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Commission on Presidential Nomination Timing and Scheduling

The 2004 Democratic National Convention passed a resolution calling for the creation of the Commission on Presidential Nomination Timing and Scheduling.

The Commission is charged with studying the timing of presidential primaries and caucuses and developing recommendations for the 2008 nominating process. In fulfilling its mission, the Commission will examine all proposals -- incremental and substantive -- and evaluate how those proposals would be implemented. The Commission will carry out its work bearing in mind the Party's commitment to a nominating process that is open and fair to all Democratic voters and presidential candidates and that produces the strongest possible nominee, and will look at all facets of this issue.

The Commission was announced in December 2004. Former U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman and North Carolina Congressman David Price serve as Co-Chairs of the Commission.

The Commission began its work in March 2005 and held a total of five public meetings, undertaking a thorough review of the current schedule. The Commission received broad input and a variety of useful suggestions and ideas from Democratic elected officials, Party leaders, experienced campaign staff, academic experts, grassroots activists and interested voters.

In developing its recommendations for consideration by Governor Dean, the Commission has reaffirmed the Party's commitment to a nominating process that will produce the best and strongest possible candidate for President and is open, inclusive and fair to all Democratic candidates and voters.

The Party's reform efforts over the last three decades have been characterized by various attempts to broaden participation in the delegate selection process.

The Commission is mindful and respectful of the valuable roles the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary have traditionally played and, in particular, the personal engagement and involvement of the voters who participate in these contests. At the same time, the Commission heard serious concerns about the disproportionate influence of these traditionally early contests, and the need, early in process, to include states that would be more fully representative of the Party's rich diversity.

Accordingly, the Commission recommends:

  • Preserving the first-in-the-nation status of Iowa and New Hampshire but adding other states in the pre-window period.
  • Adding 1 or 2 new first-tier caucuses between Iowa and New Hampshire, and 1 or 2 new primaries between New Hampshire and the opening of the window for all other states on February 5, 2008.
  • Having the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee determine which states should be added, using the following criteria: racial and ethnic diversity; geographic diversity; and economic diversity including union density.

The front-loading of states at the beginning of the calendar has also limited broader participation in the process. The trend toward bunching up on the first day of the window, or in the first month, does not enhance the role of any state or group of states. To be effective and to receive attention from candidates and the press, states must spread out the dates of their contests and restore a more deliberate pacing to the process.

Accordingly, the Commission recommends that the DNC work with State Parties and political leaders to schedule no more than five contests in any one week. Additionally, the Commission has proposed, for consideration by the Rules and Bylaws Committee, a bonus delegate incentive system that would encourage states parties to schedule their events later in the process.

Finally, the Commission urges the DNC to engage at an early stage with the Republican Party with respect to the 2012 calendar so that the two parties can work together to move the entire process later in the presidential year and to harmonize their calendars. In addition, the Commission urges the DNC to support reform of the presidential public financing system; to continue its advocacy of extending and strengthening the Voting Rights Act; to use the presidential nominating process as a party-building opportunity; and to ensure that the Rules and Bylaws Committee is cognizant of election reform issues in administering the delegate selection process.

The Commission on Presidential Nomination Timing and Scheduling approved its Final Report at its December 10, 2005 meeting, which you can download here.

Details on the first meeting held March 12, 2005 are available here.
Details of the May 14, 2005 meeting are available here.
Details on the July 16, 2005 meeting are available here.
Details on the October 1, 2005 meeting are available here.
Details on the December 10, 2005 meeting are available here.

More Information

For additional information please contact the DNC Office of Party Affairs and Delegate Selection at commission@dnc.org.

Feedback

Even though the commission has completed its work, you can still make your voice heard. All entries will be read carefully.

Keep these questions in mind when you're giving us your feedback:

  1. What kind of primary/caucus schedule would be most likely to produce a nominee who can win the general election and to develop consensus around his or her candidacy?
  2. What are the features of an ideal Democratic nominating calendar? What are the advantages and disadvantages of a "front-loaded" calendar? Should the Party try to spread the opening primaries and caucuses out?
  3. What are the advantages to having a few early "retail politics" nominating contests? Are there significant disadvantages? Should the number of states be increased or diversified?
  4. Are there features of the 2004 Democratic presidential primary and caucus calendar that should be retained? Likewise, are there elements of the 2004 calendar that should be changed?







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