Democratic State Party Organizations

History of State Democratic Party Organizations

State Democratic Party organizations did not form until shortly after the Democratic National Committee was established in 1832. These committees were responsible for selecting the delegates who attended the Democratic National Convention (held every four years to nominate the party's presidential and vice presidential candidates). They organized through state conventions, and statewide slates of candidates would be selected. However, these organizations were more of an ad hoc nature at that time, mobilizing for the election season. During the 19th century, local party leaders and their supporters controlled many of the state Democratic Party organizations, coordinating their activities during statewide election campaigns, and focusing on local activity at other times. In some instances, while there was a state party chair, there was no permanent party headquarters or staff.

In the second half of the 19th century, the rise of the industrial revolution led to the exponential growth of America's cities and the emergence of political bosses and urban political machines. These machines, because of their skillful use of patronage, and their ability to mobilize large numbers of immigrant and working class voters, became incredibly powerful, not only in city politics, but dominated and eclipsed the influence of the state Democratic Party organizations. As they [Page 179]voted they could decide statewide elections. In some cases a single boss led these machines, while in other instances they were controlled by a committee. In New York State, the Tammany Hall organization, headquartered in New York City, greatly influenced state Democratic politics, especially the selection of the statewide ticket. Other notable local Democratic machines and bosses that significantly influenced state Democratic Party organizations in the late 19th century and early 20th century included the Regular Democratic Organization of New Orleans; Edward H. Crump of Memphis, and Tom Pendergast of Jackson County (Kansas City), Missouri.

Many of these leaders and machines were regarded as corrupt, and became targets of Progressive Era reformers who wanted to bring economy and efficiency to local government, and rid politics of their influence. The changes that the Progressives brought about, while aimed at the urban political machines, had an impact on the state party organizations as well. The introduction of the merit system (civil service) denied the state parties the patronage jobs they had been able to dispense to reward and retain the loyalty of party activists. Instead, government employees would be hired, retained, and promoted on the basis of merit, making many public employees independent of the political parties and leaders that had once controlled their employment status.

The reformers also targeted the convention system, whereby state party conventions (controlled by party leaders) selected the candidates for the general election. The reformers favored the use of primary elections, where voters (using the secret ballot, which was also introduced as part of the Progressive agenda) selected the nominee, stripping the party organizations of their control over ballot access and, as a result, loosening their hold on public officials. The first statewide primary was held in Minnesota in 1899. Two years later, Minnesota instituted a mandatory primary system. Wisconsin followed shortly thereafter, and by 1917 most states required established political parties to make nominations through direct primaries.

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