The superdelegates who are supporting Sanders, however, seem to have little appetite for the convention protests and walkouts that some Sanders supporters have threatened. For these superdelegates, the overwhelming preference is for party unity in the interest of defeating Donald Trump.

"I don't see any dramatic walkouts or protests or egg throwing or anything like that," says Lupita Maurer, a superdelegate and Democratic National Committee member from Oregon. "I truly believe that by the time the convention comes around, we're all going to be a happy family again."

According to the Associated Press, Clinton has the support of 571 of the 714 superdelegates, while 48 support Sanders and 95 are publicly uncommitted. Mother Jones spoke with half a dozen superdelegates backing Sanders. They all expressed loyalty to their candidate and weren't ready to call on him to drop out. Several said they would wait for Sanders make the call on what to do next, following Tuesday's results. "All of us are really waiting for some direction from Sen. Sanders," says Nancy Jacobson, a superdelegate from Florida.

But they had little desire for protests or acrimony that could tear the party apart. The goal, they agreed, is to defeat Trump.