Manassas & Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee

CALL TO CAUCUS OF THE MANASSAS AND MANASSAS PARK CITIES DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE TO ELECT DELEGATES AND ALTERNATES TO VIRGINIA’S 10^th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY CONVENTIONS

April 13, 2024 Update: The caucus scheduled for April 20 has been CANCELLED because the number of individuals who filed to be a delegate or alternate from Manassas or Manassas Park is fewer than the number of seats available.

The Manassas and Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee (MMPCDC) will hold an unassembled caucus on Saturday, April 20^th, 2024 from 10 AM to 12 noon at 9502 Oakenshaw Drive, Manassas, VA 20110 for the purpose of electing delegates and alternates to Virginia’s 10^th Congressional District (CD10) and State Democratic Party Conventions. 

The CD10 Convention will be held on Saturday, May 11^th (doors will open at 11:00 AM for credential verification, prior to the start of the convention at 12 noon) at the Marshall Community Center, 4133-A Rectortown Rd, Marshall, VA 20115.  The State Convention will be held on Saturday, June 22, 2024, in Richmond, VA, starting at 10:00 AM.

I. Candidate Filing:

For both above-referenced conventions, the Democratic Party of Virginia (DPVA) has allocated 9 delegate and 3 alternate seats to the Democratic voters registered in the City of Manassas and 3 delegate and 1 alternate seats to the Democratic voters registered in the City of Manassas Park.

Each person seeking to become a delegate to the CD10 and State Conventions must file an electronic Declaration of Candidacy form by no later than 5:00 PM on Saturday, April 13th. This declaration form, which shall commit the prospective delegate to Joseph R Biden as the Democratic nominee for president of the United States, is posted at https://vademocrats.org/2024-state-delegate-and-alternate-filing-form/.  Further information is available at www.vademocrats.org/delegateselection.

II. Candidate Qualification:

To certify the eligibility of a candidate for election as delegate, the MMPCDC Chair shall ascertain that each prospective delegate:

• Is a resident of and registered to vote in the Cities of Manassas or Manassas Park, Virginia;
• Is a Democrat;
• Does not intend to support, endorse, or assist any candidate who is opposed to a Democratic nominee or endorsee in the November 2024 Election;
• Is not a member of any other political party; and
• Has not participated and will not participate in the nomination process of any other political party for the November 2024 Election.

Only candidates committed to the nomination of Joseph R Biden as the Democratic candidate for president of the United States may serve as delegates or alternates.

III. Notice:

The Manassas and Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee (MMPCDC) shall provide notice of this caucus by placement of a general notice of the caucus, including noticing the caucus date, time, and location, along with the Call to Caucus, on the Democratic Party of Virginia and the MMPCDC websites; by email notification to the MMPCDC members who reside in Manassas and Manassas Park; and through other reasonable means that will disseminate information about the caucus to registered voters in the Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park.  In addition, reasonable actions shall be taken to promote participation in the caucus in accordance with the Affirmative Action provisions of the Democratic Party of Virginia Party Plan.

IV. Caucus Participation:

Every Democrat who is a registered voter in the Cities of Manassas or Manassas Park is urged to attend and participate. Each participant must sign a written declaration that he or she:

• Is a Democrat and not a member of any other political party;
• Does not intend to support any candidate who is opposed to a Democratic nominee or endorsee in the November 2024 Election;
• Has not participated in and will not participate in the nominating process of any other party for the positions listed above; and
• Is registered to vote in the Cities of Manassas or Manassas Park.

V. Conduct of the Caucus:

Voting will begin at 10 AM and will close at noon. Those in line at the close of voting will be permitted to vote.

The Chair of the Manassas and Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee, or her designee, shall be the Chair of the Caucus and shall appoint a Secretary and such other Officers of the Caucus as is deemed appropriate. The Manassas and Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee will prepare the Rules for the Caucus.

VI. Determination of the Delegates:

If the number of candidates for delegate/alternate is greater than the total allocated to Manassas and/or Manassas Park Cities, then an election shall be held via the unassembled caucus. Candidates for delegate and caucus participants must all declare their commitment to Joseph R Biden as the Democratic nominee for president of the United States.  The Manassas and Manassas Park delegations shall comprise the highest vote-getters at the caucus for the number of delegate seats allocated.

Alternates shall be selected as the next highest vote-getters. For example, if presidential candidate Barack Obama was entitled to 5 delegates and 1 alternate, then the top five vote-getters shall be elected as Barack Obama delegates and the 6^th highest vote-getter shall be elected as the Barack Obama alternate.

If the number of filed candidates for delegate/alternate is equal to or fewer than the total allocated to Manassas and/or Manassas Park, the MMPCDC Chair shall cancel the respective caucus(es) and those delegate/alternate candidates who have filed shall be deemed to be elected by the caucus.

The rules for the Virginia Democratic Party Selection of Delegates can be found here.

Filing forms for delegate candidates and caucus attendees will be found here.

Adopted by the Manassas and Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee Leadership Committee on March 21, 2024