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Superdelegate
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==== Comparison with pledged delegates ==== The remaining 85% of delegates are pledged to a candidate and chosen in primaries and caucuses.<ref>[https://theweek.com/articles/615261/superdelegates-explained Superdelegates, explained], ''The Week'' (April 4, 2016).</ref> Unlike the Republican primary process (in which many states have a "winner-take-all" process, awarding all or most votes to the candidate who wins a plurality of the vote), Democrats follow a proportionality rule.<ref>[https://fairvote.org/press/grand_old_primaries/ Grand Old Primaries], FairVote.org (December 10, 2007).</ref> All candidates who received at least 15% of the vote are awarded delegates in proportion to their share of the vote.<ref name=Prokop>Andrew Prokop, [https://www.vox.com/2020/2/28/21153287/delegates-democratic-primary-2020-math How Democrats' delegate math actually works], ''Vox'' (March 2, 2020).</ref> Most pledged delegates are allotted based on candidates' proportions of the vote at the district level (these generally correspond to [[congressional district]]s, but in some states correspond to [[state senate]] districts or specially designated "delegate districts").<ref name=Prokop/><ref name=DelegateTypes>[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna22477414 National convention delegate types], NBC News/Associated Press (January 3, 2008).</ref> Additional delegates (the "[[at-large]]" delegates) are awarded to candidates based on statewide results.<ref name=Prokop/><ref name=DelegateTypes/> Finally, there are pledged "party leader and elected official" (PLEO) delegates.<ref name=Prokop/><ref name=DelegateTypes/> These are large city mayors, state legislative leaders, and county party officials who are pledged to a certain candidate; like the statewide at-large delegates, pledged PLEO delegates are allocated proportionally to presidential candidates based on the statewide primary or caucus vote.<ref name=DelegateTypes/> The district, at-large, and PLEO delegates collectively constitute a state or territory's pledged delegation.<ref name=DelegateTypes/> Unlike superdelegates, who may support a candidate of their choice,<ref name=UpGrabs>{{cite news| last = Sinderbrand| first = Rebecca | title =Pledged delegates up for grabs, Clinton says|publisher=CNN| date = March 26, 2008| url = https://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/26/clinton.delegates/}}</ref> pledged delegates generally must support the candidate to whom they are pledged.<ref name=UpGrabs/> Since 1982, the party rules have stated that: "Delegates elected to the national convention pledged to a presidential candidate shall in all good conscience reflect the sentiments of those who elected them."<ref name=UpGrabs/><ref name=2020Rules/> If a candidate who has earned pledged delegates drops out before the national convention, then that candidate's delegates who were elected at the district level are released from their obligation to the dropped-out candidate.<ref name=Montellaro>Zach Montellaro, [https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/04/bloomberg-buttigieg-klobuchar-dropouts-delegates-121442 Here's what happens to the 2020 dropouts' delegates], ''Politico'' (March 4, 2020).</ref><ref name=Zhouli>Li Zhouli, [https://www.vox.com/2020/3/6/21166863/what-happens-delegates-candidates-drop-out Here's what happens to delegates after their candidates drop out], ''Vox'' (March 6, 2020).</ref> Pledged delegates who are allocated at the district level to a candidate who subsequently drops out of the race become "free agents": they often support the candidate whom the dropped-out candidate endorses, but are not obligated to do so.<ref name=Montellaro/><ref name=Zhouli/> By contrast, statewide pledged delegates are usually proportionally reallocated to candidates still in the race at the time when the states formally elect their delegates: this typically takes place at a statewide convention held after the primary or caucus, but before the national convention in mid-summer.<ref name=Montellaro/><ref name=Zhouli/> By contrast, many superdelegates choose to announce endorsements, but they are not bound to those preferences, and may support any candidate they wish, including a candidate who has dropped out of the presidential race.<ref>{{Cite news | title = Romney suspends presidential campaign |publisher= CNN| date = February 7, 2008|url=https://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/07/romney.campaign/index.htm }}</ref>
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