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AS-IT-HAPPENED COVERAGE: Caucus crowds around West Seattle

March 26, 2016 10:24 am
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

(LOOKING FOR RESULTS? Go here)

FIRST REPORT, 10:24 AM: The Democratic caucuses are on – and we’re already getting reader reports via Twitter of crowds just about everywhere:

More to come. We’re about to step inside West Seattle High School to see how it’s going there.

11:05 AM: The initial balloting is over and people are rising, at tables in the WSHS Commons, to argue in favor of their candidate. Here’s how the vote went at one table where we spent some time:

The speeches continue. People can choose to change their votes – so that’s the point of speeches. Again, if you missed the backstory, this is the first step in the process of allotting our state’s delegates to the Democratic National Convention. (Republicans had caucuses but not to support presidential candidates; they’ll do that in the primary vote later this spring.) Here’s a quick Instagram-video circle around the WSHS Commons:

Next, tables are electing delegates to the next level of the process. We’ll have more photos/info later, including official numbers expected this afternoon.

ADDED 12:42 PM: We also stopped at Chief Sealth International High School:
sealthabove1
And the Boren Building, home to Louisa Boren K-8 STEM and, until June, Arbor Heights Elementary:
borenlunchroom1
Reminders that the caucuses run on volunteer power – from the 34th District Democrats, chair Marcee Stone-Vekich was at the mic at Boren:

And at Sealth, the 34th DDs’ state committeewoman Lisa Plymate:

Also just in – a photo from Vy Duong, who caucused at Lafayette Elementary:

vy

Vy reports seeing County Executive Dow Constantine, an Admiral resident, there; we noted County Council Chair Joe McDermott, a Morgan-area resident, at Sealth.

More to come! Photos welcome at editor@westseattleblog.com.

2:47 PM: Statewide and county-by-county results, by the way, are being updated here – big lead for Sanders so far. We hope to have local-level results at some point too. Another photo to share, from an anonymous reader – Madison Middle School:

WDC_MMS-3-26-16

9:33 PM: Most of the results are in at the state-party site and it shows Sanders winning the state with 73 percent to Clinton’s 27 percent.

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14 Replies to "AS-IT-HAPPENED COVERAGE: Caucus crowds around West Seattle"

  • redblack March 26, 2016 (1:26 pm)

    turnout was huge. my precinct had about three times the votes that we did in ’08.

  • acemotel March 26, 2016 (2:05 pm)

    Our precinct in Admiral, at Madison middle school, had about 60 people attending.  Split was 1/3 Clinton 2/3 Sanders, most older folks in the Clinton group, younger to the Sanders side.   The distinction was sharp.  Far, far greater attendance than any other caucus in the last 20 years.

  • Caucused for Bernie at WSH March 26, 2016 (3:25 pm)

    Superdelegates!

    (And respected local officials – Dow Constantine and Joe McDermott, and Mayor Ed Murray, Governor Jay Inslee, Congressman Jim McDermott)

    Please align your endorsements and superdelegate votes with Bernie Sanders to reflect the will of your constituents. It is the only responsible thing to do. We’ll look forward to your updated comments and endorsements asap. Thank you!

    Voters, please sign the petition to Let Voters Decide! 

  • Robert March 26, 2016 (3:57 pm)

    Go Bernie!  We had a split vote in our precinct.  There was a fantastic turn out.  I am so happy people are caring about their vote.  Feel the BERN!  

  • AMD March 26, 2016 (4:33 pm)

    Turnout was huge at Highland Park Elementary as well.  My precinct alone had 81 voters.  Councilwoman Herbold was in attendance to cast her vote as well.

  • Htb March 26, 2016 (7:06 pm)

    Embarrassed to be from Seattle today. You are all handing the election to Trump

  • Chris Porter March 26, 2016 (7:48 pm)

    It was a beautiful day and  we had a  great time at Gatewood Elementary.  So happy and proud to see so many voters out to caucus.  I was the Area Caucus Coordinator and it was my first Presidential caucus to run  when both parties have multiple candidates.  The volunteers were great and we all had a fun time.  Democracy takes work, but it is worth every minute of work and sweat.  

  • Eric1 March 26, 2016 (8:31 pm)

    Thank you for those who went out an did their duty.   Unfortunately, the caucus system does exclude a lot of independent people who actually like Bernie.  I get it that it is a closed system and if I wanted to vote I could affirm that I am a Democrat.  However, there is NO WAY I would lie and sign onto either party even if it were the lesser of two evils.  The funny thing is that I really lean Democrat most of the time as good Republican candidates are few and far between but I am not going to join either club. 

    .

    LOL on handing the election to Trump by voting Bernie.  Bernie does better against Trump than Hillary. Take it from an independent who will leave his presidential ballot blank if it is between Hillary and Donald.

  • Jim clark March 26, 2016 (11:09 pm)

    Curious so Sanders wins big today in Washington State. Are there really that many socialists in our area or are they just voting against Hilary?

    • JanS March 27, 2016 (12:32 am)

      Democratic socialist is different than “socialist”. 

      http://www.dsausa.org/what_is_democratic_socialism

      And one doesn’t have to be either to like the man…he’s decent, he’s honest, he cares…do you not like him?  If so, could you explain why?

  • JanS March 27, 2016 (12:35 am)

    and in November, people, vote Blue no matter who. If you do not vote at all then you have to keep your opinions to yourself for the next 4 years, since you did not exercise your right, especially if Trump voters outnumber the Dem candidates voters (because so many stayed home selfishly…sorta like, I didn’t get my way, I’m gonna take my ball and go home). 

    • Eric1 March 27, 2016 (10:28 am)

      Not choosing to vote on a particular ballot item is a valid choice and is very different from not bothering to vote at all.  I can complain that the Democrats have failed to field a viable candidate.  A blank vote just means that both candidates suck and the parties should try to do better.  I always vote and I leave sections blank when I feel that there are no candidates that meet my standards.

      .

      Think about it.  Hillary has a greater than 50% unfavorable rating from any poll taken and has a net negative margin.  It isn’t just the Republicans that hate her (there aren’t that many), but independents don’t like her too. So much so that she rivals Trump on net negative.  Bernie is the only one that has a net positive. Look at the turnout that Bernie brought out (levels not seen since 2008).  Just like Obama, the Democratic establishment should really take a hard look at who is electable and gets out the vote and not let the southern conservatives get Trump elected while the disillusioned stay away from Hillary.   If Trump gets elected, it is the fault of the Democratic party because Donald just isn’t that hard to beat. The establishment thinks that enough people will hold their nose and vote Hillary.  Yeah, I am too old and prideful for that.  Don’t just blindly vote by party, why do you think Donald might get elected? Yep the same people who vote red no matter what.  And you know what you call them.. LOL

  • JTB March 27, 2016 (10:48 am)

    I was really impressed by the respectful, thoughtful discussion in our precinct.  That said, it seems we are once again seeing the tendency for progressives to rely on rational analysis while forgetting that people tend to vote in line with emotions. 

  • Stuart March 28, 2016 (12:48 pm)

     I didn’t know where else to put this…or how to reach out to folks in my precinct…but at our caucus (34-1517) there was a Bernie supporter who said that Hillary sat on the Monsanto board…and that was a big reason for not supporting Hillary.

    I should’ve googled it right then and there:

    http://www.snopes.com/hillary-clinton-sat-monsanto-board/

    Long story short, it’s a lie, she never sat on their board.

    This is not meant to start a big Bernie vs Hillary debate…just to clear up that incorrect rumor that is flying around.   Thanks.

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