Could someone please answer this question...

[pink]

If a candidate drops out of the race, can he or she give their delegates which they have already accumulated away to the candidate of their choice? If not, what happens to them?

[Sloumeau]

1. Candidates can hold onto their delegates until the convention.

They can choose to give the delegates to whomever they want.

[link:https://ballotpedia.org/Democratic_delegate_rules,_2020|]

What happens to delegates allocated to candidates who withdraw?

The Delegate Selection Rules for the 2020 Democratic National Convention include two provisions regarding the binding of delegates to the candidates they supported at the time of their selection.[11]
“ No delegate at any level of the delegate selection process shall be mandated by law or Party rule to vote contrary to that person’s presidential choice as expressed at the time the delegate is elected.[13] ”
—Rule 13.I (p. 14)[11]
“ Delegates elected to the national convention pledged to a presidential candidate shall in all good conscience reflect the sentiments of those who elected them.[13] ”
—Rule 13.J (p. 14)[11]

Beyond this, the Delegate Selection Rules do not directly address how a candidate's withdrawal from the race before the convention affects the delegates pledged to that candidate. However, in 13 states, statutes establish provisions for the release of delegates either upon a candidate's withdrawal or after a specific number of ballots have been taken at the national convention. The table below identifies these states. In the column titled "Candidate withdrawal or release provision," a "yes" indicates that the statute allows for the release of pledged delegates either upon a candidate's withdrawal or at the explicit direction of the candidate. In the column titled "Multiple ballot provision," a "yes" indicates that the statute allows for the release of a pledged delegate after a specific number of ballots have been taken at the convention (the number in parentheses indicates the ballot on which the delegates would be released). The full text of relevant statutes and their citations are also provided.

[pink]

3. As much as I'd hate for it to happen

If Pete drops out, I'd like to see them donated to Biden who seems to be the most viable candidate against Sanders.

[Sloumeau]

5. And if Biden dropped out, God forbid, if he gave them to Pete, I would not mind at all. :) nt

[Mike 03]

8. I feel the same way. We'd be in great hands with

Mayor Pete.

I'm going to miss several of our candidates if/when they drop out, including mine.

[2naSalit]

4. Thanks, I was wondering too.

[Mike 03]

6. Thank you!

[Sloumeau]

7. You are very welcome. :) nt

[pink]

11. Thankyou very much for your information

If Biden was the last man standing, what do you think of the idea of Joe selecting Pete as his VP.

[Sloumeau]

12. For VP, I'd prefer a Black Woman like Kamala or Stacey Abrams just to boost the votes of

Black Americans and Women. I am sorry that Pete is neither Black nor a woman.

However, I think Pete is brilliant. I'd love to see him as Secretary of State or Secretary of Education. Anyone who learns seven languages could really be a great Secretary of State or Secretary of Education. Plus, Secretary of State is a great stepping stone to the Presidency because of all of the foreign policy experience one gets.

Pete needs a good interim job before he runs for President again. If not Sec. of State or Sec. of Education, Biden still would need to appoint about 4000 people. I am sure Pete could find something he liked. Cabinet spots would be high profile, great experience, and a big jump from Mayor.

[Rebl2]

2. Good question

Hope someone answers. I’m thinking they can, but not sure at what point-convention?

[Moderateguy]

9. They can't "give" them to anybody

If the release their delegates those delegates are free to vote for whoever they want. The candidate can suggest who they support but they’re under no obligation to vote for that person

[Sloumeau]

13. Let me clarify what I mean by "give".

In the old days of smoke-filled rooms and brokered/contested conventions, people would make deals to determine who got the nomination. A politician who had delegates pledged to him might make a deal to "support" another candidate in exchange for something, such as a plank on the platform for a pet project and a bill in Congress later. Then, the candidate would meet with his delegates in a room and tell them, "I wasn't able to get the nomination, but if we give support to so-and-so, we will get this". Usually, the delegates would switch to whomever their candidate asked them to switch to in exchange for the agreement.

No, the candidate did not actually give his delegates to anyone. Instead, he got a deal and then persuaded his candidates to vote for someone else. Saying a candidate "gave" his delegates to another candidate is just shorthand. It is much quicker than saying "He made a deal, then got his delegates to go along with the deal and pledge to vote for someone else".

[Moderateguy]

14. Thanks for the clarification

[nsd]

10. My understanding is that candidates can *release* their delegates but cannot *give* them to ...

... another candidate. So, for example, if Buttigieg drops out after Super Tuesday, he can't give his delegates to Biden or Bloomberg. He can release them to decide for themselves; they may choose to follow his advice or not.