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California Democratic Party Convention for 2008 Ends with No Endorsement in Migden-Leno Race—And a lot more

At right, California Democratic Party Chair Art Torres with long time parliamentarian Joel Wyatt advising while votes were counted in Migden-Leno endorsement contest

By Frank D. Russo

The California State Democratic Convention of 2008 finished its business by voting 742 to 298 (71.3%) to vacate the endorsement of incumbent Senator Carole Migden for the 3rd Senate District. A substitute motion to endorse Mark Leno failed, getting only 60.3% of the vote, with 75% needed for endorsement from the floor.

Following this issue—the most contentious one in an otherwise virtual love fest amongst California Democrats—the body approved by a voice vote the consent calendar comprising the remaining endorsements

In another vote on the 40th Assembly District, the convention overruled a district caucus recommendation to endorse bob Blumenfeld. There are four Democratic candidates running in the primary for that heavily Democratic seat.

The Democratic Party is now officially in opposition to Proposition 98 and in support of Proposition 99—both having to do with eminent domain—which will be on the June 2008 ballot. The party is also in support of the recall of State Senator Jeff Denham which has qualified for the ballot by signatures of voters in his Central California district because of his failure to support educational funding and his charting a more conservative course rather than sticking to his promise to be a more centrist Republican.

The convention had an unusually high attendance of 2118 registered delegates, surpassed only by last year’s convention in San Diego where the major Democratic Presidential candidates, Clinton, Obama, Edwards, Dodd, and Richardson appeared.

On the last day of the convention, delegates stuck around to hear from former President Bill Clinton on behalf of Hillary Clinton and San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris who spoke in favor of Barack Obama, both of whom received applause when they urged backers to support the Democratic nominee when the contest is decided.

We’ll have more wrap up articles on the convention, which saw more bloggers and journalists writing on line credentialed as media than the traditional print, television, and radio journalists.

Bottom line: The party adopted a new platform, grassroots Democrats were pumped up for the year’s elections with enthusiasm to turn blue seats in red territory, have over $6 million in the bank and have had a very good first quarter in raising money (in contradistinction to the bankrupt California Republican Party) and are in a great position for the November Presidential Election. The party has new blood, with many of the delegates under 30 and a new California Federation of Young Democrats President, Rocky Fernandez of Alameda County. There was a lot going on behind the scenes and in private conversations for three days, candidates for statewide office in 2010 were showcased and pressed the flesh.

More about all of this to come.

Posted on March 30, 2008

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