Let's Caucus!

The Caucus system is not something new.  In fact, we caucus every four years; we set the delegates, vote on party platform changes, and any other business that comes up. What makes this year’s caucus extra special (or extra confusing) is the fact the Missouri Presidential Primary did not bind the delegates. It frankly did not do anything but cost taxpayers millions of dollars. But that’s a whole ‘nother story. Normally, Missourians vote on Primary day and the delegates chosen at Caucus automatically count towards the winner of the Primary. So, in the past, for example, if you were a Romney supporter in 2008 and were chosen as a delegate at any level, your convention vote was going to John McCain regardless since he won the Primary. 

This year, the National Parties said only 4 states could hold their primaries prior to March 1 (Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada), or face a loss in delegates awarded to your State for the National Conventions.  Florida held theirs anyway. But Missouri tried to move the primary, and, unfortunately, as with so many things in our State Legislature, it did not work. The Parties, not wanting to lose delegates at the Conventions, quickly called for a Caucus system, and we ended up holding a Primary that did not count towards delegates votes (depending on which campaign you ask, there are varying accounts to what the Primary results meant or showed).

Every county in Missouri will meet on March 17, except St. Louis City and Jackson County (Kansas City). Those fine folks appreciate the importance of St. Patrick’s Day and they got the okay to move their date. I can’t explain why we picked March 17th, of all days, but I’m Irish, and I guess those in charge of Caucus date picking are not. No one is perfect.

In St. Louis County, we meet at the Township level. If you want to participate and do not know in which Township you live, you can contact the St. Louis County Board of Elections. Better yet, their website has a map of the Townships; save them the time and try to answer your own question first. Then, contact your Committeeman or Committeewoman and they can provide more information such as location. Each Township will have different rules and the meetings will vary in other ways. But each will elected delegates and alternates to both the State and Congressional Conventions. The number of delegates allocated will vary from Township to Township.

Should you make it to the State Convention, they will follow the same procedure to elect the Delegates-at-large and Alternates-at-large to the National Convention. Same thing at the Congressional Convention, expect each Congressional District will send (3) the same number of delegates (no at-large). That’s the caveat. The March 17th Caucuses don’t name the final delegates to the National Convention; if you’re wanting to know who won the “Missouri Caucus,” you’ll have to wait until June and the State Convention. And you thought Florida in 2000 was a long wait.

No Caucus or Primary is done the same way. Every State can do it a little differently. Michigan had a primary, yet awards its delegates by the Congressional District. Iowa is the first and most famous Caucus, yet they don’t award their delegates until the end of Primary and Caucus season. New Hampshire, on the other hand, holds the first Primary and awards their delegates right then and there (that doesn’t sound like such a bad idea). 

It’s an interesting, confusing and stressful event.  But at the end of day, we’ve gathered at the most basic and communal level to initiate the process of electing the next President. We may not agree with our neighbor and our candidate may end up losing. The fight goes on. Love it or hate it, there isn’t anything more American.

*A special Thank You to State Representative Cloria Brown for her helpful and insightful thoughts during the writing of this blog. No one understands public service better than Cloria (well, her and that wonderful Chairwoman from Grantwood Village).