2026-Legislative-Candidate-Endorsement-Guide - Updated September 23, 2025

Sep 19, 2026

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Guide describing the California Democratic Party endorsement workflow for congressional, state senate, and state assembly races in 2026. It outlines CADEM pre-endorsing conferences by region, purposes, voting body eligibility, quorum requirements, and electronic voting procedures. It specifies rules for incumbents, including automatic placement on the endorsement consent calendar with an objection window, and covers endorsement endorsing caucuses, voting thresholds, challenges, and ratification steps, with key dates and references to CADEM bylaws.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time7 min

AccessFree to download

Overview of the California Democratic Party Endorsement Process

Step 1: CADEM Pre-Endorsing Conferences

Step 2: CADEM Endorsing Caucuses

Step 3: CADEM Convention Floor

Pre-Primary Endorsement Review Committee

Endorsement Timeline

2026 Legislative Candidate Endorsement Guide Overview of the California Democratic Party Endorsement Process............. 2 Pre-Endorsing Conferences................................................................................3 PRE-ENDORSING CONFERENCE.................................................................................................... 3 ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES..................................................................................................................... 3 INCUMBENTS..................................................................................................................................... 3 ELIGIBLE VOTERS............................................................................................................................. 4 PRE-ENDORSING CONFERENCE VOTING LIST.............................................................................4 PULLING AN INCUMBENT FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR......................................................4 VOTING............................................................................................................................................... 5 VOTING THRESHOLDS AND DECISIONS........................................................................................ 5 CHALLENGING PRE-ENDORSING CONFERENCE DECISION.......................................................5 Endorsing Caucuses........................................................................................... 6 LETTER OF OBJECTION................................................................................................................... 6 CANDIDATES...................................................................................................................................... 6 ELIGIBLE VOTERS AT STATE ENDORSEMENT CONVENTION..................................................... 6 VOTING THRESHOLDS AND DECISIONS........................................................................................ 7 CHALLENGE BY PETITION (60% to under ⅔) ...................................................................................7 CHALLENGE BY PERC (⅔ or greater) ............................................................................................... 7 RATIFICATION.................................................................................................................................... 8 Objection to Automatic Endorsement of Incumbent Candidate......................9 Letter Of Objection.............................................................................................10 Objection to Endorsing Caucus Decision Petition......................................... 11 Pre-Primary Endorsement Review Committee:...............................................13 Endorsement Timeline....................................................................................... 14 CADEM Endorsement Process Chart...............................................................15 CADEM Bylaws and Resources........................................................................20 Updated September 23, 2025 Overview of the California Democratic Party Endorsement Process For Congressional, State Senate, and State Assembly Races in 2026 Step 1 : CADEM Pre-Endorsing Conferences (CADEM Bylaws Art. VIII. Sec. 3 g) ● Purpose: The CADEM Pre-Endorsing Conferences are held locally in each CADEM Region in which the Assembly, even-numbered Senate, and Congressional Districts are located to issue endorsement recommendations. ● Date/Time: 2026 CADEM Pre-Endorsing Conferences will be held on Saturday, January 17 , 2026 , at 11:00 AM. Locations will be announced by the Regional Directors in December. ● Voting Body: Those eligible to vote in the CADEM Pre-Endorsing Conferences include: ○ Democratic State Central Committee ( DSCC) Members with full voting rights as of December 12 , 2025. ○ Regular Democratic County Ce

FAQs

What is the purpose of the CADEM Pre-Endorsing Conferences for 2026 races?

They are held locally in each CADEM region to issue endorsement recommendations for assembly, even-numbered senate, and congressional districts.

Who can vote at the CADEM Pre-Endorsing Conferences, and how is quorum determined?

Eligible voters include DSCC members with full voting rights, regular county central committee members, and club representatives. At least five eligible DSCC members must submit a ballot to constitute a quorum.

How do incumbent candidates get placed on the endorsement consent calendar, and what is the objection deadline?

Incumbent members of Congress, State Senate, or State Assembly are automatically placed on the CADEM State Convention endorsement consent calendar unless eligible voters file an objection 10 days prior to the pre-endorsing conference (January 7, 2026).

When are CADEM Endorsing Caucuses held in the 2026 endorsement process?

They occur during the CADEM State Endorsing Convention on February 21, 2026, with specific times provided in the State Endorsing Convention agenda.

Sep 19, 2026

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