What’s a contested convention, and what would it mean for the 2020 race?

After the divisive 2016 primaries, the Democratic Party changed its rules to downplay the power of party insiders in picking its nominee. It was a rules change in favor of Sen. Bernie Sanders, whose supporters felt in 2016 that the party infrastructure was tilted against him.

But the rules that Sanders (I-Vt.) helped shape could mean that, this time, should he arrive at the convention with the most delegates but not enough to win — and they could pave the way for party elites to hand the nomination to another candidate.

It’s called a contested convention. It’s rare. It’s dramatic. It’s ugly. Let’s explore this more in the context of 2020. Continue reading.