Now that President Joe Biden has withdrawn from the 2024 election, Democrats are on a strict deadline to name a new candidate.
Each state prints ballots at different times, and depending on when the new candidate is confirmed, there could be legal challenges.
In Alabama, the Democratic Party must declare all candidates by August 23.
Secretary of State Wes Allen will then certify what will go on the ballot on August 28.
The Democratic National Convention (DNC) begins on August 19 in Chicago, but top Democratic figures have already discussed contingency plans. Democratic National Committee chair Jaime Harrison said a process is underway to elect a new candidate.
Biden voiced his support for Vice President Kamala Harris shortly after announcing he was dropping out. Harris must secure the nomination from nearly 4,700 delegates.
According to Alabama Democratic Party chairman Randy Kelley, the Alabama delegates were appointed. He said the DNC process removed the wishes of black people in the state.
"For your information, not a single Biden-Harris delegate, 'no not one,' was elected by the Democrats in the State of Alabama," Kelley said previously in a statement. "All proposed delegates to the Democratic National Convention from Alabama were appointed. No other state in the nation had all delegates appointed taken out of the hands of the electorate and appointed by hands unknown. The illegal Delegates were appointed because those who appointed the false delegates did not want Blacks in Alabama to elect delegates of their choice."
Kelley has publicly called on Alabama's Democratic delegates to support Harris.
"We support Vice President Harris. Kamala Harris has been an integral part of the successes of the Biden-Harris presidency and those successes are many. From historic investments in small business, job creation, and forgiving millions in student loans, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have guided America with a steady hand after 4 years of Donald Trump's chaos," Kelley said in a statement on Monday. "We are better off than we were 4 years ago. The contrast between Trump and Vice President Harris could not be clearer. Donald Trump is a threat to the fabric of our Democracy. His plans for America are nefarious. We cannot allow him the opportunity to implement Project 2025. We must unite behind Vice President Harris as the Democratic Party nominee and pledge our full support. And when Alabama Democrats are united, there's no limit to what we can do."
A committee for the DNC is meeting Wednesday to set party rules.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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