What’s next: Joe Biden wants to hand over to Kamala Harris. Here’s how it could happen

BILL BARROW, Associated Press

7 hours ago

FILE – President Joe Biden speaks from the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, July 14, 2024. With Biden having ended his reelection campaign and endorsed Harris, Democrats now face an unprecedented shift this late in an election year. Democrats are scheduled to hold their convention in Chicago in August. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

ATLANTA (AP) — With President Joe Biden ending his reelection campaign and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, Democrats now face an unprecedented shift this late in an election year.

Democrats are scheduled to hold their convention in Chicago from August 19-22. What was supposed to be a coronation for Biden is now turning into an open contest in which nearly 4,700 delegates will be tasked with choosing a new standard-bearer to challenge Republican Donald Trump in the fall.

The path ahead is neither easy nor clear, even if Biden backs Harris. Questions remain about logistics, money and political fallout.

Can Biden Redirect His Delegates?

Biden won every state primaries and caucuses earlier this year, losing only the territory of American Samoa. At least 3,896 delegates had pledged to support him.

Current party rules do not allow Biden to pass on those funds to another candidate. Politically, however, his support is likely to have an influence.

What could happen at the convention?

With Biden’s withdrawal, Democrats are technically entering an open convention. But in reality, his endorsement pushes Democrats into murky territory.

Harris’ immediate task is to shore up the support of nearly 4,000 delegates from states, territories and the District of Columbia, as well as more than 700 so-called superdelegates that include party leaders, some elected officials and former presidents and vice presidents.

Will anyone challenge Harris?

Even before Biden announced his decision, Democrats had floated California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as potential candidates, in addition to Harris. Still, some Democrats have argued publicly, and many privately, that it would be a no-brainer to nominate the first woman, the first Black woman and the first person of South Asian descent to hold national office.

Given the importance of black voters — and black women in particular — in Biden’s nomination and his choice of Harris as his running mate, it would be risky, to say the least, for Democrats to pass her up in favor of a white candidate. Democrats already faced historic headwinds before Biden withdrew. Newsom and Whitmer, both white, and any other Democrats would also have to weigh the short- and long-term benefits of challenging Harris now or preserving goodwill for a future presidential primary.

Yet, fair or not, Harris is also not seen as a particularly well-liked or empowered vice president. The best-case scenario for her and Democrats is to quickly consolidate support and present a united front. Democrats could even move forward with their plan to hold early virtual voting—a move they had planned to ensure Biden was selected before the Ohio general election deadline.

What Happens to Biden’s Campaign Money?

Biden’s campaign recently reported $91 million in cash on hand. Campaign committees of allied Democrats have put the total at more than $240 million. Campaign finance experts generally agree that Harris could control all of that money since the campaign was set up in both her and Biden’s names. If Democrats nominate someone other than Harris, the party’s accounts could still benefit the candidate, but the Biden-Harris account would be subject to more restrictions. For example, legal experts say it could become an independent political action committee on spending, but not simply transfer its balance to another candidate.

How will a vice presidential nomination work?

The vice presidential nomination is always voted on separately at the convention. In routine years, the convention ratifies the nominee’s choice. If Harris closes ranks quickly, she could nominate her choice and have it ratified by the delegates. In a protracted contest, however, the vice presidency could become a bargaining chip—a throwback to the conventions of a bygone era.

Can Republicans Block Harris From Running in State Elections?

In this hyper-partisan era, the slightest mistake in a U.S. presidential campaign is bound to provoke a wave of state and federal lawsuits, and some conservatives have even threatened to do so.

State laws, however, generally do not prescribe how parties choose their presidential candidates. And some Republican figures — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey — have already worked this year to ensure their party does not deny Democrats traditional access to the ballot.