Endorsements Policy

Adopted by the Board on August 13, 2020

  • Endorsements are overseen by the LACYD Board, led and organized by the Political Committee, and ultimately confirmed by a vote of the membership.
  • As our membership is based in LA County, LACYD does not consider endorsements in elections occurring elsewhere except when the Board determines that special circumstances warrant such consideration.
  • Requests for Endorsement of a candidate or ballot measure in any given election can be submitted any time. The LACYD Board may reach out to campaigns regarding elections considered important for the organization.
  • The LACYD Board will determine on a rolling basis the races in which the organization will consider an endorsement. Although the LACYD Board reserves the right to consider an endorsement in a race at any time, Requests For Endorsement received fewer than 60 days prior to the election in question may not be considered.
  • For any election in which the LACYD Board has decided to make an endorsement, each Democratic candidate or each representative of a ballot measure shall have the opportunity to respond to a detailed Candidate Questionnaire. If the LACYD Board determines by majority vote that interviews are warranted, all Democratic campaigns in that election will be invited to appear. 
  • All candidates for local and state offices, as well as Congressional offices, will be required to sign the Young Democrats for Racial Justice Candidate Pledge to be considered for Endorsement.
    • Starting in 2021, candidates funded by police unions will no longer be eligible for consideration in our endorsement process.
    • Collectively, Young Democrats groups across the region will form a joint committee that will review and evaluate Democratic candidates, their campaign contributions, voting records, stated positions, and other indicators of their commitment to racial justice. These findings will form a critical part of our endorsement processes going forward and will help Young Democratic groups throughout the state make informed decisions about whom they will support.
    • Individual organizations will continue to make their own endorsement decisions according to their own bylaws and processes
  • All endorsements must be approved by a membership vote, with those endorsements recommended by the Board placed on the consent calendar.
    • Endorsements placed on the consent calendar can be removed (or “pulled”) if 15% of voting members present vote to do so.
    • An endorsement will be voted on by only those dues-paying members who have been members at least four days in advance of that vote.
    • For further details regarding voting on endorsements by the membership, please consult the Bylaws.