Eden Prairie and Southern Minnetonka Democrats
Activating and organizing people to improve the well-being of our community by electing principled leaders with progressive values.

So, you're a delegate to the DFL Senate District 42 Convention:  Walking subcaucuses and other fun things

As you think about participating in your precinct caucus, one important way you can do so is to be a delegate to the Senate District and Congressional District conventions. As a delegate, you are an important cog in the steering mechanism that will put our great country back on the right course. As a convention delegate, you will participate in a number of important items of business, including:

  • electing Senate District 42 DFL officers and directors
  • electing delegates to the Congressional District 3 and State DFL conventions
  • electing at-large members of the State Central Committee
  • discussing and adopting resolutions advanced from caucuses throughout the district
  • endorsing candidates for the state legislature
  • voting on any proposed amendments to the Senate District 42 constitution
  • listening to brief addresses by candidates in attendance.

If you are interested in becoming a delegate to the State or Third Congressional District DFL conventions, you will need to take an active part in the Walking Subcaucus process. To do this, you make known your interest in becoming a delegate by introducing and forming a subcaucus based on your support for a particular candidate or candidates and/or your stance on a particular issue. You can also indicate to members of the subcaucus you join that you are interested in being selected as a delegate.

Here’s how the Walking Subcaucus process works:

  • The convention chair will open nominations for subcaucuses. You may join other delegates in nominating a subcaucus based on your candidate preference and/or an issue on which you take a stand.
  • When nominations are completed, the chair will identify areas where the subcaucuses will meet.
  • A time will be specified for completing the count of each subcaucus. Prior to this time, individuals will be permitted to leave a subcaucus and join another.
  • At the specified time, all movement will cease, each subcaucus will be counted, and the count will be reported to the chair.
  • Any subcaucus which has fewer members than the initial viability number (number needed to elect one delegate) will be informed that it is nonviable.
  • A time will be specified for the second and final count. Prior to this time, individuals will be permitted to move among the subcaucuses.
  • At the specified time, all movement will cease, each subcaucus will be counted, and the count will be reported to the chair.
  • Delegate allocation will be determined according to a formula established in DFL convention rules.
  • The chair of each subcaucus will read the Affirmative Action Reminder, after which each subcaucus will elect its delegates and alternates by written ballot.
  • Election of delegates and alternates will not be completed until the delegation and the individual subcaucuses are gender balanced. The convention chair will be responsible for implementation of this provision by lot, if necessary.

Remember, if you are selected as a delegate at the Senate District convention, you will represent your precinct at the DFL Third Congressional District convention on April 12 and the State DFL convention In Rochester June 6 through 8. For information on what you will be doing at those conventions, visit the “What happens after precinct caucuses?” page on our web site.

Here are a few tips that might help make your convention day go smoothly:

  • arrive early so that you can register, pick up your packet of materials and find your table (identified by precinct number) in plenty of time to look over the agenda and other materials before the chair calls the convention to order
  • if possible, allow yourself enough time before the start of the convention to go over the proposed resolutions so you can easily prioritize a specified number of them when asked to do that toward the end of the day
  • be sure to read carefully the information given above on the Walking Subcaucus process so that you can participate with confidence—no deer in the headlights, please
  • have a short statement prepared in advance if you intend to nominate a subcaucus and have a sign or other means of identifying your subcaucus when the chair assigns areas for subcaucuses to meet
  • if you want to be a delegate to the CD 3 and State DFL conventions, be ready to convince other members of your subcaucus why you should be elected.

Have a great day at the convention! Go Dems!