Superdelegates and Open Primaries
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In a letter sent to both the Sanders and Hillary Clinton campaigns, the CBC is expressing its resolute opposition to two key reforms demanded by Sanders in the run-up to the Democratic convention: abolishing the party’s superdelegate system and opening Democratic primaries up to independents and Republicans.
“The Democratic Members of the Congressional Black Caucus recently voted unanimously to oppose any suggestion or idea to eliminate the category of Unpledged Delegate to the Democratic National Convention (aka Super Delegates) and the creation of uniform open primaries in all states,” says the letter, which was obtained by POLITICO. “The Democratic Party benefits from the current system of unpledged delegates to the National Convention by virtue of rules that allow members of the House and Senate to be seated as a delegate without the burdensome necessity of competing against constituents for the honor of representing the state during the nominating process.”
Each side is right about one issue. Sanders is right that the superdelegates need to go. They serve no useful purpose and feed into conspiracy theories. Some look at the Republican nomination this year and say “this is what superdelegates can prevent.” But if superdelegates prevented any winner of a democratic process from being the nominee, total chaos would take place. They serve no real purpose other than giving party elites a slightly more than ceremonial vote in reality, but that’s not enough to keep them given the controversies over them this year.
On the other hand, I believe Democrats should pick the Democratic nominee. I’m fine with same day registration for voting. But declared Democrats should pick the Democratic nominee. If you don’t want to soil your leftist purity by registering as a Democrat, that’s a choice you make.
The caucuses should also be eliminated in favor of primaries in every state, but that’s not at play in this current conflict.