On Politics

Tue Jul 2 2024

Sudiksha Kochi | Congress, Campaigns and Democracy Reporter

@KochiSudiksha

Hey OnPolitics readers! After the CNN Presidential Debate in Atlanta last Thursday, some Democrats have considered dropping President Joe Biden as their likely nominee due to his shaky performance. But how can political parties replace presidential candidates?

At this point in the election, both Biden and former President Donald Trump have a lot of power because all states have already held their presidential primaries where both candidates secured delegates, USA TODAY's Maya Marchel Hoff reported. However, there is still some wiggle room since both parties have yet to hold conventions where a candidate is formally nominated.

How could the Democratic Party replace a candidate? If the party wanted to get behind another candidate with Biden still in the race, they would have to win over Biden's pledged delegates at the convention, who are obligated to back him by what's known as the rule of "good conscience," according to ABC.

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

How can Republicans replace a candidate? Ahead of the party's national convention, where a candidate is formally nominated, Republicans also have a window of opportunity. Delegates can elect a different candidate even after primaries and caucuses depending on state law and party rules, according to Ballotpedia.

What if Republicans want to replace a candidate after the convention? The Republican National Committee would have to pick a new candidate by majority vote or reconvene the national committee.