How does Biden's withdrawal affect Kentucky's ballot? What to know about November
President Joe Biden ended his bid for reelection Sunday and has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his replacement.
But what does that mean for Kentucky's ballot? Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams' Office said there's no Democratic nominee on the ballot yet and won't be until the Democratic National Convention nominates a candidate.
Joe Biden is not the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party - no one is a presidential nominee until formally nominated pursuant to party rules - and thus will not appear on Kentucky ballots. Whomever the Democratic Party ultimately nominates will. https://t.co/1Y67n3cUO0
— Michael Adams, KY Secretary of State (@KYSecState) July 21, 2024
"While (Biden) was elected in the Democratic primary, he doesn't automatically become the presidential candidate," said Michon Lindstrom, director of communications for the Secretary of State's office. "We won't see any changes on the ballot at this point. Our ballots are not certified until Sept. 9 because independent candidates are able to file until Sept. 6."
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After the September deadline, Lindstrom said candidates won't be able to be added to Kentucky's ballot. If a candidate decides to withdraw after the deadline, their name would still appear on the ballot but there would be a note attached saying that candidate withdrew from the race.
In Kentucky's primary election, Biden was declared an early victor and pulled 71.3% of the vote. During the 2020 primary election, he received 67.7% of the vote compared to second-place contender Bernie Sanders' 12.1%.
The Democratic National Convention will run Aug. 19 through Aug. 22 in Chicago.
The Republican National Convention wrapped up last week in Milwaukee, where former President Donald Trump accepted the Republican nomination for president. Trump received 84.9% of the vote in Kentucky's May election.
Reach reporter Hannah Pinski at @[email protected] or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @hannahpinski.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: What happens to KY state ballots since Biden dropped out? What to know
