Descriptive Summary
Access
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Acquisition Information
Biography/Administrative History
Scope and Content of Collection
Indexing Terms
Additional collection guides
Descriptive Summary
Title: California Democratic Party Convention 2017
Dates: May 2017
Collection Number: FC.2017.03
Creator/Collector:
Nicholas Seider
Extent: 2 Document Boxes
Repository:
California State University, Fullerton. University Archives and Special Collections
Fullerton, California 92834-4150
Abstract: Delegate and attendee materials from the California Democratic Party's 2017 annual convention in Sacramento, California.
Language of Material: English
Access
The collection is open for research. Some materials within the collection are subject to access restrictions and/or reproduction
restrictions.
Publication Rights
Property rights reside with the California State University, Fullerton University Archives and Special Collections. No part
may be quoted for publication without the written permission of the University Archives & Special Collections, CSU Fullerton
or the copyright holder.
Requests for permission to quote from these materials should be addressed to:
California State University, Fullerton
University Archives & Special Collections
800 N. State College, PLS-352 |Fullerton, CA 92834-3599
(657) 278-3444
Permission requests for photograph use can be made by the completion of an Application for use-images form.
Preferred Citation
California Democratic Party Convention 2017. California State University, Fullerton. University Archives and Special Collections
Acquisition Information
No accruals expected.
Biography/Administrative History
As of 2017, California Democratic Party is the largest state Democratic Party in the United States. It holds an annual convention
where a platform is agreed upon, officer elections take place, and resolutions are put forward and voted on. At the 2017 convention,
one-third of the delegates were elected officials and their appointed delegates, one-third were county democratic party central
committee members, and one-third were publicly elected assembly delegates. The 2017 CDP convention was particularly significant
due to the party officer elections, most notably the election for chair. The two main candidates running were Kimberly Ellis
(former president of Emerge), and Eric Bauman (male vice-chair of the CDP). A third candidate also ran for chair, obtaining
7 votes. In total, 2,999 delegates voted. The CDP officially declared Eric Bauman the winner, obtaining 62 more votes than
Kimberly Ellis and reaching just over the required mark to avoid a runoff election. But Kimberly Ellis, along with her supporters
(half of the delegation), contested the election and called for an independent audit of the ballots and election materials.
As of this collection’s creation (June, 2017) Ellis has yet to concede, and Bauman has refused an independent audit. The Chair
Race Dispute is ongoing.
Also significant at the 2017 convention was the 2018 governor campaign kickoffs. The four democratic governor candidates (Delaine
Eastin, Gavin Newsom, John Chiang, and Antonio Villaraigosa) were present at the convention. Eastin, Newsom, and Chiang managed
campaign tables with informational volunteers and handouts (notably, Villaraigosa did not make any noticeable campaign efforts).
Eastin, Newsom, and Chiang were also regularly seen throughout the convention providing opportunities to talk with them. The
CDP convention in 2018 will vote on which of these four candidates will be endorsed by the California Democratic Party.
Scope and Content of Collection
The strength of this collection is in the various campaign materials and delegate materials from the California Democratic
Party 2017 convention. Some of these materials are valuable since they surround the 2017 chair race dispute. Other items highlight
the early stages of the 2018 governor race. Delegate materials are also included. The entirety of this collection provides
insight to the inner workings of party politics, as well as materials from a historically significant political convention.
Indexing Terms
Elections - California (State)
Elections -- Corrupt practices -- United States
Governors -- United States -- Election
Bauman, Eric
Chiang, John
Eastin, Delaine
Ellis, Kimberly
Newsom, Gavin
Villagraigosa, Antonio
California Democratic Party Convention 2017
Sacramento, California
Additional collection guides