22 Jul 2024

What happens to the Democrat presidential nomination process

From Nine To Noon, 10:05 am on 22 July 2024
(FILES) Democratic vice presidential running mate, US Senator Kamala Harris, speaks as Democratic presidential nominee and former US Vice President Joe Biden during the first press conference with Joe Biden in Wilmington, Delaware, on August 12, 2020. US President Joe Biden announced July 21, 2024 that he is dropping out of his reelection battle with Donald Trump, in a historic move that plunges the already turbulent 2024 White House race into uncharted territory. Biden also said he was endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for the 2024 election after he dropped out of the race. (Photo by Olivier DOULIERY / AFP)

Photo: OLIVIER DOULIERY

The decision by Joe Biden to step out of the US presidential race this morning has left his Democratic Party with a conundrum: who should replace him?

President Biden read the room - stepping down from his campaign for re-election after a faltering debate performance against Republican candidate Donald Trump that fueled concerns about his ability to win.  It's less than a month since the party is due to hold its Convention and the traditional nomination process is now up in the air. 

To explain what happens now, Kathryn is joined by Phil Klinkner - professor of Government at Hamilton College in the state of New York.