What happens if a party's nominee dies before election day?

[NurseJackie]

Do the rules vary between the parties? Does the VP choice run instead? Does the party have to meet and make an alternate choice? Does the deceased nominee remain on the ballot... and if he (or she) wins, the VP choice takes the oath of office?

What a mess that would be! I just can't imagine!

[ColesCountyDem]

1. The V.P. nominee runs. n/t

[grossproffit]

7. The deceased candidate's party picks a replacement (who may or may not be the VP candidate)*

https://people.howstuffworks.com/what-happens-presidential-candidate-dies.htm

[customerserviceguy]

21. This.

The only time in my lifetime that we've seen a replacement procedure is when George McGovern's choice of Thomas Eagleton as VP was substituted for Sargent Shriver. A committee did the replacement without having to have the entire delegation reconvene.

[ColesCountyDem]

22. You're correct. I was mistaken.

I was thinking about what happens after Election Day, but before Inauguration Day.

[ecstatic]

2. Fair question. I'd like to know as well. nt

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. The party selects the replacement.

If a candidate dies before the general election but after they've secured the nomination, it's a relatively simple fix: The deceased candidate's party picks a replacement (who may or may not be the vice presidential candidate from the former ticket), and that replacement is on the ballot for Election Day.

https://people.howstuffworks.com/what-happens-presidential-candidate-dies.htm

[left-of-center2012]

4. They draw names out of a hat

[grossproffit]

5. I assumed wrong. The party picks the replacement.

Fascinating question and one very worthy of a discussion.

https://people.howstuffworks.com/what-happens-presidential-candidate-dies.htm

[Hokie]

6. If before the election the party picks a new nominee

It might or might not be the vice presidential candidate. The new candidate is chosen by the party committee. If the president elect dies after winning the election then the vice president elect becomes the president elect.

I don't think a candidate of a major party has ever died during the campaign but in 1972 George McGovern's running mate Sen. Thomas Eagleton stepped down after reports surfaced he had received electroshock therapy for clinical depression in the 60's. The Democratic National Committee met and chose Sargent Shriver to replace Eagleton.

[NurseJackie]

8. Thanks everyone!

[grossproffit]

9. Excellent question, NJ!

[Lucid Dreamer]

10. I offer this after searching: party election candidate dies

https://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_pvp.html

Constitutional Topic: Death of a Presidential Candidate


The Constitutional Topics pages at the USConstitution.net site are presented to delve deeper into topics than can be provided on the Glossary Page or in the FAQ pages. This Topic Page concerns the how the Constitution handles the death of a presidential candidate. This topic is handled in Article 2, Section 1, the 12th Amendment, and the 20th Amendment. The Topic Pages for Presidential Disability and the Electoral College are also of interest.

As morbid as it seems, one of the most common questions to be asked of this site is what happens if a presidential candidate dies? Though it does seem morbid, it is an important question. One of the most important features of a successful democracy is peaceful transition of power. By anticipating unfortunate but possible circumstances, the Constitution and U.S. law tries to ensure that the most powerful position in American politics has a contingency plan.

The answer is a complicated one, but very definitely defined - there are, in other words, bookends for the question. One bookend is the inauguration of the president and the vice president. Once the president-elect and the vice president-elect are sworn in, the line of succession kicks in.
Before the election
The other bookend is less solid - it is the election itself. When voters cast their votes in November, they are not actually casting votes for a specific person. Instead, they are casting votes for electors, persons chosen by the candidates' parties to attend a gathering of all electors in each state capital, where they cast the votes that officially elect a president.
If a presidential candidate dies after the party convention and before the election, particularly before ballots are printed, the party can select a new person to represent the party on the ticket. The choice will depend on the party's own rules. As the election nears, the situation gets more sticky, because elections take time to plan.
...

Much more follows at site.

[NurseJackie]

11. Great link! Thank you...

... for the reply and info.

[qazplm135]

12. a deeper question

a presidential candidates dies weeks before the election.

Each state has different rules about names on ballots, and suffice to say a lot of them may not be able to change names particularly if they aren't using electronic voting (although I suspect most states could find a way to change them).

I can also guess some states run by Republicans would try and NOT change the ballot if it's the Democratic candidate who dies.

So what happens then? Write-in? Court filings? It could easily become a mess in a handful of states.

The fact that we localize federal elections for President is one of the stupidest things we do as a nation.

It's one thing to do it for the House or Senate, but the Presidential election should have one national standard.

[NurseJackie]

14. I hope it never comes to that.

But it's certainly something for voters to consider whenever they're deciding which candidate to vote for in the primary. I guess this is why seeing a candidate's medical physicals are just as important as seeing a candidate's tax returns.

[TidalWave46]

13. Interesting question and I appreciate the answers. NT

[The King of Prussia]

15. I don't think he'll live long enough to be the nominee

He's dying before our eyes - did you see that nonsense with the President of Finland?

[NurseJackie]

16. Yes I did... amazing.

[Mr.Bill]

17. I know in California state and local elections

if a candidate dies after ballots are printed and can't be changed before election day, If the dead person wins then a new election takes place as soon as possible. I once lived in a county where that happened with the Sheriff. His campaign told every one to still vote for him because the other guy was some low-life private investigator that normally had no chance or winning. He was only running against the incumbent Sheriff because he refused to give the PI a concealed carry permit.

The found another candidate and he won the special election.

[PhoenixDem]

18. This is what I am afraid of about BS

God forbid should he become a nominee that is.

Hopefully, he will make a wise decision for him and his family and drop out of the race pronto.

[cwydro]

19. What a nightmare that would be.

Great question though!