The Harrison County Democratic Executive Committee (HCDEC) is the local governing body for The Democratic Party in Mississippi, which is the statewide organization of the national Democratic Party. Every four (4) years (always in Presidential Election years), in January, caucuses are held at every voting precinct in the County to select delegates to a County Convention held in February of that same year. Delegates to that Convention then meet in caucuses from each precinct in each supervisor's district (there are five) to elect the members of the HCDEC.

At that County Convention, delegates also elect representatives to a Congressional District Convention where, in turn, delegates are elected to a State Executive Committee. Our party's organization is truly "from the ground up," with delegates from the most local, neighborhood precinct level serving as the foundation for any other level of organization all the way to the Democratic National Convention.

But the local result -- thirty (30) members of the HCDEC come out of that County Convention, and that group can then expand the HCDEC with six (6) at-large delegates from anywhere within Harrison County. As the bylaws of the HCDEC (available left) state, we also include as full members the President of the Harrison County Federation of Democratic Women (HCFDW) and the President of the Harrison County Young Democrats (HCYD). Full representation, then, is thirty-eight (38) men and women from around Harrison County, including representatives from other important Democratic groups. We meet once each month, with subcommittees meeting at their discretion.

The Harrison County Democratic Executive Committee (HCDEC)

-         Is charged with managing the primary elections for all county, state, district, and Federal elections held in the county. 

o       Members of the HCDEC serve as election officers in those primaries, charged with the same duties and bound by the same laws that the Harrison County Election Commission follows in general elections.

-         Certifies Democratic candidates running in a primary for those elected posts mentioned above.

-         Manages the creation of the electronic ballots used in elections today

-         Staffs the polling places with the poll managers who make those elections possible

-         Resolves any contests that might arise in the wake of a primary election

-         Serves as the governing body of the County party between conventions.

-         Sets the party’s agenda

-         Resolves disputes that may arise

-         Manages the precinct and county caucuses and conventions that provide the basis for the party’s organization

-         Advances the purpose and goals of the Democratic party

-     Works closely with the HCDFW and the HCYD to inform and educate the voters of Harrison County as to the nature of these goals

-         Encourages the candidacy of those who would serve the state or the county as elected Democratic officials