(CNN) Some national and state Democratic party leaders concerned about Sen. Bernie Sanders' candidacy are willing to risk a messy, brokered national convention this summer, which could be potentially damaging to the party, to prevent the self-described Democratic socialist from becoming the nominee, The New York Times reported.

Of the 93 superdelegates the Times interviewed, a majority expressed an "overwhelming opposition" to naming Sanders the party's nominee if he wins a plurality of pledged delegates before the Democratic National Convention in July.

The vast majority also predicted that no candidate would secure the party's nomination during the primaries and that there will be a brokered convention, the Times reported.

Only nine superdelegates the Times spoke to supported Sanders becoming the nominee if he's short of a majority at the convention but holds the most delegate votes.

In order to win the nomination, a Democratic candidate needs 1,991 pledged delegate votes, which they earn during the primaries and caucuses.

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