Maine Democrats Change Superdelegate System in Single Vote
A just-approved amendment forces the state to allocate superdelegates based on caucus results.
A Rules Committee meeting at Maine's convention. (via Rep. Diane Russell's Facebook)
A Rules Committee meeting at Maine’s convention. (via Rep. Diane Russell’s Facebook)
In an election season rife with complaints about the superdelegate system, Maine appears to be the first state to initiate change. At this weekend’s state convention, Maine Democrats voted in favor of an amendment that requires superdelegates to be assigned in proportion with caucus results. U.S. Uncut reports:
The adoption of the amendment means that Maine’s superdelegate votes will now be allocated proportionally according to the overall popular vote, rather than each superdelegate having complete autonomy. Currently, three of Maine’s five superdelegates are supporting Hillary Clinton, with one supporting Bernie Sanders and one who remains uncommitted to either candidate. Under the new rules, Sanders, who won the Maine caucus with 64 percent of the vote, would have three superdelegates to Clinton’s two.
Another component of the amendment is that the Maine Democratic Party will now petition its Democratic National Committee members to move to get rid of the superdelegate system altogether, at the national level. The amendment is nonbinding for the 2016 election, but will take full effect in the 2020 election and every election thereafter.
Rep. Diane Russell, D-Portland, notes that there was serious debate about adopting the amendment this year. As the Bangor Daily News noted before the convention, the “proposed change could also prompt a floor fight between supporters of presidential hopefuls Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton” because many Sanders supporters may want the change to occur this year.
It appears no floor fight took place, however. As U.S. Uncut reports, “The measure was passed by a single voice vote, followed by chants of “Ber-nie! Ber-nie!”
Watch a video of the amendment vote below:
–Posted by Emma Niles
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