Two paths for Democrats to pick a new nominee after Biden drops out
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 12: DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison is joined by business and political leaders during a lakeside event held to announce that Chicago was chosen to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention on April 12, 2023 in Chicago, Illin
Joe Biden bowed out of the presidential race Sunday, effectively breaking the internet and stunning many across the nation. He quickly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him on the Democratic ticket, but her position as the presumptive nominee is not guaranteed.
The Democratic National Convention has two paths for moving forward and selecting a new candidate.
The first is a virtual vote that would select and lock in a new nominee before the convention in Chicago, which begins on Aug. 19.
The second option is one that neither party has faced since 1968: an "open" convention.
WHAT IS AN OPEN CONVENTION?
An open convention is when no clear leader has won the majority of delegates, so they can vote for whomever they want.
It opens the door to a chaotic scramble where candidates who don't have much of a shot muddy the waters by throwing their hat in the ring.
Notably, Biden said, that while the delegates were "free to do whatever they want" as part of the democratic process, "it’s not going to happen."
He's probably right that party leaders will want to avoid a messy open convention and secure a nominee sooner rather than later.
From left, Democratic National Convention Executive Director Alex Hornbrook, Chicago Chief Operating Officer John Roberson and DNC host committee Executive Director Christy George address the City Club of Chicago on Thursday, July 11, 2024, in Chicag
During a typical convention, delegates vote for a particular presidential candidate at the DNC based on the results of the primary or caucus in their state. They usually vote for whoever won the primary in their state, in order to preserve the will of the voters, but a "good conscience clause" in the party rules does leave them a little leeway.
But now that Biden has dropped out, all his delegates are free agents, and they can choose any candidate without taking voters' preferences into account. Biden's nearly 3,900 delegates are not required to back Harris, although they may put more weight behind his endorsement. Any candidate would need 1,976 to secure the nomination.