superdelegate

A superdelegate is a term used in United States politics to describe a class of delegates to the Democratic National Convention who are not bound by primary or caucus results. They may vote for any candidate for the Democratic nomination at the convention, in contrast to pledged delegates who are allocated based on state primary or caucus results and are typically bound by those results. The concept is specific to the Democratic Party; the Republican Party does not employ a comparable system of automatic delegates.

Composition and role: Superdelegates are generally party leaders and elected officials—such as members of the Democratic National Committee, governors, U.S. senators and representatives, and former presidents—as well as other prominent party figures. They join the convention voting roster in addition to pledged delegates. Their original purpose was to ensure experienced leadership and to provide stability in the nomination process.

Rules and current status: The use of superdelegates has been contentious. In the 2008–2016 period, they could vote on the first ballot, potentially influencing the outcome even when pledged delegates favored another candidate. Following reforms adopted by the Democratic Party in 2016–2018, superdelegates are not allowed to vote on the first ballot at the national convention; they may vote only if the convention requires a second ballot to select a nominee. The number of superdelegates and the precise rules can vary between conventions and are set by the party.

In summary, superdelegates are an unpledged subset of Democratic convention delegates whose participation is restricted on the first ballot and who provide party leadership input into the nomination process.