President Biden’s decision yesterday to decline reelection is unprecedented in its timing.
No presidential candidate has ever announced so close to Election Day that he will not seek another term.
This decision makes Vice President Harris the overwhelming favorite to become the Democratic nominee.
In today’s Fox News Power Rankings, we explain how Harris’ ascension could change the race and what’s next in the Democratic nomination process.
This guide will provide answers to two more important questions about relocation:
First, how Harris could potentially leverage Biden’s existing campaign finances, and second, why Harris could appear on the general election ballot in all 50 states.
FOX News Power Rankings: Has Kamala Harris freed herself from her burdens?
Former President Trump and Vice President Harris (Getty Images)
Harris and the Democrats are likely to tap Biden’s existing campaign finances.
Harris has the support of a majority of Democratic leaders and prominent figures.
The Democratic Party has not yet officially nominated a candidate, and this election cycle is unpredictable, but for the purposes of this guide we will assume that she is the Democratic presidential nominee.
The existing Biden-Harris campaign had $240 million in cash on hand as of the end of June, money that will be crucial to Harris’ campaign.
Harris could potentially take advantage of that.
The above figure is a single figure, but it includes funding from the Biden-Harris Campaign Committee as well as funding from the Democratic National Committee, state parties, joint fundraising committees, and allied political action committees (PACs).
Because the Democratic National Committee, state parties, and the other groups listed above are each their own entities, only the Biden-Harris Campaign Committee’s portion of the overall count is in question.
President Biden, former President Trump, and Vice President Harris (Getty Images)
The Biden-Harris campaign committee had just under $96 million in cash at the end of June, according to FEC filings.
As for that $96 million, Harris will likely be able to spend it all.
An analysis of FEC rules shows that Harris has access to these specific funds because she campaigned with Biden.
Shanna Port, senior legal counsel at the Campaign Legal Center, said: He told the Wall Street Journal “She will retain access to all of the committee’s funds and be able to use them to advance her position as a presidential candidate.”
That’s not a guarantee, and anti-Harris groups could sue. Refer to the rules This amount of total election funds is subject to return unless properly reallocated or redistributed.
Even if Harris couldn’t inherit the funds directly, precedent suggests Biden’s committee could transfer the money to the Democratic National Committee.
That would put Democrats in just as strong a position as if the money had gone directly to Harris.
The other obvious option would be to move money into super PACs, but that’s less financially efficient, as super PACs can’t coordinate with campaigns and often charge higher advertising fees.
Harris could appear on the general election ballot in all 50 states.
No deadline has yet passed that would prevent or “bar” Harris from appearing on the general election ballot in any of the 50 states.
Kamala Harris (Getty Images)
Keep in mind, the Democrats have not yet formally nominated Biden; the Democratic National Convention is scheduled for next month. Until yesterday, he was merely the “presumptive nominee.” (The Republicans named former President Trump as their official nominee at last week’s Republican National Convention.)
With Biden’s campaign halted, what’s next for Democrats?
This means that there will be no need to make any “changes” or “replacements” to general election ballots.
The party only needs to nominate a candidate by the deadline for voting in the general election.
This understanding of ballot access rules is supported by local election officials. The battleground state of Georgia “Biden’s withdrawal does not affect the vote in Georgia, and because the Democrats have not held their convention there is no replacement ‘candidate,'” he said Monday.
Click here to get the FOX News app
Democrats have consistently considered Ohio’s initial ballot deadline to be August 7. (There is disagreement about whether the deadline is that early after legislative changes, but for this analysis it is important only that Democrats consider the deadline to be August 7.)
If the party fields a formal candidate by that date, or is satisfied that Ohio’s deadline is later, Harris could appear on the state’s ballot.
