Two male Vermont delegates to the Democratic National Convention who were replaced by women have filed a complaint with the convention's credentials committee.

The complaint says the national party this month ordered the state party to replace Vermont Sen. Tim Ashe and long-time party stalwart Ken Dean with women so the delegation would be "gender balanced."

Dean and Ashe were elected as delegates June 11. They and their two female replacements support Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders for president over presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton.

Dean says the real imbalance wasn't with elected delegates but so-called superdelegates, who are elected officials and party leaders. Eight of 10 Vermont superdelegates are men.

A spokesman for the DNC didn't immediately respond Thursday to a request for comment.

The four-day convention begins Monday in Philadelphia.