2023 Letter of Support or DFL Candidate Endorsements
As of May 4, 2023 SD47 tabled the motion to create a SoWashCo committee.
SD47 DFL efforts will go to
1 Get Out the Vote
2 Be an Informed Voter
As of May 4, 2023 SD47 tabled the motion to create a SoWashCo committee.
SD47 DFL efforts will go to
1 Get Out the Vote
2 Be an Informed Voter
MN Secretary of State website has Candidate Requirements
https://www.sos.state.mn.us/election-administration-campaigns/become-a-candidate/candidate-qualifications/
https://www.sos.state.mn.us/election-administration-campaigns/become-a-candidate/candidate-qualifications/
All Candidates
- must be eligible to vote in Minnesota
- must have not filed for another office at the upcoming primary or general election
- must be 21 years of age or more upon assuming office
- must have maintained residence in their district* for at least 30 days before the general election
*Note: Candidates for federal office are exempt; see Additional Qualifications for Specific Offices below.
Major Party Candidates
- must have participated in the party's most recent precinct caucuses, or intend to vote for a majority of the party's candidates at the next general election
Additional Qualifications for Specific Offices
UNITED STATES SENATOR
- must be an inhabitant of Minnesota when elected
- must be at least 30 years old upon assuming office
- must be a citizen of the United States for at least nine years upon assuming office
UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE
- must be an inhabitant of Minnesota when elected
- must be at least 25 years old upon assuming office
- must be a citizen of the United States at least seven years upon assuming office
GOVERNOR OR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
- must be at least 25 years old upon assuming office
- must be a resident of Minnesota for at least one year before the general election
STATE JUDICIAL OFFICERS
- must be licensed to practice law in Minnesota
STATE SENATOR OR REPRESENTATIVE
- must be a resident of Minnesota for at least one year before the general election
- must be a resident of their district for at least six months before the general election
COUNTY SHERIFF
- must be licensed as a peace officer in Minnesota
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER
- must have not been convicted of an offense for which they are required to register as a predatory offender under Minnesota Statutes 243.166
Information about other qualifications for county, municipal, school district, or special district offices is available from the filing officer.
Holding Two Offices at the Same Time
Minnesota Statutes provide that one person cannot hold certain combinations of offices at the same time, with a few exceptions. Review the Compatibility of Offices brief written by Minnesota House Research for more information on this topic.
Candidate Filing Deadlines
(Campaigning starts ~1 year before you file; set up your Treasurer and bank accounts)
Federal Offices
Candidates for U.S. Senator and U.S. Representative may file from
May 21, 2024 until June 4, 2024 at 5 pm.
State Offices
Candidates for State Representative and any Judicial office may file from
May 21, 2024 until June 4, 2024 at 5 pm.
County Offices
Candidates for county offices such as County Commissioner and Soil and Water Supervisor may file from
May 21, 2024 until June 4, 2024 at 5 pm.
City Offices
The filing dates for city offices such as Mayor and Council Member depend on whether the city holds primaries or not.
- Candidates in cities where a primary is possible may file from May 16, 2023 until May 30, 2023 at 5 pm.
- Candidates in cities where a primary is not held may file from August 1, 2023 until August 15, 2023 at 5 pm.
Township Offices
The filing dates for township offices such as Town Supervisor, Town Clerk, and Town Treasurer depend on whether the town holds its elections in March or November.
- Candidates in towns that hold elections in March may file from January 3, 2023 until January 17, 2023 at 5 pm.
- Candidates in towns that hold elections in November may file from August 1, 2023 until August 15, 2023 at 5 pm.
School District Offices
The filing dates for school district offices such as School Board Member depend on whether the school district holds primaries or not.
- Candidates in school districts where a primary is possible may file from May 16, 2023 until May 30, 2023 at 5 pm.
- Candidates in school districts where a primary is not held may file from August 1, 2023 until August 15, 2023 at 5 pm.
2022 Endorsement and Letter of Support for Local Candidates
Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) Senate District (SD) 47
Re-Adopted by DFL SD47 Central Committee May 19, 2022
(Adopted by DFL SD53 Central Committee 2020)
1 Local Candidates seeking endorsement: Contact senatedistrict47@gmail.com and tell us the (county, city, local, school board) office you seek. (May 31 & Aug 16, 2022 filing dates)
2 Send us info to post on the Candidates Hall:
a) Photo headshot
b) Contact info, website, social media
c) Questionnaire
3 Interview with our Screening Committee
4 Present <3 min. speech at our 3rd Thursday Central Commitee, where we vote.
BACKGROUND
The background is provided for information only and is NOT part of the policy.
SD47 reaffirmed this process. The SD53 committee charge was to recommend a process to “support” or “endorse” candidates for local elected offices (e.g. City Council, Mayor, County offices, and School boards).
The process for endorsement(s) in legislative races is already spelled out in existing DFL SD 53 documents and these recommendations do NOT change those processes.
The City of Woodbury and Washington County D5 has elected offices within the current geographic boundaries of SD47. This city has no primary.
Other local offices such as school boards (elections are held in odd-numbered or even-numbered years depending on the school district) and county offices (elections are held in even-numbered years) although partially located in SD 53 are geographically located in more than one SD. (Filings for County races or School board races with a primary [held only when there are more than two candidates for a single office close June 2 in 2021) In 2021 the primary election will be on August 10 and the general election will be on November 2.
RECOMMENDATION 1:
To authorize the DFL SD 53 Central Committee members residing within the geographic boundaries of the City of Woodbury or D5 to endorse candidates who seek DFL support for Mayor or City Council provided:
2 Send us info to post on the Candidates Hall:
a) Photo headshot
b) Contact info, website, social media
c) Questionnaire
3 Interview with our Screening Committee
4 Present <3 min. speech at our 3rd Thursday Central Commitee, where we vote.
BACKGROUND
The background is provided for information only and is NOT part of the policy.
SD47 reaffirmed this process. The SD53 committee charge was to recommend a process to “support” or “endorse” candidates for local elected offices (e.g. City Council, Mayor, County offices, and School boards).
The process for endorsement(s) in legislative races is already spelled out in existing DFL SD 53 documents and these recommendations do NOT change those processes.
The City of Woodbury and Washington County D5 has elected offices within the current geographic boundaries of SD47. This city has no primary.
Other local offices such as school boards (elections are held in odd-numbered or even-numbered years depending on the school district) and county offices (elections are held in even-numbered years) although partially located in SD 53 are geographically located in more than one SD. (Filings for County races or School board races with a primary [held only when there are more than two candidates for a single office close June 2 in 2021) In 2021 the primary election will be on August 10 and the general election will be on November 2.
RECOMMENDATION 1:
To authorize the DFL SD 53 Central Committee members residing within the geographic boundaries of the City of Woodbury or D5 to endorse candidates who seek DFL support for Mayor or City Council provided:
- The endorsement will require a quorum (a majority of the eligible voters) and a 60% affirmative vote of the voters present and voting (including blanks and abstentions) and every ballot (including blanks and abstentions) is a test of the quorum.[1]
- Endorsements can be equal to or less than the number of positions to be elected but cannot be greater than the number of positions to be elected.
RECOMMENDATION 2:
DFL SD47 uses a process of “Letter of Support” to indicate preferences for local candidates who seek DFL support where the geographic boundaries of the position are partially within SD47. If, however, the geography of the position includes geography in other Senate District/s or organizing unit the candidate must secure a “ Letter of Support” from the additional Senate District/s where the geographic boundary for the race falls. Only DFL SD 53 Central Committee members residing within the geographic boundaries of the electoral area are eligible to vote.
DFL SD47 uses a process of “Letter of Support” to indicate preferences for local candidates who seek DFL support where the geographic boundaries of the position are partially within SD47. If, however, the geography of the position includes geography in other Senate District/s or organizing unit the candidate must secure a “ Letter of Support” from the additional Senate District/s where the geographic boundary for the race falls. Only DFL SD 53 Central Committee members residing within the geographic boundaries of the electoral area are eligible to vote.
- The “ Letter of Support” will require a quorum (a majority of the eligible voters) and a 60% affirmative vote of the voters present and voting (including blanks and abstentions) and every ballot (including blanks and abstentions) is a test of the quorum.[2] To be valid at least three Central Committee members who reside within the electoral jurisdiction must vote on the Letter of Support.[3]
Candidates seeking endorsement or a “ Letter of Support” should:
- Be given the opportunity to appear in person before the DFL SD47 Central Committee
- Appear at the next Central Committee after their request and after filings close
- Have the opportunity to provide written materials
- Be allowed to speak to the Central Committee for three minutes and respond to questions with answers limited to one minute
- Receive a formal letter from the Chair (or designee) of DFL SD47 Central Committee outlining the action taken by the appropriate voting members of the Central Committee
- Be copied on a letter from the DFL SD47 Chair(or designee) sent to the State DFL when an endorsement or a “Letter of Support” is adopted.
4] - A “Letter of Support” is NOT an Official DFL endorsement but only those candidates receiving a “Letter of Support” from all relevant organizing units or Senate Districts may advertise that they have received the letter and may purchase access to the DFL Voter File.[5]
- Understand “Letters of Support” can be equal to or less than the number of positions to be elected but cannot be greater than the number of positions to be elected.
It is the candidate’s responsibility to seek the “Letter of Support” from DFL SD47 and other relevant DFL SDs or organizing units if applicable.
RECOMMENDATION 3
A screening committee of three to five Central Committee members should be established to meet with individual candidates seeking endorsement or “Letters of Support” for the purpose of determining a candidates level of support for the DFL and the screening committee will report their findings to the Central Committee prior to any votes on endorsements or “Letters of Support”.
The screening committee should contact ALL candidates who have filed to advise them of the opportunity to participate in this process.
RECOMMENDATION 4:
The following DFL Senate Districts be notified by letter that this “Letter of Support” policy has been adopted by DFL SD47: SD33, SD41, SD44, Ramsey County DFL, Washington County DFL, City of Maplewood DFL.
In 2020: SD 39, SD 43, SD 52, SD 54, and SD 67. In addition, the Ramsey County DFL and City of Maplewood DFL should also be notified. (See recommendation 2)
Publicity about these processes could be shared via DFL SD47 website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Woodbury Newsletter to residents, Pioneer Press and Star Tribune neighborhood sections, and a handout for candidates.
RECOMMENDATION 3
A screening committee of three to five Central Committee members should be established to meet with individual candidates seeking endorsement or “Letters of Support” for the purpose of determining a candidates level of support for the DFL and the screening committee will report their findings to the Central Committee prior to any votes on endorsements or “Letters of Support”.
The screening committee should contact ALL candidates who have filed to advise them of the opportunity to participate in this process.
RECOMMENDATION 4:
The following DFL Senate Districts be notified by letter that this “Letter of Support” policy has been adopted by DFL SD47: SD33, SD41, SD44, Ramsey County DFL, Washington County DFL, City of Maplewood DFL.
In 2020: SD 39, SD 43, SD 52, SD 54, and SD 67. In addition, the Ramsey County DFL and City of Maplewood DFL should also be notified. (See recommendation 2)
Publicity about these processes could be shared via DFL SD47 website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Woodbury Newsletter to residents, Pioneer Press and Star Tribune neighborhood sections, and a handout for candidates.
[1] See Constitution of SD 53 Article III, Section 2 and Article VI Section 3.
[3] This provision was adopted by the DFL State Central Committee at their December 2020 meeting.
[4] Mailing lists will become more important with the discontinuance of the Woodbury Bulletin. Requires written notice to the DFL.
[5] See footnote 3.
MN Senate District 47 DFL
