Apply for Endorsement.

Are you a registered Democrat running for county, municipal, school board, water board, or special district elected office in Orange County? Apply for our endorsement below!

Thank you for considering the Democratic Party of Orange County (DPOC) endorsement. This is the page for November 2024 General Election endorsement applicants.

If you have any questions about your application or on the process, please contact:

Jeffrey Cárdenas, jeffrey@ocdemocrats.org, (949) 438-0281.

Applicants for the DPOC endorsement must meet the general qualifications for their office as listed on the OC Registrar of Voters website and must be a registered Democrat.

Offices Considered for Early Endorsement (March 1 to July 15)

On February 26, the DPOC Central Committee approved the Executive Committee’s recommendation to open all races in the November 2024 General Election for early endorsement consideration. Per DPOC By-Laws, candidates applying for early endorsement must meet a ⅔ vote threshold in the Central Committee.

The DPOC’s criteria for early endorsement are: incumbents, previously endorsed candidates, and priority races.

Office Considered for Regular Endorsement (July 15 to November 5)

Per DPOC bylaws, any office can be considered for endorsement after the filing period opens. The Declaration of Candidacy and Nomination period for the November 2024 primary election, commonly known as “Candidate Filing”, begins on or around July 15, 2024. The DPOC’s governing board, the Central Committee, can consider a race for endorsement if there hasn’t been a candidate endorsed for that race already. The DPOC will not endorse more candidates for an office than the number to be elected for that office. Candidates applying for regular endorsement must meet a 60% vote threshold in the Central Committee.

The California Democratic Party issues endorsements in federal and state election contests, including statewide, U.S. House, State Assembly, State Senate offices, and statewide ballot measures. The Endorsement calendar and procedure for these offices is on the California Democratic party website. https://cadem.org/endorsements/

Applicants for the DPOC endorsement must:

 Submit the completed endorsement questionnaire at this Google Form

                    Non-Judicial Questionnaire

                     or

                    Judicial Questionnaire

                  Pay the $50 endorsement application fee 

                  Receive Central Committee list

 

Early Endorsement Calendar

  • March 1: DPOC early endorsement application submission period begins

  • March 7 (6 to 9), 8 (6 to 9), 9 (9 to noon): DPOC early endorsement interviews

  • March 25: Central Committee meeting

  • April 1, 3 (6 to 9 pm): DPOC early endorsement interviews

  • April 7 (12 to 3), 9 (6 to 9 pm): DPOC early endorsement interviews

  • April 22: Central Committee meeting

  • April 25, 26 (6 to 9 pm): DPOC early endorsement interviews

  • April 29, May 1 (6 to 9 pm): DPOC early endorsement interviews

  • May 6, 8 (6 to 9 pm): DPOC early endorsement interviews

  • May 14, 16 (6 to 9 pm): DPOC early endorsement interviews

  • May 20, 21 (6 to 9 pm): DPOC early endorsement interviews

  • May 27: Central Committee meeting

  • May 28, 30 (6 to 9 pm): DPOC early endorsement interviews

  • June 3, 5 (6 to 9 pm): DPOC early endorsement interviews

  • June 11, 13 (6 to 9 pm): DPOC early endorsement interviews

  • June 17 (5 pm): DPOC early endorsement application submission period ends

  • June 17, 18 (6 to 9 pm): DPOC early endorsement interviews

  • June 24: Central Committee meeting

Regular Endorsement Calendar

  • July 15: OC Registrar candidate filing period opens and DPOC regular endorsement application submission period begins
  • July 20: DPOC endorsement interviews
  • July 22: Central Committee meeting (no endorsements to be considered, see July 31 Special Endorsement meeting)
  • July 23, 26 (6 to 9 pm): DPOC endorsement interviews
  • July 29, August 2 (6 to 9 pm): DPOC endorsement interviews
  • July 31: Special Endorsement Central Committee Meeting
  • August 5, 7, 9 (6 to 9 pm): DPOC endorsement interviews
  • August 12: OC Registrar candidate filing period ends
  • August 13, 14, 16 (6 to 9 pm): DPOC endorsement interviews
  • August 23 (6 to 9 pm), 24 (12 to 3 pm): DPOC endorsement interviews
  • August 26: Central Committee meeting
  • August 27, 28, 29 (6 to 9 pm): DPOC endorsement interviews
  • September 2, 3, 4 (6 to 9 pm): DPOC endorsement interviews
  • September 10, 12 (6 to 9 pm): DPOC endorsement interviews
  • September 13: OC Registrar candidate filing period closes
  • September 16 (5 pm): DPOC regular endorsement application submission period ends
  • September 16, 17, 18 (6 to 9 pm): DPOC endorsement interviews
  • September 23: Central Committee meeting

After the application submission, an endorsement interview will be scheduled. Applicants will also be emailed a full roster of the Democratic Party of Orange County’s Central Committee, to use for endorsement purposes only. 

 

Endorsement interview committees will be made up of relevant DPOC chartered club representatives, a Central Committee member within the geographic area of the office, a California Democratic Party Regional Director, and all 7 DPOC Officers. After interviewing all candidates for an office, the endorsement interview committee, by a majority vote of the committee members present and voting, will make endorsement recommendations to the full Central Committee. Click here to view the club chartering report that indicates in which cities geographic clubs are eligible to cast an endorsement vote. Countywide cultural community or special interest clubs may designate up to five races in which to cast an endorsement vote and must do so 30 days before the Central Committee meeting at which the vote will occur.

 

The full Central Committee can vote on endorsements at the next regular meeting or at a special meeting. Candidates are highly encouraged to attend. 

 

Any Central Committee member may pull a candidate recommended by the endorsement interview committee from the recommendation list (“consent calendar”). If a recommendation is pulled from the consent calendar, candidates for that office will have up to 3 minutes to address the Central Committee. Candidates may choose to split up their 3 minutes between themselves and/or up to 2 other speakers.

DPOC chartered clubs participating in the Central Committee endorsement vote through their associate must issue instructions to their associate in advance of the Central Committee meeting. Club leadership should ensure their clubs vote on such instructions before the Central Committee meeting in which the endorsement vote is to occur. Candidates seeking endorsement are encouraged to meet with their local Democratic clubs well in advance to seek or secure their support.

 

 

 Endorsement Finalization

Candidates for the November 2024 General Election must receive the affirmative vote of at least ⅔ of the Central Committee members present and voting to receive early endorsement and  60% of the Central Committee members present and voting to receive the DPOC endorsement for regular endorsement.


If you have any questions about your application or on the process, please contact Jeffrey Cárdenas, jeffrey@ocdemocrats.org, (949) 438-0281.