If Hillary Clinton could not continue her Presidential campaign how would the Democratic Party choose a new candidate?

If a Democratic presidential candidate, such as Hillary Clinton in a hypothetical scenario, were unable to continue their campaign, the Democratic Party would follow a specific process to choose a new candidate. Here’s a breakdown of the steps involved:

Candidate Withdrawal and Endorsements

If a leading candidate withdraws, they might endorse another candidate, as seen in the 2024 Democratic primaries when President Joe Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris after his withdrawal1.

Delegate Realignment

Delegates previously pledged to the withdrawn candidate would need to realign their support. In the case of Biden's withdrawal, many of his delegates shifted their support to Kamala Harris, making her the presumptive nominee1.

Virtual Nominating Process

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the Democratic National Convention (DNCC) have rules in place for a virtual nominating process. Candidates must declare their intent to run by a specified deadline and meet certain qualifications, such as filing a formal declaration of candidacy and securing a minimum number of delegate signatures (300 in the 2024 rules)3.

Qualifications and Voting

If multiple candidates qualify, there may be a period for them to make their case to delegates and the public before voting begins. Voting can start as early as August 1, and only pledged delegates' votes are counted in the first ballot. If no candidate achieves a majority, subsequent ballots include both pledged and automatic (superdelegate) votes3.

Convention Process

The Democratic National Convention would hold a roll call vote to formally nominate the candidate. A majority of the convention delegates' votes is required to nominate the presidential candidate. Celebratory and ceremonial votes, including a state-by-state roll call, would follow to affirm the nominee3.

Open Convention or Straw Poll

In the absence of a clear successor, there could be calls for an open convention or a straw poll to determine the top contenders. For example, after Biden's withdrawal, there were suggestions for a straw poll of delegates to determine the party's top candidates, followed by town halls and a final vote1.

This process ensures that the party can select a new nominee in a fair, transparent, and orderly manner.