Democrats plan to formally nominate Biden in early August, ahead of convention

Democrats plan to formally renominate President Joe Biden in a virtual roll call vote during the first week of August, before the party’s national convention, despite protests from some Democrats who want more time for the party to consider alternative nominees.

The plan was formally announced in a letter to Democratic National Committee members sent Wednesday morning, which comes after weeks of internal struggle about whether to stick with Biden after a weak debate performance.

Parties typically nominate their presidential standard bearers during live roll call votes at their national conventions, which are often a highlight of the events. But Democrats have been planning for the unusual pre-convention virtual roll call to avoid potential litigation in Ohio, they say.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the co-chair of the Democratic National Convention’s Rules Committee, told reporters Wednesday that the early nomination has nothing to do with Biden's debate performance last month or doubts about his ability to defeat former President Donald Trump.

“This meeting was scheduled for many months, the one on Friday, and it was never meant to be the virtual roll call. It will be setting out the agenda as the Rules Committee moving forward,” Walz said, referring to the committee's upcoming first meeting.

Virtual voting will not start until after Aug. 1, Walz said, and will need to be concluded by Aug. 7 to avoid potential legal issues under an Ohio law that set that date as the deadline for parties to submit candidates' names for the November ballot.

Ohio officials, however, say the deadline issue has already been fixed, thanks to legislation passed earlier this summer.

“The issue is resolved in Ohio, and Democrat proxies know that