President Joe Biden has until March 19, 2024, to drop out of the presidential primary race or face challenges in doing so, given state rules forcing delegates to vote for the presidential contender they are committed to on convention first ballots.
Trump's on all ballots. Will Biden bow out? Has until March 19
'If he hasn’t made it by then, all of these other things kick in' @TXElectionLaw @DougHeye 'Too late' for another D@mattsgorman 'Barring an act of God, it’s Trump Vs Biden'https://t.co/KMUwAXmj0P via @dcexaminer pic.twitter.com/mdO7I9mzNN
— Paul Bedard (@SecretsBedard) March 4, 2024
The Washington Examiner recalled an event in 1995 involving then-GOP presidential contender Steve Forbes, who had faced a dire issue in his campaign. The former Republican presidential hopeful obtained signatures on petitions instead of spending massive funds to include his name on states’ primary ballots.
With the deadline for petitions in Rhode Island nearing, staffer Douglas Heye, alongside two other individuals, traveled to the Ocean State to help Forbes’ campaign.
“Now I’ve never been to Rhode Island before. There’s a foot of snow on the ground. And we’re like, what do we do? The malls were empty the week before Christmas. I called back to the home office and said we’re not getting this done. This is not happening. You got to do something else,” Heye recalled.
Despite Heye’s efforts, Forbes never appeared on the state’s GOP presidential primary ballot and was eventually overtaken in the race by then-Sen. Bob Dole (R-KS).
Heye recalled the event to suggest it’s too late for individuals wishing to challenge President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in primaries.
“They’re just too late,” Heye said, pointing out that most state ballot access deadlines have already passed.
“Barring an act of God, it’s going to be Trump versus Biden,” political consultant Matt Gorman said.
On March 19, 2024, it’s likely that Biden would have the number of delegates necessary to be crowned the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee.
The Washington Examiner noted that it would be too late for Trump or Biden to exit the presidential race after this date because many states require their delegates to vote for the contenders they are committed to on convention first ballots.
One of six commissioners on the Federal Election Commission (FEC), Trey Trainor, said Biden would have to decide whether to remain in the race by March 19, 2024.
“I think he has to make that decision by the 19th himself,” Trainor said. “If he hasn’t made it by then, all of these other things kick in. You get bound delegates. You get him having enough delegates on the first vote that the super delegates can’t vote. You get state laws that now are requiring him, because he’s got enough votes, to be the nominee.”
