Following President Joe Biden's announcement of his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race, allies of former President Donald Trump have raised the possibility of legal challenges to prevent Democrats from selecting a new nominee. However, election administration and legal experts have deemed these challenges as unlikely to succeed.
Experts emphasize that since the Democratic Party has not officially nominated a candidate yet, any attempts to block the selection of a new nominee are baseless. Delegates at the party's convention typically vote to choose the official nominee.
Despite discussions among Republicans about potential legal actions, the timing of Biden's exit before the nomination process makes it difficult for any challenges to gain traction. Several experts have dismissed the idea of preventing the Democratic Party from picking a post-Biden nominee as frivolous.
State election laws show that Biden's withdrawal occurred well before the ballot access deadlines in all relevant states. Even in states like Wisconsin, which have specific deadlines, Biden's exit falls within the legal timeframe.
Historical precedents, such as the replacement of nominees in past elections, further support the notion that selecting a new nominee is a standard practice. Experts point to instances in 1912 and 1972 where nominees were replaced without legal controversy.
Overall, legal experts and election officials maintain that the Democratic Party has the authority to choose a new nominee following Biden's exit, and any attempts to challenge this process are unlikely to succeed.
