The Independent View: Democrats to Limit Role of Superdelegates

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) Voted overwhelmingly on Saturday to Limit the Role of Superdelegates in choosing the Party’s Presidential Nominee, moving to heal Internal Divisions that emerged during the bitter 2016 Primaries. The Reform, adopted by Vvoice Vote at the DNC’s Summer Meeting in Chicago, will bar Superdelegates, Lawmakers, Former Presidents, and other Party Dignitaries, from Voting during the First Ballot of the Nominating Process. But Superdelegates would be allowed to Vote in the instance where a Second or more Ballots are needed to Nominate a Presidential Candidate.

The Reform was pushed by DNC Chairman Tom Perez, but faced Strong Opposition from a relatively Small but Vocal Group of Party Members, who argued it would Disenfranchise some of the party’s most Prominent Members. Earlier on Saturday, Opponents of the Measure, led by former DNC Chair Don Fowler, sought to Require a Two-Thirds Majority Vote to Pass the Reforms, arguing that doing so would require a Change to the Party’s Charter. But Committee Members Voted to Uphold Perez’s Ruling that the Reforms amounted to a Rule Change and required only a simple Majority Vote to Pass. Fowler then moved to Suspend the Rules and Vote by a Voice Vote, paving the way for DNC Members to Swiftly and Overwhelmingly Adopt the Reforms.

“Today is a historic day for our party," Perez said in a Statement following the Vote. "We passed major reforms that will not only put our next presidential nominee in the strongest position possible, but will help us elect Democrats up and down the ballot, across the country."

Unlike Pledged Delegates, whose Votes at the Convention are Determined by State Primary and Caucus results, Democratic Superdelegates can Vote for whichever Candidate they Prefer. Sanders and his Supporters had argued that gave Party Elites the Power to snuff out the will of Democratic Primary Voters. “Today's decision by the DNC is an important step forward in making the Democratic Party more open, democratic and responsive to the input of ordinary Americans," Sanders said in a Statement. "This has been a long and arduous process, and I want to thank Tom Perez and all of those who made it happen.”

Many Democratic Leaders have since come around to supporting Limiting the Role of Superdelegates in the Nomination process, including former DNC Chairs Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA 12th District) has also spoken out Against the Role of Superdelegates. But some DNC Members sought to Rally Opposition to the Reform Proposal, including Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA 2nd District), the Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Other Opponents of Limiting the Roles of Superdelegates believed it gave Sanders, a Democratic Socialist, Undue Influence over the DNC. At the end, Perez prevailed in Pushing the Reform, having argued it would grow Trust in the Party by Voting Members. “Our North Star is very simple: We want to grow the party, we want to make sure that people embrace the Democratic Party and we want to make sure people trust the Democratic Party,” Perez said.

Other Changes

- To make the Presidential Nominating process more Inclusive, Transparent, and Accessible to Participants of all Backgrounds, the DNC Voted to Expand the Use of Primaries so that more people could Participate in the Process. Primaries are more accessible for many Voters, including Seniors, Shift-Workers, Students, Members of the Military, parents of Young Children, and People with Disabilities.

- For States with Caucuses, the Reforms recommend that those States take Steps to make their Caucuses as Accessible as possible, including offering Absentee Voting for Voters who can't make the Caucus In Person and Implementing better Processes for Tracking Ballots in Case a Recount is needed.

- Democrats are doing all we can to make sure that Every Eligible Voter can Exercise their Constitutional Right at the Ballot Box. The DNC Encouraging All States to Offer Same-Day Voter Registration and the Ability to Register as a Democrat to Vote in Democratic Primaries.