Former presidential candidate Dean Phillips is set to receive at least three of Ohio's delegates to the Democratic National Convention, even though he has withdrawn from the race and endorsed President Joe Biden. However, these delegates are expected to support Biden at the convention.
President Biden secured the Democratic nomination on March 12 and has garnered 99% of convention delegates, indicating a lack of significant opposition within the party. Party rules currently make it highly improbable for any candidate other than Biden to be eligible for the nomination at this stage of the primary process.
Activists in several states have been advocating for voters to select the “uncommitted” option on ballots as a form of protest against Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict, resulting in 27 delegates being allocated to this category. This effort is ongoing in Pennsylvania's presidential primary.
In the Ohio primary held on March 19, the absence of an “uncommitted” option left dissatisfied Democrats with only one alternative: Dean Phillips. It took over a month to finalize the delegate count in Ohio due to the state's delayed release of presidential primary results by congressional districts.
Despite uncertainties initially, Phillips met the 15% threshold to secure delegates in Ohio's 2nd, 6th, and 14th congressional districts. There is a possibility of him qualifying for a fourth delegate in the 12th Congressional District, pending further confirmation.
While Phillips' delegates are pledged to support him, they are expected to vote for Biden at the convention. With Biden being the sole candidate surpassing the 300-delegate threshold required by DNC rules, the likelihood of any other candidate receiving the nomination is slim to none.
As the majority of Democratic delegates have already been allocated, Biden has secured enough support to clinch the nomination. Phillips, along with another candidate, Jason Palmer, and the “uncommitted” option, are the only non-Biden choices to have received delegates.
Palmer, who won three delegates in American Samoa, is also endorsing Biden and focusing on ensuring his delegates can attend the convention. With the Democratic National Committee, Palmer is exploring the role he and his pledged delegates can play in the upcoming event.
