Sanders predicts contested convention

(Image credit: David McNew/Getty Images)

last updated 5 June 2016

After an easy victory in the U.S. Virgin Islands on Saturday, Hillary Clinton moves to just 60 delegates short of the 2,383 needed to clinch the Democratic nomination, thanks in part to her edge of 547 superdelegates. However, Bernie Sanders shows no signs of conceding anytime soon, telling reporters "it is extremely unlikely that Secretary Clinton will have the requisite number of pledged delegates" following six states' primaries on Tuesday — including delegate-rich California.

Sanders, who lags with 1,501 delegates and only 46 superdelegates, says Clinton will be entirely reliant on the support of her superdelegates to reach 2,383 by the June 14 deadline. "In other words, the Democratic National Convention will be a contested convention," he said. Still, a loss in California on Tuesday would greatly bruise Sanders' case to swayable superdelegates.

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.