Reply #5: chair vote [View All]

[Dickie Flatt]

The 440 members of the DNC each get a vote for party chair. From the DNC website:

Membership on the National Committee is composed of individuals selected by the Democratic Party organizations in each state (including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico), the U.S. Territories (American Samoa, Guam, and the Virgin Islands), and Democrats living outside the United States and those Territories listed above (Democrats Abroad).

Each jurisdiction is represented by its Chair and the next highest ranking officer of the opposite sex. An additional 200 votes are distributed to the states and territories based on population, with each receiving a minimum of two additional seats. Each delegation must be equally divided between men and women.

If we want to influence the party chair vote, we can contact our local DNC members, as their names are public. Some state parties have also held DNC listening sessions, where anyone can come and talk to the state's DNC members.