SAVE THE DATE: Maryland Democratic Party Chair Vote

SAVE THE DATE: The Maryland Democratic Party will hold a full DSCC meeting on December 7th at 10AM in order to elect a new Chair. As soon as meeting space is secured, the location will be distributed to all parties. All DSCC members will be mailed an official meeting notice including the date, time, and location of the meeting at least 20 days before the meeting in accordance with our bylaws.

For an overview of process and timeline, please refer to the information below. The officer nomination form for use by Chair candidates may be accessed at this link. Questions can be referred to Executive Director Ben Smith at [email protected], and Parliamentarian Greg Pecoraro at [email protected].

The MDP By-Laws have a specific provision for the election of a new State Chair when a vacancy occurs mid-term.

ARTICLE IV OFFICERS OF THE MARYLAND DEMOCRATIC PARTY

10. Vacancies – In the event of the death, disability, or resignation of the Chair, the First Vice Chair shall serve as acting Chair. Within sixty days of the acting Chair assuming responsibility, the central committee shall elect a permanent Chair to fill the remainder of the unexpired term……  A notification of any vacancy, resignation, or announced intention to resign shall be transmitted to the Executive Committee and Chairs of all local Central Committees within two business days after official notice is received by the State Party headquarters.

Outgoing State Chair Maya Rockeymoore Cummings announced her resignation on Monday, November 11, 2019 in a call with the Executive Committee, and subsequently in an email sent on Tuesday, November 12, 2019.

As a result of the outgoing Chair’s announcement, Senator Cory McCray is now serving as acting Chair, and will do so until the election of a permanent Chair.

The Democratic State Central Committee of Maryland (DSCCM) must meet and elect a permanent Chair within 60 days of the announcement of the vacancy.

Acting in accordance with the rules used in recent years at regular and special elections of Party Officers, the Acting Chair will call a meeting of the State Central Committee within that 60 day window.

• The rules for conducting the election shall have been published and distributed by the Secretary of the MDP to all DSCCM Members no later than ten (10) days prior to the date of the meeting, as well as biographical and campaign materials from any declared candidates who have made that information available to the Party HQ.

• Any candidates seeking election as State Chair must file a nominating form with the State Party signed by two voting members of the DSCCM no later than the Call to Order of the meeting of the DSCCM at which the election will be conducted.

• Each candidate will be entitled to a total of five minutes for nominating and seconding speeches, which may be divided amongst three DSCM members.

• Each candidate may also have an additional five minutes to address the DSCCM after nominations are closed.

• A majority of the weighted votes cast by members of the DSCCM in person shall be required for election. If no candidate wins a majority on the first ballot, the presiding officer shall call for a second ballot. If no candidate receives a majority on the second ballot, additional ballots shall be conducted until a new State Party Chair is elected, but the candidate receiving the least number of votes on each preceding ballot shall be eliminated from the successive vote