superdelegate
noun
su·per·del·e·gate
ˈsü-pər-ˌde-li-gət 
US politics
: a person who is chosen as a delegate to a political party's presidential nominating convention because of their status as a leader or official within the party and who is free to vote for any candidate regardless of the results of the popular vote in primary elections and caucuses preceding the convention
Superdelegates were invented by the Democrats after the 1980 election in the expectation that in any future close nomination race, they would line up behind the establishment candidate and head off the possibility of a ruinous floor fight at the convention.—
Matt Bai
Matt BaiExamples of superdelegate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
After the 2016 election, the DNC reformed the superdelegate system.
—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
6 July 2026
But the Democratic National Committee has determined that Biden had enough delegates to win on the first ballot, meaning superdelegates may vote in that round.
—
Louis Jacobson and Amy Sherman,
Austin American-Statesman,
22 July 2024
Here's what to know about delegates and superdelegates after Joe Biden dropped out.
—
James Powel,
USA TODAY,
21 July 2024
That group includes some party officials — superdelegates — who are barred from voting to nominate on the first ballot.
—
Michael Scherer,
Washington Post,
13 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for superdelegate
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Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
6 July 2026
But the Democratic National Committee has determined that Biden had enough delegates to win on the first ballot, meaning superdelegates may vote in that round.
—
Louis Jacobson and Amy Sherman,
Austin American-Statesman,
22 July 2024
Here's what to know about delegates and superdelegates after Joe Biden dropped out.
—
James Powel,
USA TODAY,
21 July 2024
That group includes some party officials — superdelegates — who are barred from voting to nominate on the first ballot.
—
Michael Scherer,
Washington Post,
13 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for superdelegate
Cite this Entry
“Superdelegate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superdelegate. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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