Clay County DFL 2026 Caucus Information

Want to caucus on February 3? Here's what you need to know.

What are precinct caucuses?

The caucuses are gatherings that happen every other year when DFLers meet with neighbors in our precincts and discuss important party business. Caucusgoers introduce and vote on resolutions that could make their way all the way to the national Democratic Party platform. They will also elect delegates to the county convention and senate district conventions. If you want to participate in the process of selecting which resolutions go forward and which DFL candidates for state legislature and congress receive endorsements, you need to become a delegate at your precinct caucus. In any event, caucus is a great opportunity to meet fellow Democrats.

When are they?

February 3. Registration opens at 6 pm, and the caucuses must begin at 7 pm by Minnesota law. They typically last for about an hour.

Where are they?

Clay County’s precinct caucuses will be held in 3 locations:

Moorhead at the MSUM .
Hawley Elementary School Media Center.
Barnesville High School.

You must attend the correct location for your precinct! You can find the location of your precinct caucus (after January 14) at the Minnesota Secretary of State's website.

When you register on caucus night, you will be directed to the room for your precinct caucus.

Who can caucus?

Participants should consider themselves a member of the DFL Party and not be an active member of any other political party, and be at least 16 years old. To vote or be elected as a delegate during the caucus, you must be at least 18 years old (a recent change eliminated the requirement that you need to be eligible to vote in the next election).

What if I want to be a delegate but I can't attend the caucus?

Fill out the non-attendee form and return it to claydflchair@gmail.com between January 1 and January 31.

How do I learn more?

Visit the state DFL caucus information page or email claydflchair@gmail.com.

What is happening with precinct caucuses?

Most years, a caucus is a gathering of like-minded people for the purpose of discussing issues and organizing politically. Unfortunately, the COVID surge has made getting together too risky, so we have chosen an option offered by the state DFL to hold "contactless" caucuses. It won't be the same, but it will allow us to conduct the necessary business of launching the 2022 election season.

The good news is that it's easy to join in.

Who can participate?

Participants should consider themselves a member of the DFL Party and not be an active member of any other political party, and be at least 16 years old. To vote or be elected as a delegate during the caucus, you must be at least 18 years old (a recent change eliminated the requirement that you need to be eligible to vote in the next election).

Be a part of charting our future.

Why should you participate?

You care deeply about an issue or issues, and you want to introduce resolutions for inclusion in the state party platform.
You are interested in becoming a delegate to the county convention in April to help ensure that Clay County DFL has strong leadership for the years ahead.
If you’re a delegate to the county convention, you are also eligible for election to the state convention.
You realize how important it is to elect Democrats this November.

What do you need to do?

First, download this non-attendee form and fill it out, or complete this simplified Google form. Each precinct is allotted an ample number of delegate positions, so if you submit either form, you are virtually guaranteed a spot as a delegate to the county convention. Delegates elect directors for the county unit and delegates and alternates to the state convention, vote on what the DFL's priorities should be, and vote to endorse candidates. You can find out what precinct you're in by going to https://caucus.dfl.org/.
If you are interested in introducing a resolution or resolutions, download this form and fill it out. All resolutions we receive will be compiled by a committee and brought to the county convention for their consideration.

Then there are 3 ways to turn the forms in:

You can mail them to to Clay County DFL, PO Box 161, Moorhead, MN 56561, postmarked on or (even better) before February 1.
You can send them as email attachments to claydflchair@gmail.com.
You can drop them on February 1 between 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. at one of these locations: Clay County DFL office, 1424 1st Ave. N. in Moorhead (next door to Junkyard Brewing); Comstock Memorial Union on the campus of Minnesota State University Moorhead; Barnesville High School; or Hawley High School.

All forms must be received by 9 p.m. on February 1.