Dean Phillips gains his first delegates. Here's why they'll likely vote for Biden at the convention
Source: AP
By LEAH ASKARINAM and CHAD DAY
Updated 5:20 PM CDT, April 23, 2024
WASHINGTON (AP) Former presidential candidate Dean Phillips will receive at least three of Ohios delegates to the Democratic National Convention even though he has dropped out of the race and endorsed President Joe Biden. But theyre likely to be Phillips delegates in name only.
The president locked up the Democratic nomination on March 12 and so far has won 99% of convention delegates, a sign that even some of the more organized efforts to oppose him havent gained traction with the partys voters. Party rules also make it nearly impossible at this point in the presidential primary process for any candidate other than Biden to even be eligible to receive votes for the nomination at its summer convention.
In several states, activists have been encouraging voters to fill out their ballots for the option of uncommitted to protest Bidens handling of the Israel-Hamas war, earning the option 27 delegates. Such an effort is underway on Tuesday in Pennsylvania as it holds its presidential primary.
The minimum goal for Democrats competing for delegates is to win 15% of the statewide vote or 15% of the vote in an individual congressional district. In the March 19 Ohio primary, uncommitted wasnt a ballot option, leaving Democrats wishing to express opposition to Biden with only one other choice: Phillips.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/dean-phillips-delegates-biden-convention-election-primary-1e6ee75cfed9db931467a64bbf534d50