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Race For The Presidency
Winning the 2008 Nomination
By Rhodes Cook |
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On Feb. 19, Washington will hold its first presidential primary since 2000. But as before, it will only be used by the Republicans to allocate delegates. Democrats will elect delegates through a caucus process that begins Feb. 9.
Results from the GOP primary will allocate 19 delegates, with another 21 chosen at the culmination of a caucus process that also begins Feb. 9. Voters may participate in both the primary and the caucus of either party as long as they stay with the same party for both. At the caucuses, voters will be asked to sign an oath declaring their party affiliation.
As of August 2007, there were 2,681,541 registered voters in Washington.
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DEMOCRATS |
REPUBLICANS |
| THE PRIMARY CALENDAR |
Primary Date
(polling hours) |
Feb. 19
(7 a.m.-8 p.m.) |
Feb. 19
(7 a.m.-8 p.m.) |
| Filing Deadline |
Dec. 31, 2007 |
Dec. 31, 2007 |
| Filing Procedure |
The secretary of state announces by Nov. 21, 2007, the names of nationally recognized candidates to be placed on the ballot. Other candidates must submit petitions signed by 1,000 registered voters who identify themselves with the candidate's party. |
| THE CAUCUS CALENDAR |
| Precinct Caucuses |
Feb. 9 |
Feb. 9 |
| Legislative District Caucuses |
April 5 |
— |
| County Conventions |
April 19 |
March 1-April 20 |
| Congressional District Caucuses |
May 17 |
— |
| State Convention |
June 15 |
May 30-31 |
| THE DELEGATES |
| Number (% of national total) |
97 (2.2%) |
40 (1.7%) |
| Distribution: |
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By district |
51 (from 3 to 9 per district) |
27 (3 per district) |
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At-Large |
17 |
10 |
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Pledged PEOs |
10 |
— |
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RNC members |
— |
3 |
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Superdelegates |
19 |
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| Method of Allocation |
Proportional—15% of vote needed to win a share of statewide or district delegates. |
Proportional—The primary winner in each district wins one delegate; the other 10 delegates to be selected in the primary are divided in proportion to the statewide vote, presumably with 10% needed to qualify. the other 18 delegates are chosen at the state convention to reflect the outcome of the caucus process. |
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