The Whatcom Democrats’ Candidates Committee works year-round recruiting and talking to prospective candidates. If you are considering running for office, your first stop should be talking to us.  We can help you understand the process and requirements and help you decide if you are committed to do the work necessary to be elected, such as fundraising calls and door-belling.

When the committee explains the efforts needed, some prospective candidates decide they are not prepared to run at this time.  One of the biggest challenges for the committee is convincing people that getting elected is possible, that they can grow into the public role, and that the party will provide support. 

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Official candidate filing is done during a one-week period in May of each year. Contact the County Auditor for specific information.

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Party Endorsement

A special meeting of the membership of the Whatcom County Democratic Central Committee will be held prior to Primary Elections to give candidates an opportunity to present their case for endorsement.  Candidates who wish to be considered for Endorsement must request this at least 72 hours in advance of this meeting.  Members in good standing vote on endorsements.

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Party Certification

Democratic candidates may be able to access party resources prior to endorsement if they request and receive Certification as a Democrat. Click on the Certification and Endorsement Process for details.

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Certification & Endorsement Process

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Difference Between Party Endorsement And Party Nomination

A political party endorsement is a statement of support of a candidate for public office. It is also an internal policy decision saying where the organization’s resources will be spent. It is no different than a PTA, voter’s league, or labor union picking which candidates they want to support and work for. This is why we require membership in the Whatcom Democrats in order to vote on our endorsement decisions.

A party endorsement has no direct effect on which candidates may run for office. Endorsement does not decide which candidates qualify for the general election ballot, the way a party nomination normally would.

State election law governs the rules of the Primary Election, and currently, in Washington State, primary elections are run like non-partisan primaries, advancing the top two vote-getters to the General Election ballot, regardless of party affiliation. Primaries (in WA State) for partisan offices do not constitute a party nomination process.

Only voters casting a ballot in a Primary Election have the power to eliminate, or advance, a candidate to the general election ballot.

Since we do not hold public nominating primary elections in Washington at this time, the Washington State Democratic Party has adopted its own process and rules to designate who is the nominee of the “Democratic Party” in partisan races in Washington. These rules have no direct impact on the endorsement policy of the Whatcom Democrats.

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Updates March 28th General Meeting:

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CERTIFICATION AND ENDORSEMENT RULES

1. Adoption and Amendment:
This policy may not be amended, except in accordance with the bylaws, and the policy
is to remain the same for the following full Primary/General election cycle.

2. Resources for Democratic Candidates Pre-Endorsement:

(a) Definition: Candidates who publicly declare themselves Democrats and are
members in good standing of Whatcom Democrats may receive access to Party
resources prior to endorsement if they are certified as a democrat pursuant to section
2(b) Candidates must personally make a written request for certification to the Whatcom
Democrats Chair, and, as specified further on, to PCOs. Certification does not imply
endorsement by the Party. Candidates may not refer to certification in their campaign or
publicity, but the party has no authority to bar them from describing themselves as
“Democrat”. Candidates running for judicial office are not required to declare
themselves Democrats nor must they be members in good standing of the Whatcom
Democrats in order to receive certification or endorsement.

(b) Certification: In order to be certified as a Democrat, a candidate must complete a
questionnaire regarding items in the Whatcom Democrats’ latest Platform and
Resolutions which will be written jointly by the Chairs of the Issues and Advocacy
Committee and the Candidates Committee. The completed questionnaire shall be made
available to Democratic PCOs in order to determine certification, and to members of the
Whatcom County Democrats if the candidate seeks endorsement, and the Chair may
make the questionnaire available to others at the discretion of the Chair. The

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questionnaire shall not be posted on the Whatcom Democrats website, and shall not be
further distributed except as above. The E-board shall not use its content as a criterion
for certification. The sole purposes of the questionnaire are 1) to ensure that candidates
are aware of, and respond to, Platform and resolution planks relevant to the office they
are seeking, and 2) to inform PCOs in determining who to certify and members in
choosing who to endorse. After completing the questionnaire, the candidate must
submit a written application to the Chair of the WCDCC that:

a. includes a statement that the candidate has adopted and will implement a Code of
Conduct for the candidate’s campaign that includes at least provisions which
1. Commits the candidate, all staff, volunteers, and contractors to a workplace that
is free of harassment, bullying, and intimidation;
2. Ensures that all are aware of the code;
3. Promises zero tolerance for sexual assault and harassment;
4. Designates a person, separate from campaign leadership, who can be contacted
with concerns regarding violation of the Code of Conduct.
5. The candidate must post their Code of Conduct on their campaign website,
Facebook page, and other similar social media spaces, where applicable, as well
as submit the URL or equivalent locator to the Whatcom Democrats Chair
b. includes a letter that demonstrates personal experiences and a history of involvement
and commitment to Democratic party values and issues.

(c) Approval and Appeal: Upon receiving these materials, Precinct Committee Officers
from Whatcom County will be presented with the candidates application material and
given the opportunity to approve or deny the certification of a candidate. If at least
twelve PCOs submit written (paper or electronic) declarations that the candidate in
question faithfully represents the values of the Democratic party, the candidate will then
be certified. When possible, six out of twelve of the certifying PCOs must be from the
constituency that will vote for the candidate in the general election. Upon receipt of
these materials, the Chair is responsible for notifying the state party of a candidate’

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certification. If approved, see section 5. If the Chair does not report the certification
within two weeks and the candidate wishes to appeal to the Executive Board for
additional consideration, the Executive Board will consider the candidate’s application
no later than their next regular meeting using the same criteria outlined above.

(d) Timing: Certification and the resulting access to party resources is intended to
provide resources early in the Primary campaign. Candidates may request certification
any time after filing with the Public Disclosure Commission their intent to run. Once a
candidate has been endorsed according to these rules, no other candidate for the same
office may be certified for purposes of gaining access to local party resources.

(e) Losing Certification Benefits: Once a candidate has been endorsed by the
membership in accordance with this Endorsement Policy, local party resources being
provided to competing candidates for the same position will be withdrawn. Competing
candidates may not advertise themselves as “certified Democrats” verbally, or in
campaign literature. Data unique to a candidate’s campaign, such as volunteer records,
stored in a party-owned database, is considered the property of the candidate, and will
be made available to their campaign. If for any reason the validity of a certification of a
candidate as a “Democrat” is questioned, certification may be withdrawn using the same
criteria and appeal process described in Section 2.b.

(f) Rescinding Certification: Certification may be rescinded by a 60% vote of the
Executive Board at a special or regular meeting only if new evidence is presented to the
Executive Board showing that the certified candidate is more likely than not to be
unqualified for certification under the criteria for certification listed in Sections 2(a) and
(b) above. At the Executive Board meeting at which the question of revocation of
certification is considered, the candidate shall be given time to present their case and

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may introduce witnesses in their defense. The Executive Board shall set the procedural
rules for this hearing, including without limitation time limits and voting procedures and
whether the voting shall be by secret ballot or public vote.

3. Endorsement:

(a) Current endorsement policy shall be made available to the public through the
website and copies available at our office.

(b) Candidates must specifically make a request for consideration of endorsement to the
Whatcom Democrats Chair pursuant to subparagraph 3 (c). If a candidate is prohibited
by law from asking for our endorsement, or is a candidate for judicial office, then a
member of the Whatcom Democrats may request endorsement on their behalf. The
Whatcom Democrats take no responsibility for initiating endorsement for a candidate or
ballot measure.

c) Officers of the organization as well as the chair of the Candidates Committee must
resign from their position prior to filing with the County Auditor’s office if they intend to
run for a paid position and seek endorsement.

(d) Any person who has filed for election or who has filed the documents necessary to
be a write-in candidate for whom votes will be counted must notify the Chair in writing or
by electronic message not less than three calendar days before the day of the
Endorsement Meeting. Unless the candidate has been certified under paragraph 2 of
this Endorsement Process, a candidate seeking endorsement must also send the Chair
a completed questionnaire for the office sought and a statement that the candidate has

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adopted a Code of Conduct as is required of those candidates seeking certification
pursuant to Paragraph 2.

(e) The Chair, in consultation with the Executive Board, will make every effort to
schedule endorsement meetings for the election cycle, in advance, and publicize the
dates to the public. The Executive Board may choose to conduct the Endorsement
process by electronic means over a period of several days so long as the secret ballot is
preserved.

(i) The first Endorsement Meeting shall be held not less than 7 calendar days nor more
than 28 calendar days after the filing period ends. Endorsement Meetings for ballot
propositions may be held at any time.

(ii) In races where there are at least two candidates that are certified Democrats and no
more than one other candidate, there will be no endorsement until after the primary
election. In races where there are at least two candidates that are certified Democrats
and more than one other candidate, the default is that there will be no endorsement until
after the primary election, but the E-Board may decide to hold an endorsement vote if
there is a significant chance that no certified Democrat will otherwise emerge in the top
two.

(iii) An Endorsement Meeting for an office where the person endorsed by the Whatcom
Democrats loses the Primary Election may be held not less than 7 or more than 21
calendar days after the Primary Election date unless the Executive Board delays this
meeting until the Primary Election has been certified. At this meeting candidate
endorsements shall also be made in all races where the Whatcom Democrats have yet
to endorse a candidate.

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(iv) After the Primary Election if two certified Democrats are the winners and no
endorsement has been made, then their access to the non-consumable resources of
the Whatcom Democrats continues until the General Election, they may refer to
themselves as Certified Democrats, and they will be identified as such by the Whatcom
Democrats.

(v) A reconsideration or possible withdrawal of an endorsement or dual endorsements is
only granted under extraordinary circumstances. Such action first requires a 60% vote
of the Executive Board present and voting, followed by a 60% vote to reconsider or
withdraw, made by the membership at a duly noticed meeting. At the Executive Board
and membership meetings at which the question of reconsideration or revocation of
endorsement is considered, the candidate shall be given time to present their case and
may introduce witnesses in their defense. The Executive Board shall set the procedural
rules for both hearings, including without limitation time limits and voting procedures and
whether the voting shall be by secret ballot or public vote.

(f) The definition of a meeting contained in the Bylaws shall govern all Endorsement
Meetings.

(g) Endorsements shall be made by votes of the Central Committee taken either by
ballot at an in-person meeting or through a secure online voting system. Bylaws Art. IV,
Sec.3.3.

(h) No endorsement vote may be taken by the membership without standard notice to
the membership on the Whatcom Democrats website, social media page(s), and
through email. Members may request notification by mail.

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(i) Executive Board shall strive to provide the membership with information in advance
of the endorsement vote about the candidate and ballot measures being considered. In
all cases, competing candidates for the Democratic Party endorsement will be offered
equal time or space to present their qualifications.

(j) In coordination with the Issues & Advocacy Committee, The Candidates Committee
will present information on all candidates and ballot propositions to the central
committee which has been gathered through a standardized process, including a
questionnaire reflecting key issues for Whatcom Democrats.
(k) The campaign committee will put on at least one candidate forum prior to the
endorsement meeting that will include live audience questions.

4. Voting Procedure:

(a) Candidates (or a surrogate) shall be provided an opportunity to present their
qualifications and positions to the Central Committee, on an equal basis with other
candidates and according to available time in the meeting. Members shall be provided
an opportunity to ask questions, also in accordance with available meeting time.

(b) The Chair, in consultation with the Executive Board, shall establish a balloting or
voting method that will facilitate a fair and efficient process, and prepare the necessary
materials in advance.

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(c) Members will be given the option to vote either “yes” or “no” for each individual
candidate or ballot measure. Members may choose not to vote for any particular
candidate or ballot measure that they wish.

(d) Eligibility to vote and quorum requirements are prescribed in the bylaws. In addition,
party members become eligible to vote on endorsements 14 days after the day they
sign up and pay annual membership dues. However, anyone whose annual
membership has expired within six months of the endorsement vote may participate in
the vote upon renewal of membership and payment of annual membership dues.

(e) Eligible members will receive a ballot after the start of the endorsement meeting. All
ballots must be submitted by 8pm on the day of the endorsement meeting.

(f) 60 percent of votes cast in a race or measure is required for endorsement.

(g) Results of an endorsement vote shall be counted and verified by a Tally Committee
of no less than three members of the Central Committee appointed by the Chair. The
Tally Committee must include one member of the Executive Board. No member of the
Tally Committee shall be actively involved as an official member of any campaign under
consideration for endorsement during the current election cycle. One representative
from each campaign may observe the tally count. The committee will also assist
members in accessing their ballots if needed.

5. Party Resources:

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(a) Once a candidate is certified or endorsed, all WCDCC non-consumable resources
will be made available to the candidate that can be shared equally amongst the
competitors including, but not necessarily limited to: WCDCC’s voter data, membership
lists, fundraising lists, office space, and institutional communications with its
memberships (such as having event invitations in newsletters etc.) The Executive Board
will vote on what resources will and will not be allowed if there are disagreements
between the Chair and members of the Executive Board on what resources to grant to
candidates.

(b) In addition, endorsed candidates and ballot measures may be granted consumable
resources, such as cash donations, at the discretion of the Executive Board and in
accordance with existing campaign plans and priorities.

6. Special Policy for the County Charter Review Commission
election of 2024

A. This Section 6 shall apply only to the election of County Charter Review
Commissioners in 2024. This Section 6 shall be of no force and effect after that election
and shall be removed from this Endorsement Policy on or after December 31, 2024.

B. The Endorsement Meeting for the 2024 election of Charter Review Commissioners
shall take place at the same time and place, and under the same rules, as the
Endorsement Meeting held after the primary election of August 6, 2024, as set out in
Section 3 of this Endorsement Policy, provided that:

(1) The Executive Board shall determine if one, two, or three candidates for Charter
Review Commissioner in each County Commissioner District shall be endorsed in that

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District based on potential electability in each District, with each member being able to
vote for up to that number of candidates (e.g., if 3 candidates to be endorsed, may vote
for up to three). Regardless of the number of candidates to be endorsed in each District,
ballots will allow members to rank the candidates in order of preference. Members are
not required to rank all the candidates.

(2) Endorsement shall be awarded to the winning candidate(s) according to a Ranked
Choice Voting tabulation implemented by the Election Buddy software as documented
here:
https://electionbuddy.com/features/.

(3) Any ties shall be decided by a flip of a coin held by the Chair of the Whatcom
Democrats, unless the Chair is one of the tied candidates, in which case the coin shall
be held and flipped by the First Vice Chair.

(4) If an Endorsed Candidate for Charter Review Commission chooses not to run,
withdraws, or is disqualified, then the candidate with the next highest vote total shall be
endorsed.

(5) For the sake of clarity, the usual 60% threshold for endorsement will not apply
here.