Our Purpose
- Betty Garcia
- Feb 26
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 15
What a Local Political Party Does
A local political party is the grassroots foundation of political organizing. It operates at the city or county level and plays a crucial role in elections, community engagement, and party-building efforts.
1. Electoral Work
Local parties recruit and support candidates for city, county, and state offices. They help with campaign strategies, voter outreach, and fundraising.
2. Voter Engagement
They register voters, educate them on issues, and encourage participation through canvassing, phone banking, and events.
3. Community Organizing
Beyond elections, local parties advocate for policies, partner with community groups, and provide a space for political discussion and action.
4. Party Operations
They manage local governance of the party, elect leadership, set priorities, and coordinate with state and national party structures.
How It All Works
• Precinct-Level Organization: Local parties often organize by precincts, the smallest political units. Precinct leaders help mobilize voters and connect the party to the community.
• County or City Party Structure: The party is led by an executive committee, usually including a chair, vice-chair, treasurer, and other elected officers.
• State & National Connections: Local parties feed into the larger structure, sending delegates to state and national conventions and coordinating efforts across levels.
• Regular Meetings & Events: They hold meetings, rallies, and forums to engage the community, discuss policy, and strategize for upcoming elections.
Local parties are the backbone of political action, turning big-picture goals into real community impact.
Why Affiliate with a Party?
Affiliating with a political party gives you a stronger voice. Voting in the general election is important, but it’s only part of the picture. When you’re unaffiliated, you can only vote on the candidates already chosen by the parties. You don’t get to help decide who those candidates are.
By affiliating, you get a say from the start. You can take part in caucuses and assemblies, help shape your party’s platform, and influence who represents your values.
Registering as unaffiliated might feel independent, but it limits your impact. You can vote in primaries, but not in the local processes where candidates earn their spot on the ballot.
Political parties are tools for change. Choose yours and take action.
Want to get involved?
Start by attending your local House District meeting!
