WA Democrats Vote To Ditch Presidential Caucuses

SEATTLE, WA — Washington Democrats will get to vote in the 2020 presidential primary, and this time their votes will actually count.

The State Democratic Central Committee on Sunday voted 121 to 40 to move from a caucus system to a mail-in primary election for the 2020 presidential election. The primary results will be used to divvy up delegates, who will go on to the Democratic National Convention to help nominate a presidential candidate.

Under the old system, Democrats gathered at caucus sites across the state to pick presidential candidates. Caucuses had traditionally much lower turnout than the regular voting primary.

State Democrats will still use the caucus system to pick delegates to send to the DNC.

State Democrats Chair Tina Podlodowski said the switch will increase engagement in the political process statewide.