Mastodon
Join Now

Candidate Endorsement Policy

Section Image

Process Overview

Charleston DSA offers interested candidates for political office the opportunity to seek our endorsement. As a member-driven, democratic organization, all endorsement requests will be subject to review, debate, and discussion by members. Endorsements are not just the chapter recommending to our members who to vote for. It's a commitment of our volunteer labor and resources to being a part of a candidate's path to victory. The full policy can be found below the outline, and all candidates are highly encouraged to review it before initiating the endorsement process.

The process is outlined by the following milestones:

  • Interested candidates contact the chapter's Steering Committee via email, with a completed candidate questionnaire attached: info@charlestondsa.org

  • The chapter's Electoral Committee coordinates an introductory interview

  • At the next General Meeting, the candidate is highly encouraged to appear for introductions and Q&A, but in the candidate's absence a campaign representative will fulfill this role

  • At the General Meeting following the Q&A session, an endorsement resolution will be proposed, discussed, debated, and voted on. The candidate is highly encouraged to appear and state their final pitch for endorsement.

  • If a 2/3rds majority vote in favor, then the candidate will be endorsed, presented on our website along with other endorsed candidates, and volunteer labor coordination will promptly begin

Full Endorsement Policy

Purpose and Authority

This policy defines the criteria and process by which the Charleston Democratic Socialists of America (CHS DSA) (herein referred to as “the Chapter”) will endorse candidates for consideration within its jurisdiction.

As the highest decision-making body within the Chapter, the decision to endorse candidates resides with a vote at a General Meeting.

This policy takes precedence over other electoral resolutions passed by the Chapter and requires a two-thirds (2/3) vote at a General Meeting to amend.

Endorsement Consideration Process

  • Members of the Chapter may request endorsement of candidates within the jurisdiction of the Chapter.

  • Prior to being placed on a General Meeting agenda, the Steering Committee shall review and discuss all endorsement requests.

  • Endorsement requests introduced at one General Meeting shall be voted on at a subsequent General Meeting unless otherwise approved by the Steering Committee.

  • All endorsements shall require a two-thirds (2/3) vote at a General Meeting.

Guiding Principles

Endorsements represent a collective investment of Chapter resources, labor, and political credibility.

The Chapter shall prioritize:

  • Strategic and winnable campaigns

  • Deep organizing over symbolic endorsement

  • Building durable working-class political power

Prior to advancing any candidate for endorsement, the Electoral Committee shall evaluate:

  • District-level political conditions

  • A votes-to-win estimate based on expected turnout

  • The Chapter’s capacity to materially contribute to a winning campaign


Chartering a Campaign 

Once a candidate has been endorsed the Chapter shall charter an internal Campaign, per the Chapter's bylaws, to support an endorsed candidate. The campaign team will ensure compliance to DSA and state policies.

The campaign team and Steering Committee shall determine if the campaign should be a coordination campaign or a Political Action Committee (PAC), otherwise known as an Independent Expenditure Campaign.

Coordination Campaign

A coordination campaign means the Chapter is working with the candidate's campaign under the candidate’s direction or agreement. The candidate's campaign effectively “owns” or authorizes the work, and the Chapter is limited in what it can contribute outside of volunteer labor.

PAC (Political Action Committee)

A PAC is an independent political organization that operates under its own authority, but cannot coordinate with the candidate. It provides more autonomy to the Chapter at the cost of more ethical considerations and administrative overhead.

Please see DSA's Electoral Compliance Memo for more information

Candidates

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for endorsement, candidates must:

  • Be members in good standing of the Chapter, or agree to join upon endorsement

  • Demonstrate alignment with democratic socialist politics

  • Complete the Chapter’s Endorsement Questionnaire 

  • Disclose all sources of income to the Chapter for their campaign

  • Co-govern with the chapter via the Socialists in Office Campaign (SIOC).

  • Meet regularly with Chapter representatives

  • Maintain accountability to the Chapter and its membership

  • Hold at least one annual town hall open to Chapter members

The Chapter shall prioritize:

  • Cadre members

  • Members with a history of active involvement

  • Candidates from historically marginalized and working-class backgrounds

Candidate Engagement Requirements

Candidates seeking endorsement shall:

  • Attend at least one meeting with the Steering Committee, with time allocated for questions

  • Attend at least one meeting open to Chapter membership, with time allocated for questions and discussion

Expectations of Endorsed Candidates

Upon endorsement, candidates shall:

  • Publicly identify as Socialists or Democratic Socialists throughout their campaign

  • Promote the Chapter in campaign communications

  • Support Chapter growth, including:

    • Recruiting members

    • Participating in Chapter activities beyond their campaign

  • Share campaign data with the Chapter

  • Coordinate campaign strategy with Chapter leadership

The Chapter may seek national-level endorsement for endorsed candidates where applicable.

Non-Endorsed Candidates

  • Members of the Chapter may run for office without endorsement.

However:

  • Non-endorsed candidates shall not associate their campaign with the Chapter or the national organization

  • Non-endorsed candidates may not use Chapter resources, branding, or infrastructure

Violation of this policy may result in disciplinary action in accordance with Chapter rules and the DSA Code of Conduct.

Red Lines for Endorsement

The Chapter shall not endorse candidates who:

  • Support expansion of policing, incarceration, or surveillance systems

  • Support increases in military or national security spending

  • Are employed in:

    • Law enforcement

    • Prosecutorial or carceral systems

    • Defense or national security industries

  • Are current members of the military or national security agencies

  • Owns and rents residential property they do not personally occupy

    • This includes individual landlords or ownership through LLCs or other entities

Revoking Endorsement

Candidates may have their endorsement revoked if they:

  • Violate any portion of this policy

  • Violates the DSA Code of Conduct

  • Act in their official capacity in ways inconsistent with the values of the Chapter

Revocation Process

  1. A request must be submitted by at least three Chapter members

  2. The Steering Committee must approve the request by majority vote

  3. The General Meeting shall vote on revocation

The endorsement shall be revoked by a two-thirds (2/3) vote at a General Meeting.