Democratic party leaders met this week to approve a rule change allowing Vice Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris to be named the Democratic Nominee for President before the start of the Democratic National Convention, which is set to take place in Chicago next month.
This move would end speculation about a potential rival candidate and set in motion Harris’s ability to inherit fundraising dollars from the party committee if she is denied President Biden’s remaining war chest.
Rule Change and Nomination Process
The newly approved rule change means the Democratic party will virtually select its chosen nominee as soon as August 1. The candidate must name a running mate by August 7. Most believe the candidate will be Kamala Harris, and her team has confirmed she is poised to name a running mate by the August 7 deadline.
Harris’s Endorsement and Support
Remarkably, Harris was able to secure the support and endorsement of nearly every key individual within 32 hours of being endorsed by Biden on his way out of the race.
Harris Remains Without Challenger
As of today, Harris does not have a challenger for the Democratic nomination, and those who would have been the likeliest to challenge her have all offered her their support and endorsement.
Convention Timing and Speculation
The convention will take place starting August 19, which provides a troublesome time between now and when the nomination is entirely determined. It is likely Harris and other Democrats want to end speculation once and for all regarding an alternate candidate emerging.
When Finalized, All Efforts Coalesce Around Harris
When announced, the premature naming of the single candidate and her running mate will finally allow all efforts and fundraising to coalesce behind the determined candidate, the only viable option for those seeking to prevent former President Trump from retaking the White House.
Virtual Roll Call and Ballot Deadlines
Democrats have been discussing holding a virtual roll call to determine a nominee since May. Their initial interest was reportedly to ensure that the eventual candidates would have time to ensure their names were printed on the ballots in states with an early filing deadline.
Ohio’s Early Filing Deadline
This year, Ohio set an August 7 deadline for the party’s name to appear on the ballot, which precedes the Democratic National Convention. However, Ohio eventually pushed back the deadline to September 1 to accommodate the later date of the Democratic convention.
Legal Considerations and Filing Deadlines
Democratic leaders remain uncertain about whether the changes would apply to the 2024 election and want to rely on legal certainty rather than assumptions, especially given the stakes and the makeup of the Supreme Court if the dispute could make it that far.
Other State’s Filing Deadlines Overlap with DNC
In addition to Ohio, the Democratic National Convention is scheduled to overlap with the filing deadlines in California, Montana, Oklahoma, Virginia, and Washington State.
Convention Versus Legal Certainty
By convention, the filing deadlines are often waived for such an instance. Still, the Democratic party leaders want to leave nothing up to goodwill expectations in the current political climate.
Opposition from the Heritage Foundation
The Heritage Foundation, a premier conservative think tank in Washington DC, intends to prevent states from replacing Biden with Harris on ballots insofar as it can legally pursue the objection.
Democratic Director Wants to Minimize Distractions and Vulnerabilities
To forestall distractions from the election and advance an official Harris presidential ticket, Democratic political director Minyon Moore said, “We will not allow technicalities or MAGA extremists to disrupt the electoral process.”
Precedent of Virtual Roll Calls
This will not be the first virtual roll call. The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated one in 2020 when the health crisis disrupted the party convention plans. During this period, Biden was nominated on a televised roll call.
