An approach is provided in which a replicated memory system replicates a set of data between multiple replicas, whereby each of the replicas includes a sequence update number corresponding to an update state of its respective set of data. At least one of the replicas identifies a number of replicas to which it connects and, in turn, the replicas select one of replicas as a leader replica based at least on the selected leader replica's sequence update number and the number of replicas to which the selected leader connects.