Apply for an Endorsement!

Syracuse DSA covers Onondaga, Oneida, Madison, Cortland, Cayuga, Oswego, Jefferson, Chenango, and Lewis counties. If your district is in or covers any of these counties, please feel free to reach out to us.

Please send all inquiries to syracusedsa@protonmail.com!

Syracuse DSA Endorsement Policy

A top priority of Syracuse DSA members is to elect socialists to positions of political power. A key part of this process is endorsing specific candidates. The following is the set of processes and requirements of the endorsement process.

Solicitation and Voting Process

Local Races (for districts either wholly or partially within our DSA chapter territory): 

• Candidates must ask for our endorsement. 
• Questionnaire is submitted to candidate and the electoral committee designates 1-2 people to deal directly with the campaign.
• The electoral committee reviews the questionnaire and makes a recommendation to steering committee on whether or not to put the endorsement to a membership vote.
• The chapter steering committee votes on whether or not to put the endorsement to a membership vote.
• If the vote is a simple majority, the steering committee decides by consensus whether or not to make this an online our in-person meeting vote among the membership. 
• Assuming a quorum exists, a simple majority in the membership vote means endorsement. 

State/National Races: 

• Candidates are reviewed, discussed and voted on by the electoral committee to submit nominations for endorsement to the steering committee. 
• A questionnaire may be submitted to these candidates, but there should be lighter expectations on whether or not a response is required.
• The steering committee discusses and debates nominations, voting on whether or not to put the endorsement to a membership vote. 
• If the vote is a simple majority, the steering committee decides by consensus whether or not to make this an online our in-person meeting vote among the membership. 
• Assuming a quorum exists, a simple majority in the membership vote means endorsement. 

Requirements of Candidates Seeking Endorsement 

Candidates seeking the endorsement of Syracuse DSA must meet the following criteria:

1. The candidate must understand they are encouraged to become a dues paying member of DSA. 
2. Local candidates must provide a personal statement and answer a questionnaire detailing their policy priorities and disclosing any conflicts of interest with the priorities of the Syracuse chapter and the national organization.
3. Candidates must be running to win, not just to make a point.

Given endorsement by the Syracuse chapter, local candidates may also seek endorsement from the national Democratic Socialists of America organization. The following are criteria put forth by the national organization that candidates must meet in order to be endorsed:

1. The candidate must be running as an open socialist.
2. The candidate must be running to win, not just make a point.
3. The candidate must be endorsed by their local chapter.

When Syracuse DSA has endorsed a candidate, the chapter will provide the following support to that candidate’s campaign:

1. Syracuse DSA will aid the candidate in seeking endorsement from the national organization if the candidate chooses to seek it.
2. Syracuse DSA will create a campaign in which members will carry petitions, phone bank, enter data, and canvass. 
3. Syracuse DSA will promote the candidate on its social media platforms.

Candidate Questionnaire

Please note: This questionnaire is subject to change given different campaigns and circumstances.