With Biden out, how will Missouri Democratic delegates cast their votes? What we know
President Joe Biden has ended his reelection campaign less than a month before the Democratic National Convention. What does that mean for Missouri's Democratic delegates, who were elected last weekend to nominate Biden for president?
Here’s what to know.
How many Democratic delegates does Missouri have?
Out of the 3,896 delegates nationally, Missouri has 70, along with five alternates. This number comes from a Democratic bylaws formula, which is based on each state’s population and percentage of the total Democratic vote.
Do Missouri delegates have to vote for Biden?
Joe Biden won the Democratic presidential nomination in Missouri’s primary elections March 23. However, Missouri Democrats don’t technically have to vote for Biden, thanks to a “good conscience” clause in Democratic delegate selection rules.
Rule 13(J) states that “delegates elected to the national convention pledged to a presidential candidate shall in all good conscience reflect the sentiments of those who elected them.” It’s existed since the 1980s, but has never affected a nomination.
Russ Carnahan, Missouri Democratic Party chair, on Sunday said Missouri's delegates likely will put their support behind Vice President Kamala Harris, who Biden endorsed. All but three of the state's delegates had committed to the Biden/Harris ticket, he said. Biden's decision has created a "bolt of energy" for people who were waiting to see what Biden would do, Carnahan said.
“The president has passed the torch to Vice President Harris. She has said she has will work to earn everyone's vote. I think they will quickly coalesce behind her. I think the delegates will follow their pledge or conscience to help win this critical election," he said. "The important thing I think people are seeing today is just the incredible selfless thing that President Biden has done. Really evaluating the best path forward and he made that personal decision. I think this will create momentum for the Democratic ticket."
More: Biden earns over 85% of votes in Missouri Democratic presidential preference primary
Who are Missouri's Democratic delegates?
The Missouri Democratic Party finalized its delegation in May. Delegates and alternates fall into several categories and include:
Party Leader & Elected Official (PLEO) delegates elected at the state committee meeting May 18 (all committed as delegates for Biden then) are:
Sam Page, St. Louis County Executive
Quinton Lucas, Mayor of Kansas City
Tishaura Jones, Mayor of St. Louis
Doug Beck. State Senator, District 1
Karla May, State Senator, District 4
Ashley Aune, State Representative, District 14
Keri Ingle, State Representative, District 35
Richard Brown, State Representative, District 27
The Missouri Democratic Party's automatic delegates (all committed as delegates for Biden) are:
Russ Carnahan, Party Chairman
Yvonne Reeves-Chong, Party Vice-Chair
Freddy Doss
Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (MO-5)
Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-1)
Nanda Nunnelly
Congressional district delegates elected at congressional district meetings in May are:
Geneva Allen-Patterson, Biden
Kenneth Bacchus, Biden
Sabrina Bonnette, Biden
John Bowman, Biden
Kevin Boydston, Biden
Laura Castaneda, Biden
Robert Cesario, Biden
Peter Coyne, Biden
Zackary Dunn, Biden
Toni Easter, Biden
Margaret Edwards, Biden
Sean Fauss, Biden
Harvey Ferdman, Biden
Brock Freeman, Biden
Geoffrey Gerling, Biden
Susan Gibson, Biden
Rachel Gonzalez, Biden
Ryan Granger, Biden
Doug Greiner, Biden
Paul Harper, Biden
Linda Henry, Biden
Larry Hightower, Biden
Randy Hite, Biden
Debbie Kitchen, Biden
Marsha Lerenberg, Biden
Charles McDonald, Biden
Chuck McDonough, Biden
Nelson Mitten, Biden
Austen Musil, Biden
Sandra Nelson, Biden
Chade Shorten, Biden
Clem Smith, Biden
Kem Smith, Biden
Marsha Snodgrass, Biden
Sarah Starnes, Biden
Daniela Velázquez, Biden
Loree Voigt, Biden
Kyle Yarber, Biden
Anderson Carver, Biden
Eram Mahmud, Uncommitted
Rep. Raychel Proudie, Uncommitted
Michael Berg, Uncommitted
At-large delegates (all committed to Biden) are:
Rep. Elizabeth Fogle
Maggie Grimm
Tyler Joy
April Rivera
Matthew Easterling
Cole Pierce
Steward Stiles
Rep. LaKeySha Frazier-Bosley
Bela Holzer
Margaret Miles
Hon. Jalen Anderson
Justin McCarty
Preston Pierce
Jerry Wood
Missouri's five alternate delegates are:
Monica Curls, Biden
Rep. Ian Mackey, Biden
Shelby McClain, Biden
Asim Thakore, Biden
Keith Rose, Uncommitted
This story will be updated.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Are Missouri Democratic delegates required to vote for Biden?