What is a delegate?

Delegates are individuals chosen to represent their state at their party’s national nominating convention. They are typically party activists, local political leaders, or early supporters of a particular presidential candidate.

What is the responsibility of a pledged delegate?

Rule 13 (J) of the Democratic National Committee defines a pledged delegate’s responsibility: Delegates elected to the national convention pledged to a presidential candidate shall in all good conscience reflect the sentiments of those who elected them. There are three distinct types of pledged delegates:

How are delegates awarded to candidates in the Democratic National Convention?

In most cases, state Democratic parties award delegates to candidates based on their performance in a primary or caucus vote.

Why did candidates’delegate totals change during the 2016 election?

Candidates’ totals have changed due to party rules that make those who have dropped out of the race ineligible to receive delegates in certain cases. Some delegates earned by former candidates Pete Buttigieg, Elizabeth Warren and Mike Bloomberg have been transferred to Biden.