Maine Democrats Elect Changes to Super-Delegate System

On Saturday, Democrats in the State of Maine voted to restrict the ability of so-called “Super Delegates” to cast their votes for any candidate they choose at the Democratic National Convention. A proposal by Rep. Diane Russell (D-Portland) would require that beginning in 2020, Maine’s delegate votes at the Democratic National Convention be awarded proportionately as per the results of the party’s presidential caucus or primary. Currently under the state party rules, Maine's five Super-Delegates are unpledged, and not bound by the caucus results.

In comments on the proposed changes to how Maine's Super-Delegate system is set up, Rep. Russell commented, “The reason that I have put this in is we have heard from people all across the state about how frustrated they are that you can actually have a popular vote where 64% of the delegates go to one candidate, and yet Super-Delegates are not voting in proportion to that,” Russell explained. “I want to fix it.”

Some supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders had wanted to add language that would have required the 2016 Super-Delegates to vote in line with the outcome of the March caucuses. But DNC party leaders warned that such a move could have serious repercussions at the national convention in Philadelphia in July that might include losing of some or all of the state’s delegates.

The issue of changing Maine's Super-Delegate system in the Democratic Party arose after that state's March primary in which Sen. Bernie Sanders won 64% of the vote, yet received only 1 of the state's 5 Super-Delegates. Three of Maine's Super-Delegates had already sworn support to Hillary Clinton prior to Maine's caucus, with one delegate remaining uncommitted. The growing view that some of Maine's Super-Delegates may have been "bought-off" has also generated much concern with the apparent purchasing of Super-Delegates via a partnership of the DNC with the Hillary Victory Fund, with the state DNC acting as the "Bag Man". It is known that the partnership of the DNC with the Hillary Victory Fund has made contributions directly benefiting Super-Delegates through various state democratic parties in at least 33 states.