superdelegate
Free-voting party delegate
A superdelegate is a delegate to a political party's nominating convention who is not bound by primary or caucus results and may vote for any candidate.
In the Democratic Party, superdelegates are typically elected officials, party leaders, and other prominent figures: The superdelegates could swing the nomination if no candidate wins a majority of pledged delegates.
The term emerged in the 1980s when Democrats created the category to give party insiders more influence over nominee selection.
Wielder of political influence
- kingmakerPolitical influence wielder
- cloutInformal power or punch
- swayRock back and forth
- leverageBorrowed capital for amplified returns
establishment · insider · lobbying · endorsement · pressure · pull · weight · backroom
Formally promised something
- unpledgedNot formally promised
- conventionAgreed standard of behavior
- primaryChief in importance
- caucusParty selection meeting
nominee · endorsement · ballot · voting · candidate · campaign · electorate · platform
Superior select group
- party leaderHead of political faction
- officeholderElected or appointed official
- governorState's chief executive
- senatorUpper chamber member
congressperson · former president · vice president · chairperson · distinguished · automatic · unbound · free agent
powerbroker
Wielder of political influence
leverage · establishment · insider · lobbying · endorsement · pressure · pull · weight · backroom · arm-twisting
pledged
Formally promised something
- unpledgedNot formally promised
- conventionAgreed standard of behavior
- primaryChief in importance
caucus · nominee · endorsement · ballot · voting · candidate · campaign · electorate · platform · Democratic
elite
Superior select group
- party leaderHead of political faction
- officeholderElected or appointed official
- governorState's chief executive
senator · congressperson · former president · vice president · chairperson · distinguished · automatic · unbound · free agent · uncommitted
- campaigningcandidate, campaign signs, canvassing, campaign manager, fundraising
- election participantsvoter, candidate, elector, registered voter, eligible voter
- representativesrepresentative, lawyer, deputy, rep, proxy
- Democratic PoliticsDemocrat, DNC, donkey, blue state, blue wave
- DemocratsDemocrat, DNC, donkey, blue state, Joe Biden
- Nominationsnomination, nominee, candidate, nomination process, nomination speech