Do Kentucky delegates have to vote for Biden anyway? What to know ahead of the DNC
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Now that Joe Biden has ended his reelection campaign, what does that mean for Kentucky's 54 Democratic delegates who were chosen to nominate Biden for president at next month's Democratic National Convention?
Are they required to vote for Biden anyway? What about his chosen successor, Vice President Kamala Harris? Here's what we know about Kentucky's delegates ahead of the DNC.
Biden drops out of the 2024 election
After weeks of pressure from party leaders concerned the 81-year-old Biden would lose to former President Donald Trump in November, Biden announced Sunday he would no longer seek reelection. The announcement was made in a letter the president posted to social media.
"It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President," Biden said in a written statement. "And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term."
Biden's decision to drop out means Kentucky's delegates will have to select a new Democratic nominee in less than a month.
Kentucky DNC delegates: What they're saying Biden's decision means for convention
My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term. My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best… pic.twitter.com/x8DnvuImJV
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024
How many Democratic delegates does Kentucky have?
Out of the 3,896 delegates nationally, Kentucky has 54. The number is calculated from a Democratic bylaws formula, which is based on each state’s population and percentage of the total Democratic vote.
Are Kentucky delegates required to vote for Biden?
Biden won the Democratic presidential nomination in Kentucky's primary election on May 21 with 71.3% of the vote. However, Kentucky Democrats don’t technically have to vote for Biden, thanks to a “good conscience” clause in Democratic delegate selection rules.
Rule 13(J) states that “delegates elected to the national convention pledged to a presidential candidate shall in all good conscience reflect the sentiments of those who elected them.” It’s existed since the 1980s, but has never affected a nomination.
Biden dropped out. Now what?: Harris has been tapped, but it’s DNC delegates who get to decide.
How many Kentucky Democrats were pledged to vote for Biden?
Kentucky's Democratic delegates were chosen at a state convention in June. Out of the 54 selected, 46 delegates were committed to Biden while eight were “uncommitted,” meaning they could vote for Biden if they wished but weren't required to do so. There are also four alternates: three for Biden and one uncommitted delegate.
Who are Kentucky's Democratic delegates?
We don't know. The Kentucky Democratic Party has declined to share a full list of delegates heading to the convention in August. The reason, according to party spokesperson Jonathan Levin, is out of security concerns.
When is the Democratic National Convention?
The Democratic National Convention will take place in Chicago from August 19-22.
When is the DNC?: Here's what to know about 2024 convention after Biden drops out of race
Louisville Courier Journal reporter Rebecca Grapevine and Nadia Scharf with IndyStar contributed to this article.
John Tufts covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at JTuftsReports.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Are Kentucky Democratic delegates required to vote for Biden?
