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‘We Want A Rules Change’: Bizarre Common Ground for GOP, Democrats

Sanders supporters call for convention votes based on state primaries

Supporters of Bernie Sanders have decried the presidential nomination process. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Supporters of Bernie Sanders have decried the presidential nomination process. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

Democratic and Republican party officials each made a pitch Sunday to change how nominees are chosen ahead of next month’s conventions.  

California Democrats on Sunday called for the elimination of caucuses and superdelegates, urging the Democratic National Committee to change nominating rules for the next presidential election, the Los Angeles Times reported.  

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How Sanders Would Fare Under Different Nominating Rules

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Democrats in Nebraska are also attempting to change the rules , approving a resolution Sunday at the party’s statewide convention that symbolically asks its five superdelegates to base their votes at next month’s Democratic convention in Philadelphia on the state’s primary results, according to the Lincoln Journal Star.  

Supporters of Bernie Sanders have decried the Democratic presidential nomination  process after his unexpectedly strong showing in the primaries against the party’s presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton.   

But a May 24 Roll Call analysis suggested that Sanders would’ve fared no better in a popular vote or winner-take-all scenario.  

The Congressional Black Caucus balked at reforms aimed at abolishing  superdelegates and opening up Democratic primaries to independent voters, The Washington Post reported.  

CBC officials said the system works in part because it allows members of Congress to serve as superdelegates without having to compete with constituents.  

On the other side of the aisle, 1,000 people, including some GOP delegates, joined a conference call  Sunday to hammer out sweeping rules changes that would unbind delegates at the convention, according to ABC News, in a last ditch attempt to deny Donald Trump the presidential nomination.   

Spearheaded by two Colorado delegates, it was the second call in four days, following a Thursday night call with three dozen delegates.  

Some delegates said they feared retribution with one North Carolina delegate saying they faced a “direct threat” from the state party — a $10,000 fine if they voted against their binding.  

Contact Rahman at remarahman@cqrollcall.com or follow her on Twitter at @remawriter
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