Politics & Government

Caucus Talk From A Woodbury Expert

Party members will gather Tuesday to elect delegates.

The 2012 election is nine months away, but local party officials will start making decisions on which candidates they will back this year during Tuesday night’s caucuses.

Patch asked Tom Kosel, director of government relations at the in Woodbury, for the lowdown on caucuses.

What is a caucus?

At its basic level, a caucus is an opportunity for those of the same political ilk to gather and discuss issues, their party’s positions on certain matters and, of course, elect people as delegates.

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“It’s really a grassroots, town hall sort of thing,” Kosel said. “It’s a chance to be at the bottom level of the decision-making.”

Anyone who is eligible to vote can go to a caucus in their respective precinct, which begins at the state Senate district level.

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“It’s a lot of fun and you get to know your neighbors,” he said.

What happens there?

A party will elect delegates to go on to the county level, and make decisions on issues that become part of that party’s platform, Kosel said.

“But the delegates are the most important thing,” he said.

Straw polls also typically held to gauge support for certain candidates, Kosel said, noting that the reason so many GOP presidential candidates have been in Minnesota recently is because the state’s caucuses are Tuesday.

Those who want to be delegates at the state caucuses in June must first be selected at the Senate district level, he said.

“From there, the funnel keeps getting narrower,” Kosel said.

District convention delegates then elect delegates to the political party's congressional and state conventions. Delegates help set which candidates and policy positions their party ultimately endorses.

The events usually last about an hour and a half.

Caucus vs Primary

Some states have primaries instead of caucuses.

“Primaries tend to get more attention, but caucuses are kind of how this government started,” said Kosel, who has been attending caucuses himself for more than two decades.

He said he likes that it’s a holdover from the foundation of the United States.

“It’s basic grassroots American democracy,” Kosel said.

Local Events

Check out the Secretary of State’s website for more information on caucuses.

Local caucus events are also posted on Patch for both Republicans and DFLers.


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