Endorsements are a public declaration of support by the Klickitat County Democratic Party (KCDP) on behalf of a candidate for public office, partisan and nonpartisan. The goal of the KCDP is to elect Democrats and pass Democratic initiatives.  To this goal, we search for the most viable candidates whose priorities align with the Democratic values of the KCDP.

 The Process

• The chair of the Klickitat Democratic Party will appoint an endorsement committee chair.

• The committee will review the endorsement rules and create an endorsement questionnaire.

• To start the endorsement process candidates must request an endorsement questionnaire and forward the completed questionnaire to the KCDCC County Chair for consideration by the committee according to the timeline below.  A candidate can contact our chair to have questionnaire sent to them or fill it out HERE(Klickitat County Democrats Candidate Endorsement Questionnaire)

• The endorsements committee is responsible for reviewing the qualifications of candidates and making a recommendation to the KCDP membership on which candidates to support and which ballot measures to support or oppose.

• Endorsements will be made at a regular meeting of the KCDP.  A simple majority of the voting members attending the meeting is required.  (Voting members are the dues paying members of the KCDP and PCO’s).

• More than one candidate for the same position may be endorsed.

Time frame and general criteria for endorsements

• Every candidate endorsement shall be for a specific candidate, office and term. A candidate may not be endorsed for more than one office simultaneously.

• Any process sanctioned by Washington State Democratic Party for nominating candidates supersedes these endorsement procedures if they conflict with that process.

• Candidates must return the completed Endorsement questionnaire to the KCDCC County Chair at least 2 weeks prior to a regularly scheduled membership meeting, to allow the committee time to meet, review and potentially interview the candidate in time to make a recommendation. Those questionnaires received after the 2 week window may be considered for recommendation if time permits.

• Endorsements made before the end of any filing period, whether the regular filing week in May or a special filing period, shall be considered early endorsements.

• Endorsements for a nomination, or endorsements made after the end of filing (but before the Top Two primary election) shall be considered regular endorsements.

•  Endorsements made after the Top Two election shall be considered late endorsements.

Endorsements for and against ballot measures

• Positions may be taken on any ballot measure (such as an initiative, proposition, constitutional amendment, or referendum) for which the language is finalized and a number assigned.

Automatic Endorsements

• Candidates who are nominated by the 14 Legislative District or the Washington State Democratic Party for the following statewide and federal positions shall automatically be considered for endorsement by the voting membership.

  • The federal offices of U.S. Senate and U.S. Representative

  • The state offices of WA State Senate and State House of Representatives

  • The statewide executive department offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Auditor, Commissioner of Public Lands, and Insurance Commissioner

• The candidates nominated for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States of America by the Democratic Party at the Democratic National Convention shall automatically be considered endorsed by the voting membership.

Endorsements for leadership positions in the Washington State Democratic Party

• An individual seeking a Washington State Democratic Party leadership position may request an endorsement in advance of the meeting when the position will be filled. Endorsement requests for party offices that are to be filled at biennial reorganization meetings cannot be considered until the date of the general election in November has passed.

• KCDCC/KCDP shall not endorse candidates for leadership positions on its own executive board.

Rescission of endorsements

• An endorsement may be rescinded by a two-thirds vote of the voting members at a KCDP meeting. (Voting members are dues paying members).  Any voting member of KCDP may request that KCDCP consider rescinding an endorsement at an upcoming meeting, but this request must include a rationale and must be made to the Chair at least ten days in advance of a meeting so timely notice can be provided to KCDP.

• If the KCDCC Chair approves a request to consider rescinding an endorsement of a candidate at an upcoming meeting, that candidate must be copied on the final call to the meeting.

• In the event that an endorsed candidate withdraws, the endorsement he or she received from KCDCP shall immediately and automatically lapse.

Amendment of these Endorsement Procedures

• Once adopted, these procedures may be amended by majority vote of the KCDCC at any properly called meeting.