President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid yesterday, concluding a weekslong pressure campaign after last month’s presidential debate reignited concerns about his age and electability. Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him.
The announcement frees almost 3,900 delegates—often party leaders and activists pledged to Biden through states' primary process—to back another candidate. If Harris wins the majority of the Democratic Party's almost 4,700 total delegate votes, she can immediately inherit the more than $240M raised by the Biden-Harris campaign. If another Democrat successfully challenges Harris, there would be restrictions on accessing those donations. Harris says she plans to "earn and win" the nomination; she has not yet announced her intended vice presidential pick.
Next, the Democratic candidate for president will be decided either through reviving the pre-1968 open convention process when the Democratic National Convention begins Aug. 19, or in a virtual roll call vote planned for early August. Party leaders are likely to work to finalize the Democratic ticket before Ohio's ballot deadline in August.
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