Politics & Government

California Democratic Party Convention Is Set to Finalize Endorsements Sunday

In voting Saturday at the Los Angeles Convention Center no candidate in the two contested statewide races, secretary of state and controller, was able today to receive the 60 percent of the votes required for an endorsement.

Delegates will finalize statewide, congressional and legislative endorsements and adopt the 2014 party platform today when the three-day California Democratic Party Convention concludes.

In voting Saturday at the Los Angeles Convention Center no candidate in the two contested statewide races, secretary of state and controller, was able today to receive the 60 percent of the votes required for an endorsement.

The more than 3,000 delegates, officials, exhibitors and observers at the party's convention heard speeches from Gov. Jerry Brown, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley.

Find out what's happening in South Pasadenawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Brown's speech was interrupted by yells of "No fracking," from opponents of the natural gas and petroleum drilling technique. Brown's response: "I got it."

Garcetti discussed various accomplishments of Democrats, including water conservation, building new rail lines in Los Angeles, upgrading terminals at Los Angeles International Airport and creating 10,000 summer jobs for L.A. youth.

Find out what's happening in South Pasadenawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., spoke at a luncheon, and San Antonio, Texas Mayor Julian Castro at a dinner.

O'Malley recounted how he began a turnaround in crime- and drug-riddled Baltimore when he started the first of two terms as mayor in 1999 through a campaign called "Believe," which included mentoring youths and getting loved ones into drug treatment.

O'Malley has said he is looking at the possibility of running for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination.

—City News Service


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