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Abolishing the party’s superdelegate system is one of the key reforms that Bernie Sanders is seeking at the Democratic National Convention. | Getty Maine Democrat moves to abolish superdelegates

A Maine Democratic lawmaker is kicking off the expected convention fight over the role of superdelegates by proposing to abolish them altogether.

State Rep. Diane Russell is submitting an amendment to the Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee co-chairs, Rep. Barney Frank and Leticia Van De Putte, that would amend the DNC's charter to eliminate the unpledged delegates.

Russell, a supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders, lead a May effort to push Maine's superdelegates to align their support in proportion to the outcome of the state's Democratic caucuses. In Maine, Sanders had defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton 64 percent to 35 percent, but still failed to capture most of the state's superdelegates.

Abolishing the party’s superdelegate system is one of the key reforms that Sanders is seeking at the convention, a reflection of his experience winning state contests but seeing potential delegate gains limited or erased by the votes of superdelegates. Sanders supporters and other top liberal Democrats like Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, and former Sen. Russ Feingold have recently expressed support for reforming or getting rid of superdelegates all together.

Russell's amendment would strike Article 2, Section 4(h) of the DNC charter, which allows for the superdelegate process.

"To build a fair economy that works for everyone we must first build a fair election system that works for everyone," Russell said in a statement.

The amendment must be taken up by a member of the Rules Committee, and needs 20 percent support from committee members to get a floor vote.

If the amendment is ratified it would take effect in the 2020 presidential cycle.