Endorsement policy

endorsement process

1. The candidate requests our endorsement. We do not pursue local or state candidates who do not seek our chapter’s endorsement, or federal candidates who do not seek the endorsement of DSA nationally.

2. The candidate is sent our endorsement questionnaire, along with an overview of our endorsement criteria and process. The candidate returns the questionnaire, to be reviewed by the Electoral Committee. The committee may then use the questionnaire in preparation for an interview where we can seek elaboration on responses, campaign plans, intentions in office, and other important questions. 

3. The Electoral Committee votes to either recommend the candidate for an endorsement vote by the membership at the next General Meeting or decline to endorse. Committee votes for endorsement shall be reserved to those who have been members of Salem DSA for at least two months or have attended an Electoral Committee meeting previous to this vote. 

4. In the event that the Electoral Committee recommends endorsement, the committee would then present a report to the membership at the General Meeting to discuss a final endorsement vote. A two-thirds (⅔) majority vote by a General Meeting shall be required to secure endorsement. Further, the general membership can bypass or overrule the Electoral Committee and bring a proposal to consider a candidate who was rejected by the committee to the floor by the same two-thirds (⅔) vote.