Tucson Standard

The countdown is on in Arizona, where Republican and Democratic leaders have started preparing for the national conventions that are just eight months away.

On the Republican side, the four-day event is scheduled for Aug. 24 through 27 in North Carolina at the Spectrum Center. Organizers in Arizona already have more than a thumbnail sketch of what they want to see.

“The president has made it very clear that he wants to have a diverse group of individuals serve as delegates — men and women, so genders are represented equally as much as possible, as well as people of color,” Republican national committeeman Bruce Ash told Arizona Public Media. “It is very important that we show Arizona our commitment to diversity.”

Members of both delegations for the convention are elected by party members in each congressional district. Delegates can also be elected at the state convention and are made up of both rank-and-file party members and elected officials from across the state.

The Democratic National Convention is scheduled for July 13 through 16 in Wisconsin at the Fiserv Center. Prior to that, Arizona Democrats will hold their Presidential Preference Election in March with the delegation voting the same way the candidate percentages break down.