Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Algernon Moncrieff

(5,780 posts)
Tue May 31, 2016, 07:04 PM May 2016

What happens if a nominee is disabled/dies between the convention and the election? ?

Does the VP candidate elevate to nominee? Does the convention runner-up become nominee? Is there an emergency convention? Do both parties work the same on this? I have to think someone has covered this.

17 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
What happens if a nominee is disabled/dies between the convention and the election? ? (Original Post) Algernon Moncrieff May 2016 OP
You have a funeral, I think Gomez163 May 2016 #1
Thats bad if you are only disabled Algernon Moncrieff May 2016 #2
Bad form, at least. Gomez163 May 2016 #4
.. Gidney N Cloyd May 2016 #10
This is so funny, rofl, thank you Gomez. saidsimplesimon May 2016 #3
There is no VP candidate until the Democratic nominee announces AT the convention. LiberalFighter May 2016 #5
Right. I'm asking about after the convention Algernon Moncrieff May 2016 #6
Name remains on the ballot. LiberalFighter May 2016 #7
The silver lining: The cycle will be cut from 2 yrs to a few months instead of two danged years!1 UTUSN May 2016 #8
Technically, that candidate's electors are free to vote for anyone at the Electoral College. rug May 2016 #9
There is no precedent Sgent Jun 2016 #11
When RFK was killed they chose Humphrey rbrnmw Jun 2016 #12
RFK was killed before the convention, he was not the nominee. thesquanderer Jun 2016 #17
Algernon takes over? Rex Jun 2016 #13
General Election at Bernies - note poor taste joke. PufPuf23 Jun 2016 #14
There is a precedent 1939 Jun 2016 #15
If that happens, the DNC can choose whoever they want. thesquanderer Jun 2016 #16

UTUSN

(70,494 posts)
8. The silver lining: The cycle will be cut from 2 yrs to a few months instead of two danged years!1
Tue May 31, 2016, 10:17 PM
May 2016

I don't know the mechanics - convention reconvened? veep steps up? (why should one person/original nominee choose veep?) - but the best thing ever would be cutting the campaign to a few months!1

 

rug

(82,333 posts)
9. Technically, that candidate's electors are free to vote for anyone at the Electoral College.
Tue May 31, 2016, 10:21 PM
May 2016

Practically, the party would select a replacement candidate on its ballots.

Sgent

(5,857 posts)
11. There is no precedent
Wed Jun 1, 2016, 02:51 AM
Jun 2016

but presumably the party's elector's (from the electoral college) would get together and decide on a new candidate.

Remember you don't vote for president, you vote for an elector.

thesquanderer

(11,953 posts)
17. RFK was killed before the convention, he was not the nominee.
Wed Jun 1, 2016, 07:11 AM
Jun 2016

OP is asking about after the convention, when a nominee has already been selected.

The Humphrey scenario would not happen that way today, as the nomination process has changed. However, after the nomination, yes, the party can essentially put in whoever they want.

1939

(1,683 posts)
15. There is a precedent
Wed Jun 1, 2016, 05:48 AM
Jun 2016

In 1972, after the convention, the Democratic VP nominee (Eagleton) became embroiled in a mental illness controversy. He withdrew and the DNC appointed his successor (Shriver) with the consent of the presidential nominee. I believe the national parties are empowered by their conventions to appoint replacements in the case that one or both of the convention nominees are lost or incapacitated.

Remember, there is a lot of flying time and a campaign plane could possibly go down between the conventions and November. The nominees are not that young and a cardio-vascular event is also possible.

thesquanderer

(11,953 posts)
16. If that happens, the DNC can choose whoever they want.
Wed Jun 1, 2016, 07:08 AM
Jun 2016
Democratic Party bylaws - in Article 2, Section 1 - say that the Democratic National Committee has the power to fill "vacancies in the nominations for the office of the president and vice president" when the quadrennial convention is not in session.

Larry Otter, a Bucks County attorney who specializes in election law, said the provision is a safety valve in case a nominee dies, becomes incapacitated, or resigns.


http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/presidential/20160529_What_if_Clinton_were_indicted__post-DNC_.html

Personally, I think they'd be inclined to choose the VP nominee, as that person has already essentially been "approved" to take over if necessary. But if there is someone else they think would have a better chance of winning the election, they could go some other way.
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»What happens if a nominee...