The Democrat Party plans to alter the rules to nominate Kamala Harris as its candidate in early August, ahead of the Democratic National Convention.
This expedited timeline highlights the Democrats’ departure from the traditional candidate selection process. By directly nominating Harris, the party would nullify approximately 14 million primary votes cast for Joe Biden. Party leaders will meet on Wednesday to amend roll call rules, enabling Harris to accept the nomination prior to the convention in Chicago. According to Bloomberg, the concept of a virtual roll call was proposed in May to ensure the Democratic ticket could meet early filing deadlines in several states. The convention’s rules committee is set to finalize this process on Wednesday — the final step before the vote can proceed. Ohio’s original Aug. 7 deadline for certification prompted this rule change, though it has since been moved to Sept. 1. It remains unclear if the old deadline will apply to the 2024 election.
An early nomination vote, potentially as soon as Aug. 1, would create pressure for Harris to choose a running mate quickly. While no deadline for selecting a vice-presidential candidate has been set, Ohio law requires both candidates' names to be certified in writing for the ballot.
This strategy follows reports of top Democrats threatening to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Biden if he did not step aside voluntarily, sources told the New York Post. Allegedly, a “well-orchestrated” plan was set in motion weeks ago, including allowing Biden to debate President Trump.
Barack Obama is believed to have played a significant role in Biden’s decision to step down. Obama questioned Biden’s viability only on July 17, in a leak to the Washington Post. This leak followed reports that key Democratic leaders, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, had urged Biden to step aside.
The timing of the leak suggests a coordinated effort by Democratic leaders to convince Biden to withdraw amidst ongoing party turmoil and media scrutiny regarding his political viability.
