(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — While it appears Vice President Kamala Harris is headed toward securing the Democratic nomination for president, there are procedures in place should she not by the time of the convention in Chicago next month.
To win the Democratic presidential nomination, a candidate will need 1,968 delegate votes.
President Joe Biden had already locked up nearly 3,900 delegates, but they may now vote for whomever they want.
More than 700 pledged delegates have told the Associated Press or announced that they plan to support Harris — but if she does not lock down the remaining delegates by a virtual roll call vote expected on Aug. 1, then the nomination could be decided by an open convention.
In the case of an open convention, a series of ballots would be taken until a candidate manages to win the required number of votes. One century ago, the Democratic Party had an open convention in which more than 100 ballots were taken before the party settled on John Davis for president. He was beaten by Calvin Coolidge.
It's unclear whether any other Democrats will toss their names into the ring. Several party leaders who had been seen as potential candidates have already thrown their support behind Harris, including Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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