The Nominating Process
and Presidential Primaries
“Voting and Elections in the United States”
* How does an individual get from here…
… to here *
* The nominating process
narrows the field of possible
candidates for public office! *
Why is “narrowing the field”
important?
Example: $1,000
Step One: Self-Announcement
* The potential candidate will form a Presidential Exploratory
Committee to see if there is public support for running for the
Presidency (MONEY is crucial to the process)
* Self-announcement is the first step in the process – usually
happens after the previous midterm elections are held *
Mitt Romney announces 2012 presidential exploratory committee
Step Two: The Primaries (and
Caucuses)
* Primaries are run (and paid for) by state and local governments (ARE
elections) *
* Caucuses are private events run by the political parties themselves
(are NOT elections – more like meetings)!
** This part of the process begins in January the year of a
Presidential election – candidates are fighting for
DELEGATES who will go to the National Convention and
vote for their candidate! **
* Democrats also use SUPER-DELEGATES who go to the National
Convention unpledged and can cast their vote for whoever they
please!
The Caucus System
* Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, North
Dakota, Wyoming and Iowa *
* American Samoa, Guam and the Virgin Islands
The Primary System
* Primary Elections are elections held within the party to choose
the candidate who will oppose the other party’s candidate *
* A direct primary is an indirect election!
As each state holds their primary
or caucus, delegates are awarded
to the competitors in relation to
how they finish…
Types of Primaries
* Closed primaries – voters cannot vote for a candidate in the
opposite party.
* If you are an identified Democrat, you can only vote for a Democratic
candidate. (OHIO is considered a “Semi-Closed” Primary)
* Open primaries – voters can vote for a candidate in any party.
* Receive two ballots, cast one – choose on your own.
Now, here is where it gets
confusing – BUT, we will try
and keep it simple!
Each state has a portion of these delegates given to them by the RNC
to give to the Republican candidates
* 5 “At-large” delegates for each U.S. Senator (10)
* 3 “District” delegates for each U.S. Representative (16x3=48)
* 3 “Party Leader” delegates (3)
* 0 “Electoral College” Bonus delegates
* 1 “U.S. Senator” Bonus delegate
* 1 “Republican Governor” Bonus delegate
* 1 “U.S. House Majority” Bonus delegate
* 1 “One Chamber” Bonus delegate
* 1 “All Chambers” Bonus delegate
“Winner-take-all” vs. “Proportional” Delegate Distribution
* Democrats use a MUCH MUCH MUCH more complicated system for
distributing delegates (I’ll spare you the pain)
Step Three: the National
Convention
* The National Convention is the final step in the nomination
process
* Purpose of the convention is to officially nominate a candidate
for the upcoming Presidential election!
* Signifies the end of primary season and the start of campaigning
for the general election…
* Goals for the National Conventions:
1. Nominate the President/Vice-President
2. Unite the party!
3. Create (and accept) the party platform
2012 Republican National Convention
Tampa, Florida – August 27, 2012
2012 RNC Highlights
2012 Democratic National Convention
Charlotte, North Carolina – September 6, 2012
2012 DNC Highlights
* How does an individual get from here…
… to here *
* The nominating process
narrows the field of possible
candidates for public office! *