superdelegate

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superdelegate

politics

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July 23, 2026

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In U.S. politics, a superdelegate is an unpledged delegate to a political party's presidential nominating convention. These individuals are typically party leaders or officials who are free to vote for any candidate, regardless of primary or caucus results.1

The Democratic Party introduced superdelegates after the 1980 election, aiming to prevent internal conflicts during close nomination races. While they include members of the Democratic National Committee, governors, and members of Congress, their influence has been limited by rule changes, particularly after the 2016 nomination process. If a first-ballot vote for a nominee is contested, superdelegates cannot vote until the second round.12

Super Tuesday, a day in February or March when multiple states hold presidential primaries, can award a significant number of delegates. Historically, Super Tuesday results have often solidified a party's frontrunner for the presidential nomination.3

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Democratic National Convention
History
Advocates hoped that these “superdelegates,” as they were called, would help to prevent disunity and increase the appeal of centrist candidates. In 2016 superdelegates overwhelmingly favoured former first lady Hillary Clinton over independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, while Sanders’s supporters called for abolishing superdelegates. The convention eventually reached a compromise…
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Advocates hoped that these “superdelegates,” as they were called, would help to prevent disunity and increase the appeal of centrist candidates. In 2016 superdelegates overwhelmingly favoured former first lady Hillary Clinton over independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, while Sanders’s supporters called for abolishing superdelegates. The convention eventually reached a compromise…
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Democratic Party
Policy and structure
So-called “superdelegates,” which include members of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), the party’s formal governing body, as well as Democratic governors and members of Congress, also participate. However, following criticism of the superdelegates’ influence in the 2016 nomination process, their power was limited by rule changes…
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So-called “superdelegates,” which include members of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), the party’s formal governing body, as well as Democratic governors and members of Congress, also participate. However, following criticism of the superdelegates’ influence in the 2016 nomination process, their power was limited by rule changes…
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presidency of the United States of America
Presidential nominating conventions
…created a category of “superdelegates,” who are unpledged to any candidate. Consisting of federal officeholders, governors, and other high-ranking party officials, they usually constitute 15 to 20 percent of the total number of delegates. Other Democratic delegates are required on the first ballot to vote for the candidate whom…
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…created a category of “superdelegates,” who are unpledged to any candidate. Consisting of federal officeholders, governors, and other high-ranking party officials, they usually constitute 15 to 20 percent of the total number of delegates. Other Democratic delegates are required on the first ballot to vote for the candidate whom…
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primary election
…Democratic Party created so-called “superdelegates,” a group of unelected and unpledged delegates that included members of the Democratic National Committee, Democratic governors, and Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. However, in response to criticism of the influence of superdelegates in the 2016 nominating process, rule…
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…Democratic Party created so-called “superdelegates,” a group of unelected and unpledged delegates that included members of the Democratic National Committee, Democratic governors, and Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. However, in response to criticism of the influence of superdelegates in the 2016 nominating process, rule…
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