1. Joining New Jersey’s 2012
Delegation
A GUIDE TO BECOMING A
MEMBER OF NEW JERSEY’S
DELEGATION TO THE 2012
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL
CONVENTION

2. Charlotte 2012
• The convention is called for September 3-7, 2012
in Charlotte, North Carolina.
•Convention Delegates will formally re-nominate
President Obama to run for a second term and
adopt our party platform.
•Delegations from 56 states, territories and
Democrats Abroad will join together in Charlotte.
For more information on the convention, go to
www.demconvention.com.

3. New Jersey’s Delegation
Types of Delegates:
District Level Delegates and Alternates
• 102 delegates and 10 alternates
At-Large Delegates and Alternates
• 34 delegates and 3 alternates
Pledged Party Leader and Elected Official (PLEO’s)
• 17 delegates
Unpledged Party Leader and Elected Official
• 18 delegates
Total = 171 delegates and 13 alternates

4. District Level Delegates
• 102 delegates and 10 alternates.
• Elected from 20 delegate districts created by combining 2
contiguous state legislative districts.
• Must run in the delegate district you reside in.
• Elected on June 5, 2012 on the Presidential primary ballot.
• Elected district level delegates will be evenly divided between
men and women.
• Delegates: 51 men and 51 women.
• Alternates: 5 men and 5 women.

5. Delegate Districts
Delegate Legislative Delegate District Legislative
District Districts Districts
1 1 and 2 11 20 and 22
2 3 and 4 12 21 and 27
3 5 and 6 13 23 and 24
4 7 and 8 14 25 and 26
5 9 and 10 15 28 and 29
6 11 and 13 16 31 and 33
7 12 and 30 17 32 and 36
8 14 and 15 18 34 and 35
9 16 and 17 19 37 and 38
10 18 and 19 20 39 and 40

6. Other Types of Delegates
•At-Large Delegates
•34 delegates and 3 alternates.
• Elected by members of the NJ Democratic State Committee at
a meeting on June 16, 2012.
• Pledged Party Leader and Elected Official (PLEO) Delegates
•17 delegates.
• Eligible PLEO candidates are: big city mayors, state legislative
leaders, state legislators, County Executives and County Chairs.
• Elected by members of the NJ Democratic State Committee at
a meeting on June 16, 2012.
• Unpledged Party Leader and Elected Official Delegates
•18 delegates (9 DNC Members and 9 Members of Congressional
Delegation).
• Automatic by virtue of respective public or Party office.

7. Steps to Apply to Become a Delegate:
• Complete a Statement of Candidacy and Pledge of Support form and
return to the NJDSC:
•Forms are available at www.njdelegateselection.com.
•You must be a registered Democrat residing in the precinct and
delegate district you indicate on your form.
•Declare your Presidential preference or declare “uncommitted.”
• Submit your form by the following dates:
• March 12, 2012: District Level Delegate Candidates.
• June 7, 2012: PLEO and At-Large Delegate Candidates.
• After you submit your form, you must be approved by the campaign of
your Presidential preference to be eligible to run for delegate. This is
known as Presidential Candidate Right of Review.
• If you are selected to run as a District Level Delegate or Alternate
candidate, you will then have to complete and submit a petition bearing
at least 100 signatures to the Division of Elections by April 2, 2012.

8. Deadlines
March 12, 2012
District Level Delegate Candidates must submit Statement
of Candidacy and Pledge of Support form to NJDSC
April 2, 2012
District Level Delegate Candidates that were selected by the
Presidential Candidate must submit petition to the
Division of Elections in Trenton
June 7, 2012
PLEO and At-Large Delegate Candidates must submit
Statement of Candidacy and Pledge of Support form to
NJDSC

9. Presidential Candidate Right of Review
• Before becoming eligible for election, all delegate
candidates must be approved by the Presidential
Candidate’s authorized representative.
• Presidential Candidates must approve at least one
candidate for each delegate position awarded to them.
• When a delegate candidate is approved by the Presidential
Candidate, they become eligible to be elected to the
delegation.
•The Obama campaign has set up a website where delegate
candidates can provide background information:
https://my.barackobama.com/page/s/delegatereq

10. Representation Goals
•Representation goals were crafted with assistance from the
Affirmative Action Committee to ensure that all constituency groups
have a chance to fully participate in the process.
•The Representation Goals are:
• African American: 32 delegates
•Hispanic: 32 delegates
•Native American: 2 delegates
•Asian American and Pacific Islander: 17 delegates
•LGBT: 15 delegates
•People with Disabilities: 8 delegates
•Youth (under 36): 30 delegates

11. Important Dates
• January 3, 2012: Statement of Candidacy and Pledge of Support
forms become available from NJDSC.
• March 12, 2012: Forms for District Level Delegate candidates due
to NJDSC.
• April 2, 2012: Petitions due to Division of Elections.
• June 5, 2012: District Level Delegates elected on primary ballot.
• June 7, 2012: Forms for At-Large and PLEO Delegate candidates
due to NJDSC.
• June 16, 2012: At-Large and PLEO Delegates elected at a meeting
of the NJ Democratic State Committee.
• June 21, 2012: New Jersey 2012 Democratic National Convention
Delegation meets. Standing committee members
and pages are selected.
• September 3-7, 2012: Democratic National Convention in
Charlotte, NC.

12. For More Information:
The complete plan and
other helpful delegate
selection materials are
available at
www.njdelegateselection.com

13. Contact Information
Matt Bonasia
609-392-3367
delegateselection@njdems.org