What “Organizing” Means

Democratic Party organizing in Washington State is grounded in state law, which: (1) allows party organizations to adopt their own governing rules, (2) outlines the membership, leadership, and meeting requirements for the state committee and county central committee, (3) defines the role, eligibility, and term of precinct committee officers (“PCOs”), and (4) establishes the process for electing and removing legislative district chairs. (Chapter 29A.80 RCW) Here, as far as a legislative district organization is concerned, we are — at least at our foundation — the collective organization of PCOs affiliated with the Democratic Party within our district. In terms of hierarchical structure, we exist laterally to the King County Democratic Central Committee (“KCDCC”), and directly beneath the Washington State Democratic Central Committee (“WSDCC”) which, in turn, exists beneath the Democratic National Committee (“DNC”).

WSDCC and KCDCC include additional requirements for legislative district organizations, also referred to as “local party organizations” (“LPOs”). These lie within their respective charters and bylaws and include: the process for electing representatives to serve as liaisons between the LPO and each other organization, and the election of a Vice Chair within the LPO.

In short, for an LPO to exist and perform its core functions under state law, Democrat PCOs in the same legislative district must agree to collectively organize and elect a Chair, Vice, Chair, two WSDCC Representatives, and two KCDCC Representatives. All other positions an LPO decides to elect or appoint only exist as a consequence of their own bylaws and rules.

Our Organization

During our “reorganization” meeting in the January of odd-years, while meeting the basic requirements laid out in statute and our state and county organizations, we also elect other officers to manage administrative tasks and appoint and confirm standing committee chairs to perform operational functions. These functions can be summarized into three categories: engagement, education, and endorsement.

• Engagement includes activities that recruit and retain members for the organization.
• Education includes activities that improve our members’ and community’s understanding of campaigns and issues.
• Endorsement includes those activities that involve direct advocacy and supporting campaigns.

In each two-year term, the Chair and the Executive Board are responsible for developing a strategy for managing the organization’s work in each of these three areas. Different iterations of leaders may have different priorities, but the intention is that they represent the will of the body — the membership — and drive progress in the areas of work that best meet the needs of the community and most effectively achieve the organization’s mission. Because of our work’s potential to be quite broad, standing committee chairs play an important role in managing the organization’s operations. The scope of each committee is established within the organization’s Standing Rules for the Executive Board.

Essentially, organizations like ours are designed to rally Democrats in the areas to which we are assigned. We engage, educate, and endorse Democrats to advance our Party’s values at every level and in every branch of government, relying on an involved, informed, and impactful electorate to get that done.

We hope you’ll be a part of it!