The California Democratic Party (CADEM) is made up of three classes of delegates: Assembly District Election Meeting (ADEM) delegates, Democratic Central Committee (DCC) delegates, and those delegates appointed by Party Leaders and Elected Officials (PLEO). Together, these classes make up the California Democratic Party delegates who attend the state level conventions.

Delegates at the State Demcratic Convention

ADEM Delegates

ADEM delegates are elected by the Democratic voters in each of the 80 assembly districts. At the beginning of odd numbered years, an election is held in every assembly district at 14 delegates (7 Self-identified women, and 7 other-than-self-identified-women) are elected to serve as delegates to the Democratic State Central Committee (DSCC). They will represent their assembly district at state conventions. The delegate with the highest vote count will also serve as the Executive Board member and will also represent their district at CADEM Executive Board meetings. These delegates serve two-year terms.

DCC Delegates

Each county has a Democratic Central Committee (DCC). The DCC is awarded delegates to the state convention based on the number of registered Democrats in each county. The more democrats in the county, the larger the number of delegates the county can appoint to the DSCC. These delegates serve four-year terms, though many DCCs elect delegates more often than that. One of these delegates will represent the DCC at Executive Board functions.

PLEO Delegates

Party Leaders and Elected Officials (PLEO) delegates are appointed by State Party Officers and Elected representatives (California State Constitutional Officers, US Senate, US Congress, State Senate, and State Assembly). Elected officials appoint six or four delegates depending on their position. Candidates who ran as Democrats for partisan position but did not win their elections can appoint two delegates.