USA's President Joe Biden has announced that he will no longer stand for re-election – just a month before the Democratic presidential candidate is formally appointed. For his party, and for Vice President Kamala Harris, who Biden wants to take over, an intense period awaits.
The Democratic presidential candidate will be formally appointed at the party convention in Chicago on August 19-22.
About 4,700 delegates will participate in the convention – 4,000 delegates from the US states and 700 so-called superdelegates, including former presidents, party leaders, and some of the party's elected representatives.
In the primaries, Joe Biden secured 3,896 of the 4,000 delegates. Until now, these delegates have, through the results of the spring primaries, been equivalent to votes for Biden. Now that he has given his unconditional support to Kamala Harris, it is likely that they can consider supporting her instead.
Delegates from several states have already announced that they will switch to Harris.
Challengers?
Someone else can challenge Harris for the nomination at the convention. However, both California Governor Gavin Newsom and Transportation Minister Pete Buttigieg, who have been mentioned in the speculations, have backed Harris after Biden's withdrawal.
Anyone who wants to snatch a potential candidacy must court the state delegations intensively, likely a 24/7 job at the convention.
Before Biden's withdrawal, the plan was to pre-nominate him already in early August. Now, the nomination of Biden's replacement may take place at the convention.
American media report that party sources believe that it would still be to Harris' advantage if the party organized a kind of mini-primary where she is pitted against one or more opponents.
Wants an open process
Some heavy party representatives, such as former President Barack Obama and former Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, are said to advocate for an open convention where not everything is predetermined.
The Democratic Party leadership announces that the American people will learn in the coming days how the process for nominating a new presidential candidate will look like.
"The party will initiate an open and orderly process to go forward with a candidate who can defeat Donald Trump in November," writes Chairman Jaime Harrison in a statement.
Formally founded: 1828
Symbol: Donkey
Has historically been strong among craftsmen and workers in cities, farmers in the west and south, as well as ethnic minorities. Has also had significant support among liberal academics. Support from the south has decreased, and now the party is strongest in the populous states along the US west and east coasts.
Has, compared to the Republicans, greater trust in the state to create welfare and build systems for education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
Democratic presidents since 1950:
Harry S Truman 1945–53
John F Kennedy 1961–63
Lyndon B Johnson 1963–69
Jimmy Carter 1977–81
Bill Clinton 1993–2001
Barack Obama 2009–2017
Joe Biden 2021–2025
