If Biden suspended his re-election campaign, this would happen next – National

In the event that President Joe Biden succumbs to pressure from his own party’s leadership and suspends his re-election campaign, several organizations have outlined the process for replacing him as the Democratic nominee.

Polls continue to show former President Donald Trump would defeat Biden in November after Biden appeared confused at times during the presidential debate in June.

On Friday, seven more elected Democrats called on Biden to resign, the New York Times reported in its latest count. So far, 37 Democrats have called on Biden to “resign,” another 25 have “expressed concern,” and 74 still support the president.

It remains unclear whether the Democratic National Committee will go ahead with its plan to virtually nominate Biden ahead of its convention in Chicago next month. Several Democrats have called on the committee to scrap the virtual nomination process.

If Biden were to drop out, several organizations have outlined the replacement process. If he were to step down before a virtual nomination process or before the Democratic National Convention next month, “there is no formal line of succession for a presidential candidate,” BallotPedia explains. Harris “would not automatically assume the role.”

Democrats would hold an open convention and delegates would “participate in rounds of voting until a new candidate receives a majority of the convention delegates’ votes,” Ballotpedia reports. “The Democratic Party’s 2024 delegate selection rules do not provide specific guidelines for how delegates should vote if their candidate withdraws.”

However, 14 states have laws requiring delegates to the presidential convention to “vote according to their allocation after the state primaries.” In 12 states, delegates may be “released if a candidate withdraws his candidacy or after a certain number of rounds of voting at the national convention.”

The party could change the rules at the party conference.

If a candidate is not elected by a majority of delegates in the first ballot, a brokered convention (also called a multi-ballot convention) takes place.

There have been 15 multi-ballot Democratic National Conventions, the last of which was held in 1952, when delegates nominated Adlai Stevenson after three ballots.

If Biden remains in the race and is chosen by the delegates as the party’s nominee, but something happens that requires his replacement after the convention and before the election, the Democratic National Committee is responsible for filling the vacancy under the Democratic Party’s charter.

“Pursuant to Article IX.G of the Convention Call, in the event of the death, resignation, or incapacity of a presidential or vice presidential candidate after the Convention, the National Chairman of the DNC shall consult with the Democratic leadership of the United States Congress and the Democratic Governors Association and report to the DNC, which shall have the authority to fill the vacancy(s),” the Congressional Research Service statement said.

“It is rare for a candidate to drop out of the race between his formal nomination at a party convention and the general election,” notes Ballotpedia. The last time the DNC replaced a candidate was in 1972, “when Democratic vice presidential candidate Thomas Eagleton withdrew his candidacy after details of his mental health treatment became public.”

Another possibility would be if Biden were re-elected and, as president-elect, were to withdraw his candidacy, die, or become incapacitated between the general election and the presidential inauguration.

Something like this has never happened in the history of the United States.

The 25th Amendment governs the succession process. If the office of president becomes vacant due to “removal…death, or resignation,” “the vice president shall become president.” If the office of vice president becomes vacant, “the president shall appoint a successor, who shall be confirmed by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress,” explains the Congressional Research Service.