Democratic National Committee DNC

The Democratic National Committee was created at the party's 1848 convention in Baltimore, making it the oldest continuing party committee in the world. It has about 450 members, including the chair and vice chair of each state party, members elected by state parties, and elected officials and representatives of allied groups. Members elect a national chair, who serves as the party's chief spokesperson when it does not hold the White House.

The DNC writes the rules for choosing the presidential nominee, including the calendar of primaries and caucuses, how delegates are allocated in proportion to votes, and the role of superdelegates, party leaders who after 2018 rules changes can no longer vote on the first convention ballot if the outcome is contested. It organizes the national convention every four years, sanctions primary debates, maintains voter data, and raises and spends money to support candidates.

The DNC is a private organization regulated by federal campaign finance law and must report its fundraising to the Federal Election Commission. It has faced internal fights over influence, such as the 2016 dispute between supporters of different presidential candidates, and over the order of early primary states, which it changed for 2024 to put South Carolina first. After the 2024 election, debates intensified over strategy and the party's direction.