Congressional Black Caucus: Keep superdelegate system in place

The Congressional Black Caucus is against eliminating superdelegates, putting the group at odds with Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. 

In a letter first reported by Politico, the CBC also said it is against allowing independents and Republicans to vote in Democratic primaries. 

Both suggestions have been championed by the Sanders campaign. 

“The Democratic Members of the Congressional Black Caucus recently voted unanimously to oppose any suggestion or idea to eliminate the category of Unpledged Delegate to the Democratic National Convention (aka Super Delegates) and the creation of uniform open primaries in all states,” says the letter.

It was sent to both Democratic presidential campaigns, as well as to Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

“We want to participate as delegates and that’s why this superdelegates system was created in the beginning, so members would not have to run against their own constituents,” said Chairman G.K Butterfield.

Superdelegates have been a flashpoint in the Democratic primary, pitting supporters of Sanders against those backing presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. 

The state Democratic Party in California on Sunday called for the elimination of the use of superdelegates, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Among those supporters of the resolution was Pelosi’s daughter. Pelosi endorsed Clinton ahead of the Golden State’s primary earlier this month.