At this week’s meeting, the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee (RBC) voted to strengthen penalties for states that hold or candidates who participate in an unsanctioned contest in the early window of the presidential nominating calendar. The RBC is working diligently to establish a calendar that delivers the strongest possible nominee for president. These strengthened rules aim to enforce a fair and orderly nominating process by providing clarity for both states and candidates. Importantly, these changes are being implemented early in the process, prior to a decision on the calendar and before any candidates are in the field, to ensure fairness to all parties.
Highlights from the changes include:
- Increasing the delegates lost for states that host an unsanctioned contest from 50% to 100%, including all automatic delegates.
- Requiring campaigns and candidates to denounce any efforts to campaign on their behalf in unsanctioned contests, expanding existing requirements beyond just a ban on direct participation.
- Prohibiting candidate participation in DNC debates, if that candidate or their campaign violates the early window rules.
- Prohibiting candidates who violate the rules from earning delegates in any early window contest.
- Implementing a $270,000 fine for any state that hosts an unsanctioned contest.
- Setting clear deadlines for states to establish the dates of their contests.
- Preventing backtracking on penalties for states or candidates who violate the rules.
The strengthened penalties were added via amendments to Rule 21 of the 2028 Delegate Selection Rules. The full meeting was livestreamed and can be found on the DNC’s YouTube page here.
RBC Co-Chairs Minyon Moore and James Roosevelt, Jr. released the following statement:
“Today, the Rules and Bylaws Committee completed its work on the 2028 Delegate Selection Rules, creating a fair, efficient, and rigorous process to govern how we select our 2028 nominee. These newly-adopted rules strengthen the Delegate Selection Process to ensure maximum participation and clarity.”
DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:
“Democrats must retake the White House in 2028. Today, the Rules and Bylaws Committee took important steps to bring us closer to that reality by creating a clear and orderly process to deliver the strongest possible nominee.”
