What: Become a delegate to the 2026 Massachusetts Democratic Convention! This year’s convention is a nominating convention where delegates will endorse candidates for • U.S. Senate • U.S. House • Governor • Lt. Gov • Attorney General • Secretary of State • State executive offices for their inclusion on the democratic primary ballot.
Why: Our Democratic leaders in Massachusetts do not seem to realize the existential threat of fascism engulfing our country. While our Commonwealth is considered to be progressive or liberal by the rest of the nation, our legislation and policies often fail that standard. Our Democratic supermajority has done little or nothing to protect us against the regime, indeed it even attempted to roll back climate initiatives to bow down to Trump. At the platform convention last year, state party leaders attempted to eviscerate our policy platform, but delegates revolted and held the line.
The nominating convention seeks to protect the status quo and keep out new participants. Candidates for statewide office must receive 15% of the vote for that office at the convention to be included on the primary ballot, which disadvantages challengers to the incumbent. Our goal is to at least get these challengers on the ballot in order for the whole state to be able to have a choice in the September primary.
The status quo is also protected by the strict procedures that delegates must adhere to, including being elected as a delegate at this year’s caucus, attending the convention in person, and paying the fee to attend (although there is some financial aid available).
Unenrolled voters in Massachusetts, which constitute 64% of registered voters, are also shut out of this process. (25% are registered as Democrats and 9% are registered as Republicans). You are allowed to change your registration to Democrat in order to participate in your town’s caucuses.
Delegates have more access to ballot candidates. You will be able to talk to them directly in many cases. You will be sent special materials that lobby for your vote.
Indivisible’s 2026 Initiative to fight for a Democratic Party that will fight for us has inspired this call to action.
Where: Your local Democratic Caucus, and the 2026 Nominating Convention at the DCU Center in Worcester
When: You must be elected a delegate by your local Democratic Committee in their official caucus, in February and March. The Massachusetts Democratic Party’s 2026 Nominating Convention will be held in the City of Worcester at the DCU Center on Friday and Saturday, May 29th and 30th.
How: The MassDems website explains that
- You must be a registered Democrat in that town or ward at the time of the caucus and convention to be elected as a delegate or to vote for delegates. A pre-registered Democrat, who must be 16 years old by the start of the caucus window (Feb 19th) is also eligible to attend, run, and vote.
- Election requires a nomination, a second, and getting enough votes to “win.” Potential delegates are allowed to speak and often do say who they are supporting (or are asked).
- Pay close attention to the starting time, and plan to be early (Doors open 30 minutes before). The Mass Dems have strict rules about “closing the doors” to be eligible for running or voting for a delegate. Competitiveness and number of delegates varies from town to town. Some committees have long time members that expect to go, and some towns don’t have enough people to fill their gender balanced delegate slots. The Committee Chairs are ex-officio delegates and are not counted in the number of slots available.
- How are the number of delegates for your town determined?
- Each committee is allotted a total number of delegates and alternates. This is based on the number of registered Democrats in the town/ward/precinct.
- The delegation must be gender balanced. So if you have only 2 delegates, you’ll elect one male and one female or one male and one non-binary or one female and one non-binary.
- Any candidate who is not elected as a delegate by the caucus and is a person that identifies with one or more of the following constituencies: Disability, Underrepresented Racial and Ethnic Groups (UREG), LGBTQ+, Veteran or Youth (age 16-35), is eligible to apply to the Democratic State Committee for selection as an add-on delegate. Applications are rarely denied.
- There is a fee to attend the Convention but you can apply for state financial aid. The registration fee this year is $85. Disabled, seniors (65+) and youth (only 16 – 25) delegates may pay a reduced fee of $50. Mass Dems encourage the DTCs to pay the fees (or assist with the cost).