# Are the new Democratic House Representatives now superdelegates?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-new-democratic-house-representatives-now-superdelegates/449309>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 14, 2008, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-new-democratic-house-representatives-now-superdelegates/449309 "2008-05-14T18:34:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-new-democratic-house-representatives-now-superdelegates/449309/1 "2008-05-14T18:34:22Z")

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All through this Democratic primary, we’ve been told that the magic number is 2,025 delegates to gain the nomination. But there’ve been two or three special elections in which the Democrats have gained House seats. Has that number shifted to 2,026 now? Or do these new representatives not have votes at the Convention?

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**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-new-democratic-house-representatives-now-superdelegates/449309/2 "2008-05-14T19:15:42Z")

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The DNC’s [Delegate Selection Rules](http://s3.amazonaws.com/apache.3cdn.net/3e5b3bfa1c1718d07f_6rm6bhyc4.pdf) (PDF file) say:

> [@](#):
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> Not later than March 1, 2008, the Secretary of the Democratic National Committee shall officially confirm to each State Democratic Chair the names of the following unpledged delegates who legally reside in their respective state and who shall be recognized as part of their state’s delegation unless any such member has publicly expressed support for the election of, or has endorsed, a presidential candidate of another political party: _[A list of elected officials eligible for superdelegate status follows]_

I assume this makes March 1 the deadline. If you didn’t become a Representative until after that date, you’re out.

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**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-new-democratic-house-representatives-now-superdelegates/449309/3 "2008-05-14T19:16:50Z")

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This is rule 9.A. on page 10 of the document linked to, by the way.