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Guidance for 2020 Democratic National Convention Delegate Hopefuls

Jan 02, 2020

For Immediate Release 1/2/2020

Annapolis, MD–  On Monday, January 6, Maryland Democrats may declare their candidacy to become a Delegate at the 2020 Democratic National Convention. A detailed report of the Party’s Delegate Selection Plan– which was formally adopted by the Democratic State Central Committee in 2019– is available on our website. Democrats seeking to run for one of Maryland’s 94 contested Delegate and Alternate slots may visit our delegate selection overview for more information on filing deadlines and answers to frequently asked questions.

The Democratic National Committee allotted 117 convention Delegates and eight Alternates to Maryland for the 2020 Convention. Twenty-one of those Delegate slots are automatically reserved for Party leadership including our voting DNC Members and the Democrats in our federal delegation. Another 10 Delegate slots were reserved for state and local elected officials who have pledged support for a particular candidate. 

Registered Maryland Democrats may run for the remaining Delegate slots. The selection process designates 65 slots divided (by formula) across Maryland’s eight Congressional Districts, where they will appear on the primary election ballot. Additionally, 21 At-large slots and eight Alternates will be selected by a vote of Maryland’s Democratic State Central Committee at its first meeting following the primary. Those slots will be apportioned to presidential candidates on the basis of the statewide primary vote. 

The Delegate Selection Plan also mandates parity in representation among men and women, and young Democrats are eligible to run as Delegates so long as they turn 18 prior to November 3, 2020.

For more information, please visit our website and review the Delegate Selection Plan and overview. The filing period for Convention Delegates running at the congressional level is open from January 6, 2020 to January 24, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. At-large and Alternate Delegates may file their candidacy between May 7, 2020 and May 14, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.

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