Caucuses provide the chance to get involved
Alicia Lebens
Issue date: 2/10/10 Section: News
Before Feb. 2, the 2010 state elections were only warming up. The race has now begun for those political hopefuls vying for the gubernatorial position.
The beginning to any political race is the support of the party. While a caucus is not the endorsement of any particular candidate, it does show the direction in which the party is leaning.
During a caucus, members of a political party come together to discuss any changes they want to see. They divide amongst precincts, which are based on voter turnout from the previous election.
"A caucus is the fundamental part of the political process. It allows neighbors to come together, discuss their party platform and begin to elect delegates to the state and congressional level," said Carinda Horton, who is running as a Republican for the House District 7A.
A unique part of the caucus system, opposed to the primary system, is that it allows individuals to learn about their party's platform and work to change it, if they wish.
Caucuses do not have as large of a draw to the polls that an election would have.
"In the 2008 election in the 7A district, 415 attended the Republican Party caucus. That is a small fraction compared to the more than 30,000 voters in the district. That was a good year," Horton said.
For college students, the caucuses are an opportunity to get involved in the political process. Those students living on campus make up an entire precinct of voters, precinct 10. The students who attended the caucuses are now a big part of the direction of their party.
"The caucus is a good indicator of where the active members of the party would go. In order to get the endorsement of the party, you need the support of those who are active in the party," Horton said.
The results of the Feb. 2 caucus show some of the front-runners in the gubernatorial race. For the Republican Party, Marty Seifert and Tom Emmer lead the race, Seifert with 50 percent of the votes and Emmer with 39.5 percent.
The race is more uncertain within the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), with no one grabbing more than 22 percent of the votes. R.T. Rybak leads with 22 percent, followed by Margret Anderson Kelliher with 20 percent and a substantial 14.5 percent that remain uncommitted.
As the November elections come closer, the gubernatorial race began with the caucus.
"Everything happens on this night," Horton said.
The beginning to any political race is the support of the party. While a caucus is not the endorsement of any particular candidate, it does show the direction in which the party is leaning.
During a caucus, members of a political party come together to discuss any changes they want to see. They divide amongst precincts, which are based on voter turnout from the previous election.
"A caucus is the fundamental part of the political process. It allows neighbors to come together, discuss their party platform and begin to elect delegates to the state and congressional level," said Carinda Horton, who is running as a Republican for the House District 7A.
A unique part of the caucus system, opposed to the primary system, is that it allows individuals to learn about their party's platform and work to change it, if they wish.
Caucuses do not have as large of a draw to the polls that an election would have.
"In the 2008 election in the 7A district, 415 attended the Republican Party caucus. That is a small fraction compared to the more than 30,000 voters in the district. That was a good year," Horton said.
For college students, the caucuses are an opportunity to get involved in the political process. Those students living on campus make up an entire precinct of voters, precinct 10. The students who attended the caucuses are now a big part of the direction of their party.
"The caucus is a good indicator of where the active members of the party would go. In order to get the endorsement of the party, you need the support of those who are active in the party," Horton said.
The results of the Feb. 2 caucus show some of the front-runners in the gubernatorial race. For the Republican Party, Marty Seifert and Tom Emmer lead the race, Seifert with 50 percent of the votes and Emmer with 39.5 percent.
The race is more uncertain within the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), with no one grabbing more than 22 percent of the votes. R.T. Rybak leads with 22 percent, followed by Margret Anderson Kelliher with 20 percent and a substantial 14.5 percent that remain uncommitted.
As the November elections come closer, the gubernatorial race began with the caucus.
"Everything happens on this night," Horton said.
Be the first to comment on this story