Eligibility for DFL Caucus Night on April 8

Thank you for all of your interest in DFL Caucus Night! There are many folks asking a lot of earnest questions, and one common question that we have been receiving is who is eligible to attend DFL Caucus Night and vote for delegates and vote for endorsement at a convention.

The Minnesota DFL Party is part of the national Democratic Party, and that is a different type of political organization than a standard political committee or candidate committee. We have an eligibility statement that all caucus attendees affirm to. You might have seen it at the bottom of your nonattendee form online. Here is the entire statement:

Eligibility to Attend Caucus Night

By checking the box below and signing this form, you affirm the following.

1. I currently reside in the precinct.
2. I will be at least 16 years old by November 4, 2025 and understand I must be at least 18 years or older by November 4, 2025 to be eligible to vote or run for any position elected at the caucus.
3. I consider myself a member of the DFL Party.
4. I am not an active member of any other political party.
5. I agree with the principles of the DFL Party, as stated in the Minnesota DFL Constitution, Rules, and Bylaws.

Note requirements 3, 4, and 5. Many people are wondering what groups are considered a political party and which groups are not. Here are examples of political parties in Minnesota:

• Democratic-Farmer-Labor

• Republican

• Green

• Independence

Here are examples of political committees, nonprofits, and other groups that are involved in DFL organizing that are not considered political parties:

• Indivisible

• Isaiah / Faith in Minnesota

• Unidos

• All of Mpls

• Mpls for the Many

• Democratic Socialists of America

• Democratic Socialist Caucus

As long as you consider yourself a member of the DFL party and not any other party listed with Republicans and Greens, then you are eligible for requirements 3 and 4.

Then the question may arise, what are the principles of the Minnesota DFL Party? We lay out the general principles in the preamble to the party constitution:

Minnesota DFL Constitution Preamble

We, the members of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party of Minnesota, in the State Convention assembled, in order to organize and perpetuate a representative, effective, and responsible party organization in the State of Minnesota, affiliate with and advance the interests of the Democratic Party nationally, sustain and advance the principles of liberal democracy, and uphold human rights, civil rights and constitutional government, do establish this Constitution.

As you can read, the principles are very broad for liberal democracy, human rights, civil rights, and constitutional government. But those principles are the very things being attacked by the fascist Trump administration that is shredding the Constitution and our civil rights.

Right now, it is highly important to stand with these principles and fight for human and civil rights, especially when the people being attacked are the most vulnerable among us or we may disagree with their First Amendment free speech. If we believe in freedom of speech and the Bill of Rights, that includes protections for people who we may strongly disagree with.

Thank you to the over 939 folks who are signed up for DFL Caucus Night. I look forward to meeting many of you on April 8, more of you at conventions, and more at the City Convention on July 19-20.

When Democrats are united, we win. When Democrats organize with inclusion, we build a broad coalition that wins trifectas and passes legislation and budgets that improves peoples’ lives. And that is what politics should be about, the work of improving peoples’ lives.