Who’s next after Joe Biden
President Joe Biden has unexpectedly withdrawn from the US Presidential race. In a surprising move, President Biden has announced that he will not be seeking re-election in 2024. This decision has set off a flurry of activity as the Democratic Party scrambles to find a suitable replacement for the 81-year-old incumbent, who currently holds the top spot on their ticket for the November election.
Biden initially faced pressure from certain Democrats to relinquish his position as the nominee. Now comes the challenging task of installing a replacement.
What will occur in the future?
The delegates who had previously committed to voting for Biden before the convention are now considered “uncommitted,” giving them the freedom to vote for any candidate of their choice. Although Biden has given his endorsement to Vice President Kamala Harris as his replacement at the top of the ticket, it’s important to note that there is no rule that obligates those delegates to support her.
The Biden delegates scheduled to support him in August have been approved by the campaign, indicating their probable loyalty to the president.
When and how will the Democrats select a new candidate?
The Democratic National Convention is scheduled to commence on August 19th. Democrats have the option to select their nominee either at the convention or potentially even before it, using virtual means. In recent times, prior to Biden’s withdrawal, party officials had set a goal to finalize Biden’s official nomination by Aug. 7, which was almost two weeks before the commencement of the DNC.
What are your thoughts on Kamala Harris?
Harris does not have an automatic advantage in becoming the nominee simply because she holds the position of vice president. The delegates have already been chosen, so she is on equal ground with any other individual. However, her position within the Democratic Party and her connections to the White House could potentially make her a strong contender, particularly with the support of Biden. Biden and Harris would still need to convince delegates to vote for her.
Does anyone else have a different perspective?
The Democratic Party boasts a lineup of prominent political figures, such as California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. If those individuals publicly support Harris, it will make it easier for the vice president to secure the nomination.
What could potentially occur with the Biden campaign funds?
According to campaign-finance experts, the substantial amount of money raised by the Biden-Harris campaign cannot be easily transferred to another candidate if Biden were to drop out, unless the nominee happens to be Harris. If Harris were to take the lead, the funds donated to the Biden-Harris campaign would be available to her, given that she and Biden were running as a team.
If Harris were to succeed Biden as the Democratic candidate, she would have continued access to the committee’s funds, which she could utilize to further her own presidential campaign, according to Shanna Ports, senior legal counsel at the Campaign Legal Center.
According to campaign-finance lawyers, if Biden were to be replaced as the nominee by someone other than Harris, he would have the option to instruct his campaign to transfer funds to the Democratic National Committee. There were suggestions that his campaign would need to address outstanding debts and potentially provide refunds for donations intended for the general election.
What are your thoughts on pro-Biden super PACs?
Super PACs have the advantage of being able to accept unlimited amounts of money from donors, who are free to contribute millions at a time. This sets them apart from campaigns, which are subject to limits on individual donations. According to election law, there are restrictions on direct coordination between super PACs and campaigns. Therefore, if Biden were to end his campaign, super PACs would not be directly impacted. There are a number of super PACs that have been backing Biden’s re-election campaign, notably one called Future Forward, along with others like Unite the Country.
