democratic republican nominees nov. presidential election decide series state-by-state contest key win nomination party ultimately popular vote secure number delegate need win nomination party convention july 18-21 cleveland republicans july 25-28 philadelphia democrats follow guide nominate process delegate selection process republican democratic party party set rule one thing party convention candidate need reach simple majority delegate vote win nomination many delegate democratic convention attend 4,763 delegate 2,382 delegate need win nomination republican convention attend 2,472 delegate 1,237 delegate need win keep hear superdelegates different delegate republicans democrats superdelegates superdelegates officially know unpledged delegate sort wild card nominate process democrats category create 1984 democratic convention accord political scientists legacy 1980 convention fight nomination president jimmy carter seek second term white house senator edward kennedy massachusetts members congress frustrate lack influence delegate elect support one candidate could switch support another democratic members house representatives lead effort win role result creation superdelegates unlike delegate superdelegates may change candidate support right convention fix number superdelegates group define various categories whose members change one election cycle another get superdelegate democratic members house representatives senate democratic governors democratic president vice president unite state former democratic presidents vice presidents former democratic leaders u.s. senate former democratic speakers house former democratic minority leaders throw members democratic national committee former chair dnc finally whole pool superdelegates delegate get choose candidate support democratic republican party send delegate conventions base popular vote primary elections caucus hold 50 state party different rule delegate allot candidate democratic party apply uniform rule state state delegate allocate proportion percentage primary caucus vote district candidate must win least 15 percent vote allocate delegate republican party let state determine rule although dictate things state award delegate proportionate popular vote although state minimum percentage candidate must reach win delegate state use winner-take-all method candidate high percentage popular vote award delegate state use combination two methods state use proportionate method may instead use winner-take-all method one candidate win 50 percent popular vote addition republican party require state nominate contest hold march march 14 use proportional method mean state hold vote super tuesday award delegate proportionally happen delegate candidate drop race another good question certainly see happen year democratic party every state delegate reallocate remain candidates republican party vary state state delegate require stick original candidate least first ballot republican national convention state candidate drop delegate may immediately pledge another candidate also middle grind delegate reallocate remain candidates republican national committee democratic national committee battlopedia _2016 vote bernie www.realclearpolitics.com www.demconvention.com/ factbox race u.s. presidential nominations delegate select