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OnPolitics: What happens if Joe Biden or Donald Trump drop out of the 2024 race?


Hello OnPolitics readers! 2024 is shaping up to be a rematch between former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden. But voters’ concerns over Biden’s age and Trump’s four sets of criminal charges have sparked an important question: What happens if one of the candidates has to end their campaign?

The timing is key in these situations, Paste BN’s Rachel Looker reports. Here’s a look how things could play out if Biden or Trump drop out of the race:

➡️ During primary season and before national conventions: If a candidate drops out early on, before racking up a large number of delegates, other White House hopefuls may decide they want to try to win the nomination by picking up the remaining delegates. But if they drop out toward the end of the primaries, which end in mid-June, the number of delegates a candidate will receive is mostly set in stone.

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

🔴 During the national conventions: If a candidate drops out between the last primary and the night of their respective party's nominating convention, each party reverts back to its historic roots. Republicans would arrive in Milwaukee and Democrats in Chicago. Delegates would be "uncommitted," meaning they are not in support of a specific candidate and have to decide who the next nominee will be.

🎲 After the national conventions: The national parties would choose their replacement candidate. Both committees would hold special meetings to pick their next presidential hopeful.

Read more: What happens if Biden, Trump drop 2024 presidential bids? Here's how it could play out

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Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide