January 14, 2020: It’s been 68 years since a presidential candidate was selected by a major party in a brokered convention. Some analysts believe that the large number of Democratic candidates, the lack of a clear frontrunner, and other factors could lead it to happen again in 2020.[1]
In 1952, there were many Democratic candidates with support from different factions of the party. On the first ballot, Senator Estes Kefauver had the most delegates (340) but did not reach the 50% mark.[2]
On the second ballot, Kefauver was still ahead but Governor Adlai Stevenson was getting closer. Finally, after the intervention of President Harry S. Truman, Stevenson was nominated on the third ballot. According to the New York Times, this was a victory for the “center of the Democratic party.” Kefauver had the support of “advanced liberals.”[2]
In today’s Democratic Party, that would be roughly the equivalent of Senator Bernie Sanders winning on the first ballot and then having the delegates nominate former Vice President Joe Biden.
Although Stevenson captured the nomination, he was soundly defeated by Dwight D. Eisenhower in the general election.[3]
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