Framework for Ballot Measure Endorsements
Whereas: Traditionally, DSA electoral strategy calls for DSA formations to only endorse in specific, limited circumstances: when the organization is able to run a strong campaign mobilizing a significant number of members around an issue or candidate, where DSA can be a major part of a winning coalition (see: https://electoral.dsausa.org/national-electoral-strategy/ ). However, this strategy is primarily constructed around the context of candidate campaigns, because candidate endorsements that are not followed by significant organizational resources being pivotal to a winning campaign significantly reduce the ability of the organization to participate in cogovernance and accountability with the elected candidate in actually enacting transformative reforms.
In California, there are a plethora of ballot measure elections that every California voter is asked to participate in during every major election, both at the state and local level. Though many of these measures are orthogonal to working class demands, some are extremely important and have the potential to be transformative reforms or major blows against working class power, in their own right. In such cases, it is not necessary (though it may still be desirable) for DSA to be a central part of a campaign, particularly if it is led by coalition partners, as a campaign’s victory has the potential to be a transformative reform in its own right.
Ballot measure campaigns further have the opportunity to be complementary to DSA candidate campaigns, and as California DSA grows the ability for the organization to build or maintain relationships with coalition partners by being small contributors to a major working class ballot measure campaign will grow in importance.
In adopting a new ballot measure endorsement framework, California DSA should still be cautious not to allow our guiding principles – the push for transformative reforms and expanding working class power – to slip or be weakened, and should further maintain space for ballot measure campaigns to be adopted as true priority electoral campaigns, accompanied by our traditional level of significant organizational resources in support.
Proposed Framework
Therefore it be resolved: that California DSA adopts the following framework for ballot measure endorsements in California for statewide ballot measures or ballot measures that would affect the jurisdiction of two or more California DSA chapters:
California DSA will approach and categorize organizational support for ballot measure in the following four tiers:
Tier 1: Priority Campaign
Approval: A ballot measure will become a priority campaign if it is adopted as a Tier 2 Endorsement by the California DSA State Council and at least two chapters vote separately to direct significant organizational resources to campaign for or against the ballot measure.
Description: A Priority Campaign will match what is typically understood as a DSA endorsement. Ballot measures adopted as Priority Campaigns will receive significant organizational investment from California DSA, including monetary, media, and the direction of member labor in support of the campaign.
Tier 2: Endorsement
Approval: A ballot measure will be endorsed on a majority vote of the California DSA State Council. Such votes will typically but not necessarily be followed by a recommendation from the California DSA Electoral or State Committees.
Description: Ballot measure campaigns should be endorsed if they meet criteria identified in the CA-DSA 2024 Electoral Vision, specifically that DSA campaigning in support of the campaign would (1) Build class consciousness and organization (2) Root socialists in the multiracial working class (3) Strengthen DSA, and (4) Have winnable and transformative objectives, or in the case of “No” campaigns, if they have the potential to significantly damage working class political power and organization.
Each election, California DSA will design and produce shared materials that can be used to campaign in support of all endorsed ballot measures and distribute such materials to all chapters, including guidance on how local chapters can incorporate these ballot measures into existing candidate campaigns, or how such chapters can campaign on a “slate” of working class ballot measure campaigns in the absence of any endorsed candidates. Further, California DSA shall make efforts to ensure that all DSA members in California are aware of and, if able, vote in support of such endorsements.
Tier 3: Voter Guide Recommendation
Approval: A ballot measure will have analysis and a California DSA recommendation upon such analysis being ratified by the California DSA State Committee, typically but not necessarily after being first drafted by the California DSA Electoral Committee.
Description: Analysis and a recommendation about the ballot measure will be published in a CA DSA voter guide produced ahead of the election. Measures that do not significantly or directly contribute to working class power will be included here, including a recommendation for how socialists should vote. However, there will be no organizational efforts to promote these recommendations, aside from any general promotion in support of the voter guide.
Tier 4: No recommendation
Approval: A ballot measure will have analysis and a voter guide entry upon such analysis being ratified by the California DSA State Committee, typically but not necessarily after being first drafted by the California DSA Electoral Committee.
Description: Analysis will be published in a CA DSA voter guide, but no voting recommendation will be made. Measures that do not contribute meaningfully to working class power go here. There will be no organizational efforts to promote this analysis, aside from any general promotion in support of the voter guide.
2024 Cycle outlook
There are several statewide ballot measures coming up in the 2024 electoral cycle that California DSA should consider for endorsement and potential priority electoral campaigns. An incomplete list:
On the March 2024 Ballot, a ballot measure to repeal Article 34 of the California constitution, a long-standing racist measure that makes the construction of public housing projects difficult.
On the November 2024 ballot, a ballot measure requiring voter approval for any new taxes, a provision that would gut public investment at the state and local level.
On the November 2024 ballot, a ballot measure repealing an AB-257 which established councils to improve working conditions for fast food workers.
On the November 2024 ballot, a ballot measure to repeal SB-1137, which prohibited new oil and gas infrastructure in areas where such infrastructure would harm public health.
On the November 2024 ballot, a potential ballot measure to “create a constitutional right for a public school students to a ‘high-quality’ education”, which would likely be used to strengthen charter schools at the expense of public schools by blocking local laws limiting charter school expansion.
Potential CA DSA timeline:
Q2 State Council Meeting: Ratify Framework
Q2/Q3 2023 State Council Meetings: discuss & potentially adopt A34 Repeal as a T2 endorsement
Q3/Q4 2023: California DSA chapters take up A34 repeal and launch campaigns, making it a T1 endorsement. Campaign is moved alongside 2024 Socialist Assembly Slate primary campaigns.
Q1 2024: other T2 endorsements adopted for November 2024.
Q2/Q3 2024: other T2 endorsements potentially become T1, if chapters are engaged. CA DSA produces literature about slate of T2 endorsements and distributes to chapters