After Biden's debate performance, rumors of his replacement swirled. How is that possible?
After the CNN Presidential Debate in Atlanta last Thursday, some Democrats have considered replacing President Joe Biden 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 over whether their party can replace them because all states have already held their presidential primaries where both candidates have secured delegates.
However, there is still some wiggle room since both parties have yet to hold conventions where a candidate is formally nominated. Here’s how the parties could replace a candidate before and after the conventions.
How could the Democratic party replace a candidate?
If the Democrats want to replace Biden, they have a limited way to do so without the president voluntarily withdrawing from the election, which he made clear he would not do.
The only option at the party’s disposal without Biden’s participation is a complicated and unlikely route.
Democrats nominate candidates based on party rules, which state that a candidate must win a certain number of delegates in state primaries, which have already taken place. 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 the rule of “good conscience,” according to ABC.
Democrats also have 739 unbound delegates, who are not required to vote for the candidate who won their state at the convention. According to Ballotpedia, these unbound delegates can only cast a vote if the convention proceeds past the first round of voting.
If the Democratic Party wants to fill a vacancy after the national convention, the responsibility would fall to the Democratic National Committee. The DNC Chairperson would have to call a meeting at which a majority of the committee’s membership would have to be present to vote on the vacancy, according to DNC bylaws.
How can Republicans replace a candidate?
Like the Democratic party, Republican party rules dictate how a presidential candidate is replaced. Ahead of the party’s national convention, where a candidate is formally nominated, the party has a window of opportunity. Delegates can elect a different candidate from who they were bound to in their state’s election at the convention depending on state law and party rules, according to Ballotpedia. In addition, the Republican party has 104 unbound delegates, who don’t have to back a candidate who won their state.
If Republicans want to replace a candidate after the summer convention, the Republican National Committee would have to pick a new candidate by majority vote or reconvene the national committee.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Can the Dems replace Biden? Here's what a nominee swap would take
