 

At the full Central Committee meeting, another 60% vote is required for the actual endorsement. (The Bylaws define which types of members are eligible to vote in Area vs. full Central Committee meetings.)​ If no single candidate wins the endorsement, multiple candidates may be rated "qualified." 

The timing of an endorsement vote depends on a few factors. Most endorsements in races without an incumbent Democrat are considered shortly after the closing of the filing period for that office -- in March of an election year for those that have primary elections, and in August of that year for the majority of offices that do not have primaries. 

However, incumbent Democratic elected officials may request an early ("friendly incumbent") endorsement for their reelection prior to the filing period. If an Area caucus opts to hold an early vote to recommend an incumbent, the rest of the process is similar, including a questionnaire that is tailored for current officeholders and the 60% voting threshold in both the Area and full Central Committee meetings. 

Endorsement votes can also be held prior to the close of filing in races that have been designated "strategically critical" -- a process that requires 2/3 votes by the applicable Area, the Executive Board, and the Central Committee. The actual vote to endorse a candidate in one of those races may then happen as soon as the month after its designation as strategically critical, or anytime thereafter. The designation does not carry any benefits or significance other than a potential early endorsement. 

If a candidate endorsed in a primary election continues to the runoff, the endorsement stays with them. If not, and at least one Democratic candidate is still in the race, a new endorsement can then be considered for the general election. 


Endorsements by the State Party

Endorsements for state and federal offices and statewide ballot measures are made by the California Democratic Party -- specifically, the Democratic State Central Committee (DSCC), whose approximately 3,000 members are also known as delegates to the CADEM Convention. Members of the DSCC are roughly split among three types: those elected by Democratic voters in Assembly District-level caucuses; those elected from within county central committees; and state and federal elected officials and other party leaders (as well as their appointees). 

The State Party's process begins with regional pre-endorsement conferences held several months before each statewide primary election. In those meetings, DSCC members and other eligible voters cast ballots to endorse in races for State Assembly, State Senate, and Congress. Any candidate who receives at least 70% of the vote is placed on a consent calendar that is ratified at the convention about a month later. 

If a candidate receives more than 50% of the vote but less than 70%, a caucus is held during the convention in which delegates from that district can vote to recommend an endorsement to the full DSCC. An endorsement recommendation by the caucus requires at least 60% of the votes and is then sent to the convention floor for a final vote. 

The endorsements of the State Party and the County Party are reciprocal, so that candidates endorsed by the SDCDP are accepted as endorsed by the California Democratic Party, and vice versa. 


Some Benefits of Endorsement

The SDCDP made endorsements or "qualified" ratings in a record 161 races in the 2020 cycle. Candidates who get our seal of approval receive numerous forms of support, including: 

• The right to cite our endorsement and use our logo in campaign literature and messaging
• Listing and promotion on the SDCDP website, social media, email announcements, etc. 
• Inclusion on official Democratic Party slate doorhangers distributed by volunteers
• Advanced training and technical support
• Eligibility to participate in "member communications" and coordinated campaign programs