Democratic Party (Puerto Rico)

The Puerto Rico Democratic Party is the local branch of the Democratic Party in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Party membership consists of supporters of both the current Commonwealth status and those who favor statehood for Puerto Rico.

Leaders

The party's local chairman is Hon. Roberto Prats, its vice chair is Luisette Cabanas and its executive director is Liza M. Ortiz-Camacho.^[1]

Membership

Participation in Puerto Rico's delegate selection process is open those who wish to participate as Democrats and participants may not take part in any other party's Presidential Nominating process. Individuals who wish to participate in the Senate District Caucuses must register with the State Party's local committee.^[2]

Caucus

Sixty of 67 delegates to the Democratic National Convention are pledged to presidential contenders based on the results of local committet Senate District Caucuses. A mandatory 15 percent threshold is required in order for a presidential contender to be pledged National Convention delegates at either the senatorial district or islandwide level.^[2]

Forty district delegates are proportionally pledged to presidential contenders by local Puerto Rico Senatorial districts. As of 1 July 2011 the proportions were as follows:^[2]

• District 1 San Juan: 4
• District 2 Bayamón: 5
• District 3 Arecibo: 4
• District 4 Mayagüez: 4
• District 5 Ponce: 4
• District 6 Guayama: 4
• District 7 Humacao: 4
• District 8 Carolina: 4

In addition, 13 at-large and 7 Pledged Party Leaders and Elected Officials (PLEOs) delegates are pledged to presidential contenders based on the presidential preferences of the 40 district level delegates as pledged by the Senate District Caucuses. Hence, the National Convention District delegates are pledged from the preferences expressed at the Caucuses while the National Convention statewide delegates are pledged using the preferences of the National Convention District delegates.^[2]

Youth activities

The Young Democrats of America (YDA), Puerto Rico Chapter, is the official youth branch of the Puerto Rico Democratic Party. It is currently presided by Ricardo Alfaro who also serves as Deputy Communications Director - Technology as part of the Young Democrats of America national leadership.^[3]

Previous presidents include Francisco Domenech who was also Democratic National Committeeman for the Young Democrats of America, the first Puerto Rican elected to this position, and Phillip Arroyo who along with Francisco Domenech helped create and chair the Hispanic Caucus of YDA.

See also

• Local Puerto Rico Committee of the United States Republican Party
• United States National Democratic Party

References

External links

• Puerto Rico Democratic Party page at Democrats.org
• Young Democrats of America, Puerto Rico Chapter

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