Commentators are contemplating a Democratic presidential convention that does not have a clear winner coming out of the primaries. According to the new rules, super delegates can’t vote on the first ballot. If the first ballot does not declare a winner, then and only then can the super delegates vote.
Who are the super delegates?
- Democratic Governors (including territorial governors and the Mayor of the District of Columbia.
- Democratic Members of Congress including non-voting delegates from Washington DC and the territories, US Senators including the DC shadow Senators.
- Certain party leaders — current and former Presidents, Vice Presidents, former congressional leaders, and former DNC chairs.
- Elected members from the Democratic National Committee
- The chairs and vice chairs of each state and territorial Democratic Party
- The 212 national committeemen and committeewomen elected to represent their states
- Top officials of the DNC itself and plus officials from related groups. Among them:
- National Federation of Democratic Women
- Young Democrats of America.
- 75 at-large members who are nominated by the party chairman and chosen by the full DNC
Is it a bad thing for this group to have a powerful voice in a second or third ballot in selecting the Democratic nominee?
It is OK with me. These people represent the Democratic Party. My political party.