Step 1

The first step in creating a formal national committee is to register Form 1 with the U.S. Federal Elections Commission (FEC). Form 1 is a Statement of Organization. A Committee must do so within ten days of exceeding $1,000 in contributions or expenditures. Status: Statement of Organization filed with the FEC on March 20, 2024, assigned number is C00873810.

Step 2

Once the national committee has filed its State of Organization with the FEC, it should get a tax ID and then establish a bank account for the committee. Status: Federal tax ID obtained on March 25, 2024, number is 99-2103739.

Step 3

The committee should consider incorporating for liability purposes. If the committee incorporates for liability purposes only, the incorporated committee is not prohibited from making corporate contributions. Status: Limited Liability Corporation filed in the state of Florida on March 26, 2024, number is L24000146634.

Step 4

Appoint a treasurer, and ideally, an assistant treasurer. Status: Appointed on March 25, 2024.

Step 5

Begin filing regular financial reports. Status: Reports begin April 2024.

Step 6

An official party structure is to be determined. Status: Party structure approved March 25, 2024 and published on the website - see https://www.drpusa.org/committee-structure.

Step 7

Start seeking ballot access which must extend beyond presidential races to races for the United States Congress. Status: Planned for 2026 electoral season.

Step 8

Begin recruiting candidates for office. The party is required to have a sufficient number of party-designated federal candidates on the ballot in a sufficient number of states in different geographic areas to meet the requirement for qualifying as a national party. Status: Our chair, Ben Everidge, qualified for the 2024 U.S. Senate race in Florida. More candidate recruiting planned for the 2026 electoral season.

Step 9

The party must begin engaging in voter registration drives on a ongoing basis. Status: Voter registration efforts have begun and are included on the website - see https://www.drpusa.org/voter-registration.

Step 10

National committees must publicize, on a national basis, issues of importance to the party, such as through print or on a party website. This involves publishing the party’s philosophy and positions, issuing press releases, and distributing a national newsletter. Status: Publications have commenced and are efforts are posted to the website - see https://www.drpusa.org/tenets and https://www.drpusa.org/thomas-mediazine.

Step 11

The committee is to hold a national convention. Status: Inaugural National Convention is planned for early 2028.

Step 12

A national headquarters is to be set up. Status: National party headquarters is planned on or before 2026.

Step 13

State party committees are to be formed. Status: State party committee formations planned to start 2025.

Step 14

Get on with fulfilling the party’s mission to get things done in Washington and state capitols for our citizens and party members without obstructionism, extremism, or hyper-polarization all consistent with the canons of American democracy and the United States Constitution. Status: Commenced March 25, 2024.