Michigan gets 138 delegates at Democratic National Convention: Who they are

At the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, 138 people from Michigan are serving as the state's delegates as the party looks to rally around Vice President Kamala Harris' nomination in this year's presidential election.

At the convention (the DNC, for short), delegates are tasked with voting for the nominee which best reflects how their state's presidential primary voted. Back in February, voters in Michigan largely backed President Joe Biden, who has since ended his presidential campaign. Biden promptly endorsed Harris after he withdrew from the race, and Democrats formally sealed Harris' nomination ahead of the DNC.

In Michigan, delegates who were pledged to Biden "overwhelmingly" voted to endorse Harris as his replacement, the Michigan Democratic Party announced in July, largely erasing the chance for a contested DNC. Since Harris' nomination has already been made official by Democrats, the convention serves more as an opportunity for the party to drum up support and enthusiasm in the months leading up to the election. Republicans held their convention last month in Milwaukee.

Of the 138 delegates representing Michigan at the convention, 21 of them are "unpledged" delegates, who can vote for whoever they like. Sometimes called "superdelegates," Michigan's unpledged delegates at the DNC included elected officials like Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and members of Michigan's congressional delegation, and party leaders like Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes.

More: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer a 'rock star' in Chicago as she revs up Democratic delegates

The other 117 delegates include those who were selected as "at-large" delegates, like former Michigan Gov. Jim Blanchard, United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain, Detroit Pistons Vice Chairman Arn Tellem and others.

Two of Michigan's 117 delegates were pledged as "uncommitted" based on the results of the state's presidential primary. In February, 13.2% of votes in the Democratic presidential primary voted "uncommitted". Organizers behind the uncommitted movement said they were disillusioned with Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas War.

Michigan, once again, figures as a prominent swing state in this year's presidential election. Since the DNC began Monday, people with Michigan ties like Fain, State Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, and U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, have spoken at the convention. Whitmer is expected to speak Thursday, the final day of the convention.

— Contact Arpan Lobo: [email protected].

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: How many Michigan delegates at Democratic National Convention?