Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) didn’t go as far as some of his colleagues but did lay down cover for pledged delegates who might be nervous about casting a vote for President Joe Biden at the Democratic National Convention.
There has been a surge in interest about how, if at all, Democrats could replace Biden at the top of their party’s ticket in November after a nightmare performance in his first debate with former President Donald Trump. While the party doesn’t have the ability to force Biden out of the race, delegates could choose not to cast their ballots for him at the nominating convention.
The centrist representative from Sherman Oaks posted on X that “the rules of the Democratic Party do NOT require that pledged delegates vote for Biden at the convention.”
Sherman pointed out a hole in the Democratic convention rules that could allow delegates to consider options other than Biden, even though he has clinched the nomination through the presidential Democratic primaries.
“I look forward to seeing President Biden’s taped interview with George Stephanopoulos,” Sherman started the X thread. “It’s important that the President also have an extended LIVE interview as soon as possible.”
“Counter to popular belief, the rules of the Democratic Party do NOT require that pledged delegates vote for Biden at the convention. Party rules require delegates’ votes, ‘reflect the sentiments of those who elected them,’ at the time the delegates cast their ballots,” he continued.
He implied Biden may not be the candidate to beat Trump, saying, “Democratic Primary voters have one overarching sentiment: We need a candidate who will beat Donald Trump.”
Sherman referred to a section in the convention rules that says, “All delegates to the National Convention pledged to a presidential candidate shall in all good conscience reflect the sentiments of those who elected them.”
Sherman’s claim is one of the most practical calls for Biden to step down among elected Democrats, giving a specific path, if available, for the party to take to avoid keeping Biden as its nominee.
The Democratic convention takes place Aug. 19-22, about a month after the Republican National Convention.
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The Washington Examiner reached out to the Democratic National Committee but did not receive a response.
Biden said on Friday that he’s “completely ruled out” exiting the 2024 presidential race, and many are looking forward to Friday night’s ABC interview with him as a decider for whether they may call for him to step down.
