BYD 2026 ENDORSEMENT PROCESS — CANDIDATE FAQ

 

Thank you for your interest in applying for an endorsement with Brooklyn Young Democrats. Please fill out the questionnaires below by the deadline. If you have further questions, please email BKYoungDemocrats@gmail.com.

KEY DATES STATE

  • Endorsement Season Opens: January 17, 2026

  • Questionnaire Deadline: March 15, 2026 (No Exceptions)

    Candidate Interviews / Forums: March 29–31, 2026 (Virtual)

  • Full Membership Vote: Early April

  • Endorsements Finalized: April 10, 2026 (Hard Deadline)

KEY DATES FEDERAL

  • Endorsement Season Opens: January 10, 2026

  • NY 10: 

    • Questionnaire Deadline: February 10

    • Candidate Interviews / Forums: February TBD

    • Endorsements Finalized: February 26

  • NY 8 and 9: 

    • Questionnaire Deadline: March 1

    • Candidate Interviews / Forums: March TBD

    • Endorsements Finalized: March 15 

  • NY 7: 

    • Questionnaire Deadline: March 15

    • Candidate Interviews / Forums: March TBD

    • Endorsements Finalized: April 1

HOW TO APPLY

All candidates must complete the official BYD questionnaire for their seat type (State Assembly, State Senate, and US Congress). Late submissions are not accepted.

District Leaders - We are running through the Brooklyn Can’t Wait Process with our friends at New King Democrats.  Brooklyn Young Dems will have our own ballot and own vote, that will be administered after all Distirct Leader interviews have finished.

REVIEW & VOTING PROCESS

  1. Review Committee (March 15–21) - Questionnaires are reviewed for completeness, clarity, and categorization of race type (contested or unopposed).

    1. You will be contacted during this time to confirm your interview time and date. 

  2. Candidate Interviews / Forums (March 29–31)

    1. Virtual, closed to dues-paying members only, not recorded.

    2. Format: 15 minutes with each candidate + 15 minutes private member debrief.

    3. As a capacity matter, BYD generally does not conduct interviews for candidates running unopposed but will be a case-by-case basis. 

  3. Full-Membership Voting (April 2–10) -  All endorsements require a vote of the full body. We will then vote into multiple tiers. 

ENDORSEMENT TIERS

Tier 1 — Strategic Priority (Top 4-6 Races Only)

  • Competitive and movement-critical races only

  • BYD will provide field support, turnout coordination, and comms amplification

  • Unopposed candidates are ineligible

  • These will be an Executive Board Vote with Election Committee Feedback. 

Tier 2 — Standard Endorsement

  • Public support, website and social listing, event amplification

  • No guaranteed field operations or volunteer deployment

Tier designation occurs after a successful endorsement vote by the full membership. BYD may opt out of races where no candidate receives a threshold of the votes, or where the body chooses not to endorse.

BALLOT VERIFICATION

All endorsements are contingent on ballot qualification. If a candidate fails to qualify for the ballot, the endorsement lapses and BYD will not issue a new endorsement in that primary race.

USE OF BYD NAME & LOGO

Candidates may not use BYD’s name, logo, or endorsement on literature, mail, or public communications until endorsements are officially announced. Unauthorized use may result in disqualification.

ATTENDANCE & CONDUCT

Only dues-paying BYD members may attend endorsement interviews. BYD reserves the right to revoke any stamp or endorsement for conduct materially inconsistent with BYD’s mission, bylaws, or publicly adopted positions.

QUESTIONS

All official questions must be directed to the BYD endorsement team through the contact listed on the candidate questionnaire.