Danica Oparnica wasa superdelegate to the2016 Democratic National Convention fromArizona.^[1] Oparnica was one of ten superdelegates from Arizona. Superdelegates to the 2016 Democratic National Convention were not bound by the results of their state’s primary or caucus to support a specific presidential candidate. Oparnica’s name was included on a list of superdelegates supportingBernie Sanders released by Sanders' campaign in April 2016.^[2] Leading up to the 2016 Democratic National Convention, Sanders had approximately1,832 pledged delegates and 47 superdelegates for a total of 1,879 delegates. The winner of the Democratic nomination needed the support of 2,383 delegates at thenational convention.^[3]

What is a superdelegate?

See also:Superdelegates and the 2016 Democratic National Convention

Superdelegates in 2016 were automatic delegates to the Democratic National Convention, meaning that, unlike regular delegates, they were not elected to this position. Also unlike regular delegates, they were not required to pledge their support to any presidential candidate, and they were not bound by the results of their state's presidential primary election or caucus. In 2016, superdelegates included members of the Democratic National Committee, Democratic members of Congress, Democratic governors, and distinguished party leaders, including former presidents and vice presidents. All superdelegates were free to support any presidential candidate of their choosing at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.^[4]

Arizona primary results

See also:Presidential election in Arizona, 2016

Hillary Clinton won the Arizona Democratic primary with almost 60 percent of the vote. She won every county in the state except for the northern county of Coconino, whichBernie Sanders won 53 to 44 percent. Clinton carried Arizona's two most populous counties—Maricopa and Pima—by substantial margins. She won Maricopa, where the city ofPhoenix is located, by close to 20 points. She won Pima, home to the city ofTucson, by roughly 16 points. Clinton won Arizona in 2012 as well, though by a more narrow margin. She beatBarack Obama 50 to 42.Seventy-five delegates were up for grabs on March 22, 2016. They were allocatedproportionally.

Arizona Democratic Primary, 2016
Candidate	Vote %	Votes	Delegates
Hillary Clinton	56.3%	262,459	42
Bernie Sanders	41.4%	192,962	33
Roque De La Fuente	0.6%	2,797	0
Henry Hewes	0.4%	1,845	0
Martin O'Malley	0.8%	3,877	0
Michael Steinberg	0.5%	2,295	0
Totals		466,235	75
Source:The New York Times andArizona Secretary of State

Delegate allocation

See also:2016 presidential nominations: calendar and delegate rules

Arizona had 85 delegates at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Of this total, 75 werepledged delegates. National party rules stipulated how Democratic delegates in all states were allocated. Pledged delegates were allocated to a candidate in proportion to the votes he or she received in a state's primary or caucus. A candidate was eligible to receive a share of the state'spledged delegates if he or she won at least 15 percent of the votes cast in the primary or caucus. There were three types of pledged Democratic delegates: congressional district delegates, at-large delegates, and party leaders and elected officials (PLEOs). Congressional district delegates were allocated proportionally based on the primary or caucus results in a given district. At-large and PLEO delegates were allocated proportionally based on statewide primary results.^[5][6]

Ten party leaders and elected officials served asunpledged delegates. These delegates were not required to adhere to the results of a state's primary or caucus.^[5][7]

See also

• Democratic National Convention, 2016
• 2016 presidential nominations: calendar and delegate rules
• Presidential election, 2016
• Presidential candidates, 2016
• Presidential election in Arizona, 2016

Footnotes

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