diff --git a/draft/constants.py b/draft/constants.py
index c956212..9b654b4 100644
--- a/draft/constants.py
+++ b/draft/constants.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ class DraftMessage(StrEnum):
 
     # Bidding (examples, adjust to your flow)
     BID_START_INFORM         = "bid.start.inform"             # server -> client (movie, ends_at)
+    BID_START_REQUEST        = "bid.start.request"             # server -> client (movie, ends_at)
     BID_PLACE_REQUEST        = "bid.place.request"            # client -> server (amount)
     BID_UPDATE_INFORM        = "bid.update.inform"            # server -> client (high bid)
     BID_END_INFORM           = "bid.end.inform"               # server -> client (winner)
diff --git a/draft/consumers.py b/draft/consumers.py
index dc2f884..851ed4b 100644
--- a/draft/consumers.py
+++ b/draft/consumers.py
@@ -182,6 +182,34 @@ class DraftAdminConsumer(DraftConsumerBase):
                 },
             )
 
+        if event_type == DraftMessage.NOMINATION_SUBMIT_REQUEST:
+            movie_id = content.get('payload',{}).get('movie_id')
+            user = content.get('payload',{}).get('user')
+            self.draft_state.start_nomination(movie_id)
+            await self.channel_layer.group_send(
+                self.group_names.session,
+                {
+                    "type": "broadcast.session",
+                    "subtype": DraftMessage.NOMINATION_CONFIRM,
+                    "payload": {
+                        "current_movie": self.draft_state.get_summary()['current_movie'],
+                        "nominating_participant":  user
+                    }
+                }
+            )
+        if event_type == DraftMessage.BID_START_REQUEST:
+            self.draft_state
+            await self.channel_layer.group_send(
+                self.group_names.session,
+                {
+                    "type": "broadcast.session",
+                    "subtype": DraftMessage.BID_START_INFORM,
+                    "payload": {
+                        "current_movie": self.draft_state.get_summary()['current_movie']
+                    }
+                }
+            )
+
     def should_accept_user(self):
         return super().should_accept_user() and self.user.is_staff
 
@@ -276,6 +304,20 @@ class DraftParticipantConsumer(DraftConsumerBase):
 
     async def receive_json(self, content):
         await super().receive_json(content)
+        event_type = content.get('type')
+        if event_type == DraftMessage.NOMINATION_SUBMIT_REQUEST:
+            await self.channel_layer.group_send(
+                self.group_names.admin,
+                {
+                    "type": "broadcast.admin",
+                    "subtype": event_type,
+                    "payload": {
+                        "movie_id": content.get('payload',{}).get('id'),
+                        "user": content.get('payload',{}).get('user')
+                    }
+                }
+            )
+
 
     # === Broadcast handlers ===
 
diff --git a/draft/state.py b/draft/state.py
index 66ddb5d..301f436 100644
--- a/draft/state.py
+++ b/draft/state.py
@@ -37,6 +37,10 @@ class DraftCacheKeys:
     def draft_index(self):
         return f"{self.prefix}:draft_index"
     
+    @property
+    def current_movie(self):
+        return f"{self.prefix}:current_movie"
+    
     # @property
     # def state(self):
     #     return f"{self.prefix}:state"
@@ -45,9 +49,9 @@ class DraftCacheKeys:
     # def current_movie(self):
     #     return f"{self.prefix}:current_movie"
 
-    # @property
-    # def bids(self):
-    #     return f"{self.prefix}:bids"
+    @property
+    def bids(self):
+        return f"{self.prefix}:bids"
 
     # @property
     # def participants(self):
@@ -146,7 +150,7 @@ class DraftStateManager:
             "draft_order": self.draft_order,
             "draft_index": self.draft_index,
             "connected_participants": self.connected_participants,
-            # "current_movie": self.cache.get(self.keys.current_movie),
+            "current_movie": self.cache.get(self.keys.current_movie),
             # "bids": self.get_bids(),
             # "timer_end": self.get_timer_end(),
         }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/frontend/src/apps/draft/admin/DraftAdmin.jsx b/frontend/src/apps/draft/admin/DraftAdmin.jsx
index 899174f..2153da8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/apps/draft/admin/DraftAdmin.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/apps/draft/admin/DraftAdmin.jsx
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { ParticipantList } from "../common/ParticipantList.jsx";
 import { DraftMessage, DraftPhase, DraftPhaseLabel, DraftPhasesOrdered } from '../constants.js';
 import { fetchDraftDetails, isEmptyObject, handleDraftStatusMessages, handleUserIdentifyMessages } from "../common/utils.js"
 import { DraftMoviePool } from "../common/DraftMoviePool.jsx"
+import { jsxs } from "react/jsx-runtime";
 
 
 
@@ -65,12 +66,28 @@ export const DraftAdmin = ({ draftSessionId }) => {
 
     const draftStatusMessageHandler = (event) => handleDraftStatusMessages(event, setDraftState)
     const userIdentifyMessageHandler = (event) => handleUserIdentifyMessages(event, setCurrentUser)
+    const handleNominationRequest = (event)=> {
+      const message = JSON.parse(event.data)
+      const { type, payload } = message;
+      console.log('passing through nomination request', message)
+      if (type == DraftMessage.NOMINATION_SUBMIT_REQUEST) {
+        socket.send(JSON.stringify(
+          {
+            type: DraftMessage.NOMINATION_SUBMIT_REQUEST,
+            payload
+          }
+        ))
+      }
+    }
     socket.addEventListener('message', draftStatusMessageHandler );
     socket.addEventListener('message', userIdentifyMessageHandler );
+    socket.addEventListener('message', handleNominationRequest );
+    
     
     return () => {
       socket.removeEventListener('message', draftStatusMessageHandler)
       socket.removeEventListener('message', userIdentifyMessageHandler );
+      socket.remove('message', handleNominationRequest );
     };
   }, [socket]);
 
@@ -114,6 +131,14 @@ export const DraftAdmin = ({ draftSessionId }) => {
     )
   }
 
+  const handleStartBidding = () => {
+    socket.send(
+      JSON.stringify(
+        {type: DraftMessage.BID_START_REQUEST}
+      )
+    )
+  }
+
   return (
     <div className="container draft-panel admin">
       <div className="d-flex justify-content-between border-bottom mb-2 p-1">
@@ -127,12 +152,16 @@ export const DraftAdmin = ({ draftSessionId }) => {
       </div>
 
       <ParticipantList
+        currentUser = {currentUser}
         draftState={draftState}
         draftDetails={draftDetails}
         isAdmin={true}
       />
-      <button onClick={handleAdvanceDraft} className="btn btn-primary">Advance Draft</button>
-      <DraftMoviePool draftDetails={draftDetails}></DraftMoviePool>
+      <div className="d-flex gap-1 m-1">
+        <button onClick={handleAdvanceDraft} className="btn btn-primary">Advance Draft</button>
+        <button onClick={handleStartBidding} className="btn btn-primary">Start Bidding</button>
+      </div>
+      <DraftMoviePool draftDetails={draftDetails} draftState={draftState}></DraftMoviePool>
 
       <DraftPhaseDisplay draftPhase={draftState.phase} nextPhaseHandler={() => { handlePhaseChange('next') }} prevPhaseHandler={() => { handlePhaseChange('previous') }}></DraftPhaseDisplay>
     </div>
diff --git a/frontend/src/apps/draft/common/DraftMoviePool.jsx b/frontend/src/apps/draft/common/DraftMoviePool.jsx
index 6185807..924908f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/apps/draft/common/DraftMoviePool.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/apps/draft/common/DraftMoviePool.jsx
@@ -1,15 +1,16 @@
 import React from "react";
 import { isEmptyObject } from "./utils";
 
-export const DraftMoviePool = ({ draftDetails }) => {
+export const DraftMoviePool = ({ isParticipant, draftDetails, draftState }) => {
   if(isEmptyObject(draftDetails)) {return}
   const {movies} = draftDetails
+  const {current_movie} = draftState
 
   return (
     <div className="movie-pool-container">
       <ul>
         {movies.map(m => (
-          <li key={m.id}>
+          <li key={m.id} className={`${current_movie == m.id ? "current-movie fw-bold" : null }`}>
             <a href={`/api/movie/${m.id}/detail`}>
               {m.title}
             </a>
diff --git a/frontend/src/apps/draft/common/ParticipantList.jsx b/frontend/src/apps/draft/common/ParticipantList.jsx
index 9f80b55..b33f012 100644
--- a/frontend/src/apps/draft/common/ParticipantList.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/apps/draft/common/ParticipantList.jsx
@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
 import React from "react";
 import { fetchDraftDetails, isEmptyObject } from "../common/utils.js"
 
-export const ParticipantList = ({ isAdmin, draftState, draftDetails }) => {
+export const ParticipantList = ({ isAdmin, draftState, draftDetails, currentUser }) => {
   if (isEmptyObject(draftState) || isEmptyObject(draftDetails)) { console.warn('empty draft state', draftState); return }
   const { draft_order, draft_index, connected_participants } = draftState
   const { participants } = draftDetails
 
   const ListTag = draft_order.length > 0 ? "ol" : "ul"
-  console.log
   const listItems = draft_order.length > 0 ? draft_order.map(d => participants.find(p => p.username == d)) : participants
 
 
@@ -17,7 +16,7 @@ export const ParticipantList = ({ isAdmin, draftState, draftDetails }) => {
       <ListTag className="participant-list">
         {listItems.map((p, i) => (
           <li key={i} className={`${i == draft_index ? "fw-bold" : ""}`}>
-            <span>{p?.full_name}</span>
+            <span className={`${p.username == currentUser ? "current-user" : ""}`}>{p?.full_name}</span>
             {isAdmin ? (
                 <div
               className={
diff --git a/frontend/src/apps/draft/common/utils.js b/frontend/src/apps/draft/common/utils.js
index 39831c8..f35a9a6 100644
--- a/frontend/src/apps/draft/common/utils.js
+++ b/frontend/src/apps/draft/common/utils.js
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ export const handleDraftStatusMessages = (event, setDraftState) => {
       console.log("Message: ", type, event?.data)
 
       if (!payload) return
-      const {connected_participants, phase, draft_order, draft_index} = payload
+      const {connected_participants, phase, draft_order, draft_index, current_movie} = payload
 
       if (type == DraftMessage.STATUS_SYNC_INFORM) {
         setDraftState(payload)
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ export const handleDraftStatusMessages = (event, setDraftState) => {
         ...(draft_order ? { draft_order } : {}),
         ...(draft_index ? { draft_index } : {}),
         ...(phase ? { phase: Number(phase) } : {}),
+        ...(current_movie ? {current_movie} : {}),
       }))
 
     }
@@ -59,9 +60,10 @@ export const handleDraftStatusMessages = (event, setDraftState) => {
 export const handleUserIdentifyMessages = (event, setUser) => {
   const message = JSON.parse(event.data)
       const { type, payload } = message;
-      console.log("Message: ", type, event?.data)
-
-      if (!payload) return
-      const {current_user} = payload
-      setUser(current_user)
+      
+      if (type==DraftMessage.USER_IDENTIFICATION_INFORM){
+        console.log("Message: ", type, event.data)
+        const {user} = payload
+        setUser(user)
+      }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/frontend/src/apps/draft/constants.js b/frontend/src/apps/draft/constants.js
index b382eaa..a7c8def 100644
--- a/frontend/src/apps/draft/constants.js
+++ b/frontend/src/apps/draft/constants.js
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ export const DraftMessage = {
   ORDER_DETERMINE_REQUEST: "order.determine.request",
   ORDER_DETERMINE_CONFIRM: "order.determine.confirm",
   BID_START_INFORM: "bid.start.inform",
+  BID_START_REQUEST: "bid.start.request",
   BID_PLACE_REQUEST: "bid.place.request",
   BID_UPDATE_INFORM: "bid.update.inform",
   BID_END_INFORM: "bid.end.inform",
diff --git a/frontend/src/apps/draft/participant/DraftParticipant.jsx b/frontend/src/apps/draft/participant/DraftParticipant.jsx
index 09e288f..c999773 100644
--- a/frontend/src/apps/draft/participant/DraftParticipant.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/apps/draft/participant/DraftParticipant.jsx
@@ -3,17 +3,53 @@ import React, { useEffect, useState } from "react";
 
 import { useWebSocket } from "../WebSocketContext.jsx";
 import { WebSocketStatus } from "../common/WebSocketStatus.jsx";
-import { DraftMessage, DraftPhases} from '../constants.js';
-import { fetchDraftDetails } from "../common/utils.js";
+import { DraftMessage, DraftPhases } from '../constants.js';
+import { fetchDraftDetails, handleUserIdentifyMessages, isEmptyObject } from "../common/utils.js";
 import { DraftMoviePool } from "../common/DraftMoviePool.jsx";
 import { ParticipantList } from "../common/ParticipantList.jsx";
 import { handleDraftStatusMessages } from '../common/utils.js'
 
+const NominateMenu = ({socket, draftState, draftDetails, currentUser}) => {
+  if (!socket || isEmptyObject(draftDetails) || isEmptyObject(draftState)) return;
+  const currentDrafter = draftState.draft_order[draftState.draft_index]
+  if (currentUser != currentDrafter) return;
+  const {movies} = draftDetails
+
+  const requestNomination = (event) => {
+    event.preventDefault()
+    const formData = new FormData(event.target)
+    socket.send(JSON.stringify({
+      type: DraftMessage.NOMINATION_SUBMIT_REQUEST,
+      payload: {
+        id: formData.get('movie'),
+        user: currentUser
+      }
+    }))
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <div>
+      <label>Nominate</label>
+      {draftState.draft_order[draftState.draft_index]}
+      <div className="d-flex">
+        <form onSubmit={requestNomination}>
+        <select className="form-control" name="movie">
+          {movies.map(m=>(
+            <option key={m.id} value={m.id}>{m.title}</option>
+          ))}
+        </select>
+        <button className="btn btn-primary">Nominate</button>
+        </form>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  )
+}
 
 export const DraftParticipant = ({ draftSessionId }) => {
   const socket = useWebSocket();
   const [draftState, setDraftState] = useState({});
   const [draftDetails, setDraftDetails] = useState({});
+  const [currentUser, setCurrentUser] = useState(null);
 
   const [movies, setMovies] = useState([]);
   console.log(socket)
@@ -27,7 +63,7 @@ export const DraftParticipant = ({ draftSessionId }) => {
       })
   }, [draftSessionId])
 
-  useEffect(()=>{
+  useEffect(() => {
     if (!socket) return;
     socket.onclose = (event) => {
       console.log('Websocket Closed')
@@ -37,12 +73,14 @@ export const DraftParticipant = ({ draftSessionId }) => {
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!socket) return;
 
-    const handler = (event) => handleDraftStatusMessages(event, setDraftState)
-    socket.addEventListener('message', handler );
+    const draftStatusMessageHandler = (event) => handleDraftStatusMessages(event, setDraftState)
+    const userIdentifyMessageHandler = (event) => handleUserIdentifyMessages(event, setCurrentUser)
+    socket.addEventListener('message', draftStatusMessageHandler);
+    socket.addEventListener('message', userIdentifyMessageHandler);
 
     return () => {
-      socket.addEventListener('message', handler );
-      socket.close();
+      socket.removeEventListener('message', draftStatusMessageHandler)
+      socket.removeEventListener('message', userIdentifyMessageHandler);
     };
   }, [socket]);
 
@@ -53,11 +91,13 @@ export const DraftParticipant = ({ draftSessionId }) => {
         <WebSocketStatus socket={socket} />
       </div>
       <ParticipantList
+        currentUser={currentUser}
         draftState={draftState}
         draftDetails={draftDetails}
-        isAdmin={false}
       />
-      <DraftMoviePool draftDetails={draftDetails}></DraftMoviePool>
+      <DraftMoviePool isParticipant={true} draftDetails={draftDetails} draftState={draftState}></DraftMoviePool>
+
+      <NominateMenu socket={socket} currentUser={currentUser} draftState={draftState} draftDetails={draftDetails}></NominateMenu>
     </div>
   );
 };
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/frontend/src/scss/styles.scss b/frontend/src/scss/styles.scss
index 2eaab41..4c25abf 100644
--- a/frontend/src/scss/styles.scss
+++ b/frontend/src/scss/styles.scss
@@ -63,8 +63,6 @@
     @extend .fs-3;
   }
   .change-phase {
-    
-
     button {
       @extend .btn;
       @extend .btn-light;
@@ -118,4 +116,10 @@
       @extend .ps-1;
     }
   }
+  .current-user {
+    &::after {
+      content: " *";
+      font-size: 1em; // adjust as needed
+    }
+  }
 }