Pro-Democracy Groups Plan to Deliver 500,000 Signatures Opposing Superdelegate System Before Rules Committee Meeting Saturday

Philadelphia, PA — This Saturday, July 23rd, at 10am, DNC Rules Committee members will join pro-democracy groups advocating for an end to the undemocratic superdelegate system for a joint press conference before the rules committee meeting convenes that afternoon. The campaign has gathered more than 50 cosponsors for a formal amendment to end superdelegates  -- enough to clear the 25% threshold needed for “minority report” and full convention floor vote.

What: Pre-vote press conference with rules committee members pushing for an end to superdelegates and a formal petition delivery of more than 500,000 signatures from Democratic-leaning groups working to end superdelegates.

Who: Rules committee members, including Aaron Regunberg, the amendment’s chief sponsor. Groups presenting signatures will include: MoveOn.org, Demand Progress, Daily Kos, Social Security Works, Democracy for America, New Democrat Network, National Nurses United, The Other 98%, Courage Campaign, Progressive Kick, Credo, PCCC, Progressive Democrats of America, Center for Popular Democracy, Social Security Works, and Reform the DNC.

Where: Outside room 117 at the Philadelphia Convention Center at 1101 Arch St, Philadelphia. Livestream information will be available Saturday morning by request.

When: Saturday, July 23rd

• Press conference: 10am ET
• Rules Committee meeting: 1pm ET

“This is a historic moment for the Democratic Party,” said Aaron Regunberg, Rhode Island State Representative and Rules Committee Member. “Saturday we vote on whether to end the undemocratic superdelegate system. It’s time to restore democracy in the Democratic Party.”

"The super delegate system undermines the promise of one person one vote that is bedrock of democracy,” added Deborah Burger, RN, co-president of National Nurses United and Rules Committee member. “It was created to block the nomination of candidates who would challenge a political system that has for far too long been dominated by corporate interests and a wealthy elite. Ending this undemocratic selection process would be a strong step forward to making the Democratic Party more responsive to those thirsting for real change and a healthier America."

Outside Democratic groups have campaigned hard in the last months to end superdelegates -- gathering over 500,000 signatures, flying a plane over the convention center Friday afternoon for three hours, and sending thousands upon thousands of direct tweets to committee members.

See one of the petitions, and an open letter from 15 national organizations to the committee members calling for an end to superdelegates here:

www.Endsuperdelegates.com

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“End Superdelegates” is a new effort representing a cross-section of Democrats who urge the Democratic National Committee to end superdelegates. Participating organizations include: Courage Campaign, Credo, Daily Kos, Demand Progress/Rootstrikers, Democracy for America, Center for Popular, Democracy, MoveOn, National Nurses United, New Democrat Network, The Other 98%, Presente,Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Progressive Democrats of America, Progressive Kick, Reform the DNC, and Social Security Works.

Statements from Clinton and Sanders backers who are campaigning this week to end superdelegates:

Statement from Simon Rosenberg, President of NDN, former DNC staffer, who supported Hillary Clinton during the primary:
“There are many reasons to end the practice of superdelegates in the Democratic Party. To me the most important is that it is discordant with broader and vital efforts by Democrats to modernize and improve our democracy. If we want the voice of everyday people to be louder and more consequential in our nation’s politics, it must also be so in our Party.”

Statement from Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who supported Bernie Sanders during the primary:
"In my view, both as a superdelegate and a former DNC official, the nominee of our party should be decided by who earns the most votes —not party insiders, unelected officials, or the federal lobbyists that have been given a vote in our nominating process. The current system stands against grassroots activists and the will of the voters. We’ve seen a historic number of new voters and activists join our political process in the past year, many of whom are rightly upset at how rigged the political system can seem at times. If we want to strengthen our democracy and our party, we must end the superdelegate process.”

Statement from Joe Trippi, former Howard Dean campaign manager, who supported Hillary Clinton during the primary:
“Of all the ideas to reform and improve the nominating process of the Democratic Party the core goal has to be to empower voices from the bottom up. The top down idea of superdelegates is obsolete and is a good place to start."

Statement from Chuy Garcia, Cook County Commissioner and Rules Committee member, who supported Bernie Sanders during the primary:
“I'm proud of the progress this year by the Democratic Party on issues critical to the historically disenfranchised. But we still have further to go to achieve political parity within the Party. The superdelegate system gives disproportionate power to party insiders over rank and file voters. The will of the people is best expressed through elected, pledged delegates. It's time to reform the superdelegate system!”

Statement from Rosario Dawson, actress, who supported Bernie Sanders during the primary:
“Bernie Sanders' campaign was about having governance that actually reflects and represents all of the people of this country and prioritizes their needs. The Democratic Party can truly be the party of the people by demonstrating that it takes these concerns seriously. Ending the anti-democratic superdelegate system is a step in that direction." 

Statement from Christine Pelosi, Political Strategist, who supported Hillary:
Clinton during the primary: “Let's show America that as the Democratic Party, we believe in democracy and that leaders should never trump the will of the voters.”

Statement from Nina Turner, former Ohio State Senator, who supported Bernie Sanders during the primary:
"The 2016 presidential election cycle is a piercing reminder of what happens when absolute power runs amok. If we were not aware before, we are certainly aware now that the ‘superdelegate’ model within the Democratic Party is on its face undemocratic. It must be reformed to conform in tangible ways to the expressed values of equity, diversity and fairness enshrined in our Party's principles."