More than 2,000 delegates, elected from their precincts in February, met to caucus once again for the Democratic Party of the 43rd Legislative District this past Saturday at the Lincoln High School building in Wallingford. The purpose of the event was to elect delegates to the congressional-level caucus in May before the national convention in August.

The 43rd Legislative District encompasses all of the University District as well as Capitol Hill and Greenlake. Of the 2,379 e-mail addresses registered to delegates and alternates for Saturday’s caucus, more than 200 ended with the domain u.washington.edu, showing a large representation from University of Washington students who went to show support for their presidential candidates.

“I really just came here to see what happens,” said senior Tina Oh, who was elected as a delegate for Barack Obama from her precinct in Eastlake. “I’m just looking at everyone’s enthusiasm and enjoying the process.”

Other students in attendance were hoping to move even further in the caucus process.

“I came hopeful to get elected as a delegate to the next level, but it’s not really a number-one priority for me,” sophomore Sarah Jenks said. “I just think it’s really important to participate in the democratic process, and I’m excited about this election and excited to represent the young people.”

The event had an unprecedented turnout that marked the highest in the 43rd Legislative District’s history. Only two of more than 2,000 delegate slots were not seated.

“We were expecting a high turnout after the high number of people that came out back in February,” said organizing committee member Emily Steed. “There were long lines and the event went longer than expected, but everyone was very agreeable about it all.”

Several local politicians, including Congressman Jim McDermott of the 7th Congressional District, gave speeches. McDermott spoke on the importance of this year’s election and of being politically active.

“I won in 1970 because of University of Washington students,” McDermott said. “I hope the young people know the tremendous amount of power they have and that they can make things happen.”

The event even had a celebrity appearance: Actor Sean Astin from the Lord of the Rings trilogy showed up to speak on Hillary Clinton’s behalf.

While the purpose of Saturday’s caucus was not to change the number of delegates allotted for each candidate, delegates did have the opportunity to switch their allegiances if they saw fit, an issue which raised much debate during the proceedings and further highlighted the importance of taking the process seriously.

In the end, of the 67 delegates passing through to the next level, 53 went to Obama and 14 went to Clinton — a ratio of roughly 4-to-1, keeping the same ratio of delegates that was determined in February.

“I have mixed feelings about the process overall,” said Chris Jordan, a first-year sophomore at the UW who served as an alternate in Saturday’s caucus. “I think its great that people can get so involved, but at times the process can be difficult and confusing. Still, I’m glad I turned out, and I’ll definitely participate in the future.”

[Reach reporter Casey Smith at news@thedaily.washington.edu.]