Democrats Are About to Cut Down The Power That Superdelegates Will Have In The 2020 Primary

Democrats are expected to announce some big changes ahead of the 2020 primary that include cutting down the voting power of superdelegates, and new rules for primaries and caucuses to improve voter access and recordkeeping.

Here is the big change for 2020 via ABC News, “Sources close to the commission say the group’s likely recommendation on superdelegates will be for some select superdelegates such as Congress members, governors and former presidents to continue as unbound superdelegates, but to change the rest of the system so the votes of all other superdelegates are pooled or bound in another way to match up with to the popular vote totals from their respective states.”

Nobody and I mean nobody outside of Debbie Wasserman Schultz likes the power that superdelegates have. After he won the 2008 election, President Obama tried to get rid of superdelegates, but the DNC rejected a proposal by a commission that he backed to get rid of them. There is also going to be recommendations for a more open primary and caucus voting process, a push for same-day registration, and a requirement that states report statewide voting totals.

These are all excellent ideas. Bernie Sanders isn’t going to get his totally open primaries, and a move to more caucuses, but the Democratic Party as a whole will benefit from a process that will make it easier to register new Democratic voters and get them involved in the primary.

The Democratic Party is diverse, inclusive, and young. The party will only be helped by a process that encourages and rewards people for getting involved.

Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

Awards and  Professional Memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association