10.3 Choosing Candidates For Public Office: The Nomination Process

Elective Office Half a million people in US hold office

Most elections Candidates compete for their party’s nomination 1st = Primary election Then = General Election (one from each party)

Primary Elections Common in US Rare in rest of world Early 1900’s = Progressive Era Before nominees were selected by party leaders Primary elections brought selection process out in open

Closed Primary Voting limited to registered party members Limits voting to party faithful

Open Primary All voters can vote Votes decide which party primary to vote in on election day Allows participation in primary of the voters choice

Problems? Yes… Anyone can declare themselves a member of a party and vote………usually for the weaker candidate. This takes away real votes from the stronger candidate…..and this party will be defeated in the general election

Other types Blanket Primary (only a few states) = choose a candidate from either party Nonpartisan Primary = City Council/school board/sheriff . Majority of votes wins

Participation Become declared candidate Self announcement (press conference) Before….exploratory committee (is there public support) Weeks ………Years

Establish a Campaign Organization Must run a well organized campaign Small = volunteers (manager & treasurer) Large = Volunteers and paid specialists $$$$$$$$$$$

$$$$$$$ Candidates need to raise $$ Fundraisers Asking for $$ Campaign moves forward with $$

And Campaign Strategies and Themes…. Most states = primary Some use the party caucus (12 states)

caucus Closed meeting of people from one political party who will select candidiates or delegates

What happens Small groups of party members meet in their communities to discuss who is running Then….. delegates are chosen to represent a candidate at that party’s state convention

Iowa Caucuses Watched closely during a presidential election year 1st indicator of presidential race

Must Develop a Strategy Tone = positive or nagative Theme = “change” “yes we can” “forward” “make America great again” Targeting = middle class, elderly, blue collar

Also How to present candidates political views Different in primary than in general election Need to appeal to party base More extreme views than average voter

Reaching The Voters 3 approaches Retail Politics = “meet and greet” Or direct contact with voters…..in touch with ordinary people

Wholesale politics Mail and media campaigns Reach 1000’s TV ads Televised debates Internet Social media

Micro-targeting Uses databases to narrow groups of voters and reaches them with custom messages Reaches a certain group or sends a specific message

Getting the Nomination Summer before Presidential election D & R hold a national convention Presidential nominees are chosen through primaries and caucus process Party officially nominates a candidate

Another Way Petition Independent and third party candidates Collect signatures from qualified voters to be placed on ballot Laws differ from state to state

check When did primary elections begin? Who can vote in a closed primary? What are the key elements of a campaign strategy? What is the purpose of the national convention?