Despite dropping out of the presidential race and endorsing President Joe Biden, former candidate Dean Phillips is set to receive at least three of Ohio’s delegates to the Democratic National Convention.
However, these delegates are likely to be Phillips delegates in name only, as Biden has already locked up the Democratic nomination, winning 99% of convention delegates so far.
Party rules make it nearly impossible for any candidate other than Biden to be eligible for nomination votes at the summer convention. In several states, activists have encouraged voters to choose “uncommitted” on their ballots to protest Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war, earning 27 delegates. A similar effort is underway in Pennsylvania’s presidential primary on Tuesday.
To win delegates, candidates must receive at least 15% of the statewide vote or 15% of the vote in an individual congressional district. In Ohio’s March 19 primary, “uncommitted” wasn’t an option, leaving Phillips as the only alternative for Democrats wishing to express opposition to Biden.
The Ohio Democratic Party stated that Phillips’ campaign had not sent in a delegate list, making it unclear if any delegate slots he qualified for could be filled. An AP analysis of certified results shows Phillips met the 15% threshold in the 2nd, 6th, and 14th congressional districts, with a potential fourth delegate in the 12th district pending additional details from local elections officials.
Bill DeMora, the Ohio Democratic Party’s delegate and convention director, said that any delegates Phillips qualified for would be counted as pledged to support him but would be filled by Biden supporters, effectively making them “Phillips delegates who will vote for Biden.”
At the national convention, delegates will have few options to support candidates other than Biden, who is likely to be the only candidate eligible for nomination.
DNC rules require candidates to receive support from at least 300 delegates before the roll call vote, a threshold only Biden has exceeded.
As more than two-thirds of the total Democratic delegates have already been allocated, it’s virtually impossible for any other candidate to reach the 300-delegate threshold.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.