What Happens if Trump or Biden Drop Out of the Presidential Race?

During Primary Season and before National Conventions

Experts suggest that if either candidate drops out before the national conventions, the path to finding the next nominee becomes more complicated. The national party conventions, which are held every presidential election year, officially select each party’s nominee. After the primary elections, a certain number of delegates are allocated to each candidate based on the number of votes received in each state. The candidate must accumulate a majority of delegate votes to become the official party nominee.

Each state allocates delegates differently, and delegates are generally tied to a certain candidate. In a situation where a candidate drops out early before accumulating a large number of delegates, other candidates may see an opportunity to win the nomination by gaining the remaining delegates.

During the National Conventions

If a candidate drops out between the last primary and the night of their party’s nominating convention, the respective party reverts back to its historic roots. At that point, prospective party nominees would visit each state’s delegation to convince them for their support. Alternately, candidates who had previously dropped out of the race might reactivate their campaigns and try to win the party’s nomination.

After the National Conventions

If a candidate drops out after being officially nominated at the party’s convention, the respective national committee takes the responsibility of choosing the replacement candidate. The committee holds special meetings to make the selection, and the specific process may differ between the two major parties.

After Election Day

If a candidate drops out between Election Day and Inauguration Day, the procedures depend on whether the electoral college has already met to attest to the election results. In some states, laws require electors to vote for the winning candidate. If the declared winner drops out before the electoral college meets, legislatures may have to change the rules to allow the electors’ votes to count for another candidate.

If the president-elect becomes incapacitated after the electoral college vote but before Congress certifies the election results, it is unclear how Congress will handle counting the votes for a candidate who is no longer in the picture.

During the weeks after Congress certifies the votes but before Inauguration Day, the winning candidate’s running mate becomes the president and will be inaugurated in the case of the president-elect becoming unable to serve.

What Happens if Trump is Convicted?

There are no legal procedures or rules that would bar a convicted former president from serving a second term. While serving jail time or facing legal challenges may have been seen as disqualifying in the past, there is nothing illegal about a candidate running for president while facing legal issues. In the unlikely scenario that Trump is convicted, it is unclear if the delegates bound to him would still be required to vote for him.