2000 Minnesota Democratic presidential caucuses explained

Election Name:2000 Minnesota Democratic presidential caucuses
Country:Minnesota
Type:presidential
Flag Year:1983
Flag Image:File:Flag of Minnesota (1983-2024).svg
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1996 Minnesota Democratic presidential primary
Previous Year:1996
Next Election:2004 Minnesota Democratic presidential caucuses
Next Year:2004
Candidate1:Al Gore
Colour1:3333FF
Home State1:Tennessee
Delegate Count1:72
Popular Vote1:11,100
Percentage1:74.00%
Candidate2:Bill Bradley
(withdrawn)
Colour2:FA8320
Home State2:New Jersey
Delegate Count2:2
Popular Vote2:1,800
Percentage2:12.00%
Candidate3:Lyndon LaRouche Jr.
Colour3:6c00e8
Home State3:Virginia
Delegate Count3:0
Popular Vote3:1,650
Percentage3:11.00%
Outgoing Members:MI
Elected Members:NV
Votes For Election:90 delegates to the Democratic National Convention (74 pledged, 16 unpledged)
The number of pledged delegates received is determined by the popular vote
Pledged national
convention
delegates
Type
CD15
CD25
CD36
CD47
CD57
CD66
CD75
CD87
10
At-large16
Total pledged delegates74
The 2000 Minnesota Democratic presidential caucuses took place on March 11, 2000, as one of three contests scheduled on the weekend following Super Tuesday in the Democratic Party primaries for the 2000 presidential election, following the Colorado primary and the Uth primary the day before. The Minnesota caucus was a open caucus, with the state awarding 90 delegates towards the 2000 Democratic National Convention, of which 74 were pledged delegates allocated on the basis of the results of the caucus.

Vice president Al Gore won with 74% of the vote, gathering 72 delegates. Senator Bill Bradley placed second with 12% and 2 delegates. Lyndon LaRouche Jr., a conspiracy theorist who had ballot access in most states secured 11%, one of his best performances in any contest, but gained no delegates.

Procedure

Minnesota state law specifies that precinct caucuses will take place at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday in March, that is March 7, which lined Minnesota up to have a nominating contest on Super Tuesday, along with 16 other states and one territory. However, because courts have ruled that the conduct of a political party's affairs is up to the party alone, not the Legislature, the Democratic Farmer-Labor Party announced it will be holding a binding presidential primary in conjunction with the party's precinct meetings on Saturday and Sunday, March 11 and 12.

Minnesota was one of three states that held primaries on March 11, 2000, the weekend after Super Tuesday.[1]

Voting took place from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Under state party rules, candidates had to meet a threshold of 15 percent at the congressional district or statewide level in order to be considered viable. The 48 pledged delegates to the 2020 Democratic National Convention were allocated proportionally on the basis of the results of the primary. Of the 48 pledged delegates, between 5 and 7 were allocated to each of the state's 8 congressional districts and another 10 were allocated to party leaders and elected officials (PLEO delegates), in addition to 16 at-large delegates.[2]

The delegation also included 16 unpledged PLEO delegates: 7 members of the Democratic National Committee, 7 members of Congress (Senator Paul Wellstone, and 5 representatives, David Minge, Bruce Vento, Martin Olav Sabo, Bill Luther, Collin Peterson, and Jim Oberstar), the governor Tim Walz, 1 distinguished party leader, that being former vice president Walter Mondale, and 2 add-ons.[2]

Candidates

The following candidates appeared on the ballot:

Withdrawn

Results

2000 Minnesota Democratic presidential caucuses! Candidate! Votes! %! Delegates[3]
Al Gore11,100 74.0072
Bill Bradley (withdrawn)1,80012.002
Lyndon LaRouche Jr.1,65011.00rowspan=1
Heather A. Harder4503.00
Unallocated--16
Total15,000100%90

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Presidential Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions Chronologically - Key and Minor Dates. The Green Papers. September 21, 2023.
  2. Web site: Minnesota Democratic Delegation 2000. The Green Papers. August 16, 2000. September 21, 2023.
  3. Web site: Election 2000: Minnesota Democrat. The Green Papers. September 13, 2023.