R&R Amendments to the 2028 Presidential Endorsement Process Proposal
Full base resolution: Presidental Endorsement Proposal
Amendment A - A Democratic Socialist Process Considers All Candidates
Reasoning: We should not limit ourselves to the D primary as a matter of principle, even though we can acknowledge its overwhelmingly likely to be necessary as a tactical matter
Whereas:
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January 1st-April 1st 2027: Nomination period
We expect most candidates to announce during this period, and DSA must begin the process of debating specific candidates to endorse. This will occur with the following process:
- Nomination period: Candidates running in the Democratic Primary can be nominated and considered for endorsement via a majority vote of the NPC or 500 DSA Members in good standing
- Within 45 days of the nomination closing, all nominated candidates will be invited to attend a forum open to all DSA members in good standing
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Amendment B - Intentional Organizing and Leadership Accountability for the Chapter Input Process
Whereas:
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April-June 2027: Endorsement Process
The NPC will take an affirmative majority vote to start the endorsement process and 45-day timeline no later than April 1st.
- Chapters have 45 days to hold a meeting to discuss and poll on the candidates who have been nominated. The NPC shall issue a tool kit on how to best run this meeting and debate. This meeting is strongly encouraged to be in-person, but can be hybrid or on zoom if needed.
- The poll results and meeting notes must be submitted to the NPC and will be shared with the entire organization.
- Chapters who do not participate in this discussion process will have their matching funds come under review by the NPC. Each NPC member will be assigned as a point person for a number of chapters, and will be responsible for conducting outreach to ensure that their designated chapters participate in the discussion process. The NPC will delegate staff resources to coordinate outreach and support the organizing of chapter level discussions.
- The NPC will set the goal of having 50% of chapters organize at least one discussion circle by the halfway point of the 45 day timeline (after 23 days) and 100% of chapters having organized at least one discussion circle by the end of the 45 day period.
- The NPC SC will hold weekly check-ins to track the progress of NPC member’s chapter outreach, and NPC member’s ‘success rates’ at organizing chapter conversations will be made publicly available at the end of the 45 day period.
- The NPC and PEC shall organize virtual discussion meeting(s) for at-large members.
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Amendment C - A Democratic and Specific All-Member Poll
Whereas:
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- The NPC shall also implement an all-member, non-binding poll regarding member preferences among the nominated candidates for the 2028 election. The poll will include a space for members to write out their holistic assessment and analysis of the election and the political landscape.
- If there is one nominated candidate, the poll will have the option of either voting "Yes" or "No" on the endorsement. be a Scottish STV vote with the following options…
- Support for a coordinated campaign (where DSA will organize alongside and in coordination with the endorsed campaign)
- Support for an independent expenditure campaign (where DSA will organize for the endorsed candidate without coordinating with their campaign and with our own independent messaging and politics
- Opposition to endorsement of the candidate
- If there are multiple nominated candidates, the poll will use a ranked choice voting system to be decided by the NPC. use Scottish STV to determine members’ most preferred candidate. All nominated candidates will be listed, along with the option of “no endorsement for any of the above candidates”, in the poll. A second question will be included, with a Scottish STV vote between the options of a coordinated campaign, an independent expenditure campaign, or opposition to any endorsement/campaign, in the same manner as the point above.
- The options in the polls will be accompanied by brief ‘voters guide’ statements (no more than 500 words) written by NPC members who support each position or candidate. If no NPC members can be found to support the position or candidate, the NPC is tasked with identifying suitable DSA members who can credibly defend the position to write a statement.
- The full STV results of the poll for every round of each question will be sent out to all DSA members via email, along with the number of members who voted in the poll and the percentage of total DSA membership that voted in the poll.
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Amendment D - Convention Must Determine our 2028 Presidential Orientation through a Full Democratic Process and Vote
Whereas:
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- Within one week of 3 days of the conclusion of the chapter debate period, the PEC will have written a draft endorsement and campaign plan. To meet this deadline, the PEC will begin work on this plan as the chapter engagement period progresses. This initial draft campaign plan should include the following points, which can be completed before chapter feedback is finished:
- Comms, mobilization and media outreach strategy
- Compiling a list of relevant unions and elected officials with which to potentially coordinate our endorsement strategy
- A plan for coordinating various working groups in a unified endorsement approach
- Outlines for the expansion of the PEC
- Within 10 days of the conclusion of the chapter debate period, the NPC, by a simple majority vote, will adopt a resolution to be put before the 2027 DSA National Convention. This resolution will include the draft endorsement and campaign plan, and it must be submitted before the start of the amendment submission period. It will be amendable in the same manner as all other convention resolutions, and will not go into effect unless and until adopted by the 2027 DSA National Convention. shall vote on a presidential endorsement using a voting system of their choosing. If just one candidate is nominated, NPC members will have the option of either voting yes or no on that candidate.
- Within 10 days of making an endorsement, the NPC shall vote on an interim campaign plan which shall be drafted by the NPC and PEC.
- If a substantial minority of NPC members (a threshold of 1/3rd) propose and support an alternative strategy, that strategy may be brought to convention as a ‘minority resolution’ to be voted on either as a stand-alone resolution or as an amendment to the resolution adopted by a majority of the NPC.
- Before convention, the NPC and PEC will make plans and provisional preparations for the enactment and execution of their proposed resolution, with the understanding that the resolution may be amended or rejected by convention later on.
- Given the urgent nature of this resolution, the NPC tasks the 2027 Convention Planning Committee with prioritizing the debate and decision on the presidential election by placing it first on the agenda.
Convention Vote
- The 2027 National DSA convention shall vote to approve a final campaign plan and settle other political questions related to the 2028 presidential endorsement.
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