An enormously complex convention delegate selection process has grown out of the long inter-Party struggle between the corporate wing of the Democratic Party that wants to block progressive candidates like Sanders and the progressive base of activists, working class voters and organized labor who want a real people’s candidate, just like Sanders.
Here's a thumbnail overview of the delegate selection process.
Date and location of the Democratic National Convention July 25-28, 2016, Philadelphia, PA
Total number of (voting) delegates attending the convention: 4,764 (as of Jan 05)
Number of delegates needed to win the Party's nomination: 2,383 (as of Jan 05)
Types of Delegates: Pledged 4051; Unpledged (Super) 713
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Pledged delegates come in three flavors:
- Congressional district delegates, allocated proportionally based on the results of the primary or caucus in a congressional district.
- At-large delegates, allocated proportionally based on the statewide results in the primary or caucus.
- PLEOs, (pledged party leaders and elected officials); allocated proportionally based on the statewide results of the primary or caucus
Candidates are eligible to receive a share of the pledged delegates at stake—congressional district delegates, at-large delegates or PLEO delegates—if they win at least 15 percent of votes cast in a primary or the preferences expressed in a caucus.
- Unpledged (Super) Delegates are automatic delegates to the convention, not required to pledge their support to a presidential candidate. They are members of the DNC, Democratic members of Congress, governors, or distinguished party leaders. These “Super” delegates make up 15% of the total delegates.
Clinton leads in super delegates
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It’s been reported that 440 of the unpledged super delegates have committed to Hillary Clinton. If that holds, it means that, before any votes or preferences are recorded, Hillary has nearly one fifth of the 2383 delegates she will need to win the nomination. However, if a really big Bernie surge emerges during the primaries and caucus, some of those super delegates will feel pressured to shift their support to Bernie.
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Illinois’ Convention Delegates: (From the Illinois State Board of Election)
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Total Delegates: 190
- Elected: 102
- Appointed by the Party: 86
- So in Illinois the Democratic Party determines 40% of the state’s delegates.
No doubt, the current system presents a big hurdle to the Sander’s campaign, but hopefully not an insurmountable one. The Sanders’ campaign is broad and deep, and regardless of what happens in the primary, it has created an opportunity for us to build an independent progressive voting block that can eventually either take over the Party or build a new one. Are we up for that challenge?