2026 La Plata County

Caucus & Assembly

La Plata County Caucus & Assembly! Join us March 7th

Democratic members of La Plata County are invited to participate in our bi-annual Caucus & Assembly. This is where local Democrats come together to elect precinct organizers, nominate candidates for 2026, and select delegates who will represent our county at higher assemblies.

Event Details:

Saturday, March 7 1:30–4:30 pm
Durango Public Library, 1900 E 3rd Ave, Durango CO

Perm Org Report

Meeting Agenda

Pre-Registration is Closed.

Please Arrive at Durango Library at 1:15pm if you have not registered.

What to Expect

Caucus and County Assembly will be held back to back as part of one continuous event. You must attend Caucus to attend Assembly, and you must attend County Assembly to attend higher, multi-district or State Assemblies.

Please bring an electronic device—phone, laptop, tablet, or similar. Voting will take place on the State Party’s confidential online platform, and QR codes will be provided on-site. Staff will be available to assist anyone who needs help connecting.

Caucus

Caucus is where we handle internal party business. During this portion, attendees will identify their precinct, elect Precinct Organizers (POs), and sign up to serve as election judges or volunteers. La Plata County is using an at-large delegate model. All eligible Democrats who participate in caucus and complete this registration will serve as delegates to the County Assembly with full voting rights.

County Assembly

Immediately after caucus, we formally transition into County Assembly. We will hear from candidates running in 2026 and participate in preference polls and designation votes. Delegates may also request to serve at higher assemblies, including House District 59, Congressional District 3, and the State Assembly.

2026 Candidates:

Elizabeth Philbrick, Board of County Commissioners
Sean Smith, La Plata County Sheriff
Carrie Woodson, La Plata County Assessor
Trevor Nyx, La Plata County Coroner* *not incumbent

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can participate?

To participate, you must be a registered voter affiliated with the Democratic Party and have been affiliated for at least 22 days prior to caucus. You must also be present in the room—proxy participation is not permitted.

How do I know if I am registered as a Democrat?

Visit GoVoteColorado.gov and select “Find My Registration.” After entering your information, your current party affiliation will be listed.

How do I know my Precinct?

Visit GoVoteColorado.gov and select “Find my Registration". After entering your information, select the tab "County and District Information". Your La Plata County Precinct will be the last two digits of a number. Example: 3065934003. In this case it would be Precinct 03.

What is a delegate?

A delegate is a registered Democrat elected to represent La Plata County Democrats at assembly. Participants may be selected to serve as delegates to multi-district and State Assemblies. Delegates participate in candidate designation votes and other official party business at those higher assemblies.

Do I need to be a Precinct Organizer to be a delegate?

No. Delegates simply need to be eligible Democrats in their precinct and present at caucus. The roles are separate; someone may serve as both, either, or neither.

Which offices to we vote on during County Assembly?

At County Assembly, delegates vote on La Plata County offices only. Delegates will hear from candidates for county positions and participate in the votes required as part of the Democratic Party’s nomination process for those local races. This includes the county offices on the agenda for the day, and nominations may also be taken from the floor.

Do we get to vote for U.S. Senate or Governor at this event?

At County Assembly, we do not nominate U.S. Senate, CD3, CO Governor, or HD 59 candidates for the primary ballot. Instead, we conduct preference polls to determine how La Plata County’s delegate slots are proportionally allocated to candidates at the State or Multi-County Assemblies.

Why do we hold Caucus & Assembly if there is a primary?

The caucus and assembly process provides a path for candidates to qualify for the primary ballot without collecting petition signatures. It also allows Democrats to elect representatives to participate in the broader state party process.

What is the deadline to register?

Please register by March 4th, 206. Pre-registration helps us run an efficient and accurate check-in process. State party rules require us to physically verify that every attendee is a registered Democrat in La Plata County before they can participate. You can register here.