In a letter sent to the DNC rules committee Wednesday, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz reportedly said they would not nominate anyone before Aug. 1 and were working on how best to proceed.
Topline
Democrats are disputing when they should formally nominate their candidate for president as some lawmakers continue to call for President Joe Biden to withdraw from the race, but others worry waiting until the convention could risk the Democratic candidate not being on the ballot in at least one state.Key Facts
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who co-chairs the Democratic National Convention rules committee, reportedly said in a letter sent to other committee members Wednesday the DNC would not do a virtual roll call vote to nominate Biden until at least Aug. 1.
Before Walz’s letter, it was expected the virtual roll call to nominate Biden could take place as soon as Sunday.
The idea for a roll call vote initially came about to ensure he would be on the ballot in Ohio, which previously required candidates to be nominated by Aug. 7 (the DNC is not scheduled until Aug. 19).
Ohio’s Republican Gov. Mike DeWine signed a bill in early June, however, extending the deadline to Sept. 1 for this year to allow the DNC to nominate someone at its convention.
The dispute over the timing of a virtual roll call comes as some Democratic lawmakers are calling on the DNC to cancel it altogether: A letter circulating Capitol Hill on Tuesday from some House Democrats asked the DNC not to hold an early vote, saying it would be a “terrible idea” that “could deeply undermine the morale and unity of Democrats,” the Associated Press reported.
