What happens next: Joe Biden wants to pass the baton to Kamala Harris. Here’s how that might work

Bill Barrow, Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) — With President Joe Biden ending his reelection bid and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, Democrats now must navigate a displacement that is unprecedented this precocious successful an predetermination year.

Democrats are group to clasp their normal successful Chicago connected Aug. 19-22. What was expected to beryllium a coronation for Biden now becomes an unfastened title successful which astir 4,700 delegates will beryllium responsible for picking a caller standard-bearer to situation Republican Donald Trump successful nan fall.

The way up is neither easy nor obvious, moreover pinch Biden endorsing Harris. There are unanswered questions astir logistics, money and governmental fallout.

Can Biden redirect his delegates?

Biden won each authorities superior and caucus earlier this twelvemonth and only mislaid nan territory of American Samoa. At slightest 3,896 delegates had been pledged to support him.

Current statement rules do not licence Biden to walk them to different candidate. Politically, though, his endorsement is apt to beryllium influential.

What could hap astatine nan convention?

With Biden stepping aside, Democrats technically commencement pinch an unfastened convention. But realistically, his endorsement pushes Democrats into murky territory.

The contiguous load is connected Harris to solidify support crossed almost 4,000 delegates from nan states, territories and District of Columbia, positive much than 700 alleged superdelegates that see statement leaders, definite elected officials and erstwhile presidents and vice presidents.

Will anyone situation Harris?

Even earlier Biden announced his decision, Democrats floated California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer arsenic imaginable contenders successful summation to Harris. Yet immoderate Democrats based on publicly, and galore privately, that it would beryllium a no-brainer to elevate nan first woman, first Black female and first personification of southbound Asian descent to clasp nationalist office.

Given really important Black voters -– and Black women particularly -– were to Biden’s information and his prime of Harris arsenic moving mate, it would beryllium risky, to opportunity nan least, for Democrats to walk her complete for a achromatic nominee. Democrats already faced humanities headwinds earlier Biden’s withdrawal. Newsom and Whitmer, some of whom are white, and immoderate different Democrat would besides person to measurement nan short-term and semipermanent benefits of challenging Harris now versus preserving goodwill for a early statesmanlike primary.

Yet, adjacent aliases not, Harris besides has not been viewed arsenic an particularly beloved aliases empowered vice president. The champion script for her and Democrats is to quickly statement up support and task a agreed front. Democrats could moreover spell guardant pinch their plans for an early virtual ballot – a move they’d planned to make judge Biden was selected up of Ohio’s wide predetermination ballot deadline.

What happens to Biden’s run money?

Biden’s run precocious reported $91 cardinal rate connected hand. Allied Democratic run committees brought nan full astatine his disposal to much than $240 million. Campaign finance experts work together mostly that Harris could power each those costs since nan run was group up successful her sanction arsenic good arsenic Biden’s. If Democrats do nominate personification different than Harris, statement accounts could still use nan nominee, but nan Biden-Harris relationship would person much restrictions. For example, ineligible experts opportunity it could go an independent expenditure governmental action committee but not simply transportation its equilibrium to a different nominee.

How will a vice statesmanlike information work?

The vice statesmanlike information is ever a abstracted normal vote. In regular years, nan normal ratifies nan prime of nan nominee. If Harris closes ranks quickly, she could sanction her prime and person nan delegates ratify it. In an extended fight, though, nan vice presidency could go portion of horse-trading — again, a return to conventions of an earlier era.

Can Republicans support Harris disconnected authorities ballots?

Any curveball during a U.S. statesmanlike run is definite to nutrient a flurry of authorities and national lawsuits successful this hyper-partisan era, and immoderate conservatives person threatened conscionable that.

State laws, though, typically do not prescribe really parties take their nominees for president. And immoderate GOP figures – Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey – person worked already this twelvemonth to guarantee their statement did not contradict Democrats’ regular ballot access.

President Joe Biden speaks from nan Roosevelt Room of nan White House successful Washington, July 14, 2024. With Biden ending his reelection bid and endorsing Harris, Democrats now must navigate a displacement that is unprecedented this precocious successful an predetermination year. Democrats are group to clasp their normal successful Chicago successful August. | Susan Walsh, Associated Press, file