What are super delegates?

Synopsis

Super-delegates are introduced in the early 1980s following the Democratic Party's rule changes after the tumultuous 1968 convention. These changes aimed to enhance democratic representation, particularly for women and minorities, while sidelining elected officials and party elders. In 1980, supporters of Teddy Kennedy attempted to alter party rules to challenge Jimmy Carter's nomination. Currently, there are 719 super-delegates in the Democratic race, constituting about 15% of the total delegates. This group includes every Democratic governor, congressman, senator, and members of the Democratic National Convention. Notably, both Barack Obama and Joe Biden are classified as super-delegates. While many currently support Hillary Clinton, they retain the freedom to switch their allegiance up until the convention, often influenced by voter support trends, as seen in 2008 when several super-delegates shifted from Clinton to Obama due to his strong backing in the African American community. Bernie Sanders is actively seeking support from super-delegates, but faces challenges as they are predominantly established Democratic Party figures.