State Democrats Form Rules for Primary Choices

Leaders of the California Democratic Party on Saturday put the finishing touches on rules for endorsing candidates for statewide office before the June primary, but decided to retain a ban on endorsing a presidential contender.

The party’s executive board, meeting in Los Angeles, also strongly opposed Gov. George Deukmejian’s nominee for state treasurer, Rep. Daniel E. Lungren (R-Long Beach), and rejected a request by supporters of New York Gov. Mario Cuomo for help in adding his name to the state primary ballot.

A state law that prohibited pre-primary party endorsements was struck down by the courts.

The executive board voted, however, to keep a ban on endorsing presidential candidates, a move met with virtually no debate from the 170 board members and their proxies.

‘A Bit of History’

The adoption of new rules for endorsing candidates for statewide office was “a bit of history,” said Jim Wood, chairman of the board’s Rules Committee.

Wood, echoing the party position, said the decision to stop short of presidential endorsement was made because it would invite “divisiveness” among party members and could cripple attempts to elect a Democrat president.

It would also present a conflict in the selection of delegates to represent candidates at the national convention, he said.

The state Democratic Party, the San Francisco Democratic Committee and others have fought for several years for endorsements before the primary.

On Friday, a board committee rejected an appeal from the Draft Cuomo for President Committee to push for legislative changes allowing draft committees to get their candidates on the primary ballot.

Cuomo has repeatedly said he is not a candidate.