What is an open convention and how could it impact Kamala Harris?

While Kamala Harris is the Democratic Party’s heir apparent, clinching critical support from President Joe Biden after he dropped his reelection bid, some on the left insist an open convention is still on the books this August. 

Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison appeared to indicate that the choice to replace Biden would be made via an open convention, although Harris may end up being the only realistic contender.

What is an open convention? And what does that mean for Harris’ bid for the White House? 

In traditional American politics, a party favorite and all-but-declared nominee heads into their party’s convention, where they are resoundingly confirmed to become the nominee by the majority of delegates. Such was the case earlier this month as Republicans chose former President Donald Trump to lead the top of the ticket at their Milwaukee convention. 

However, an open convention, also known as a brokered convention, occurs when party delegates fail to rally around a single candidate during the first round of voting at the nominating convention. If no candidate receives a majority of the delegates’ votes, then the convention is considered “open” and delegates that were pledged to a particular candidate are released. Candidates then seek to win over delegates and clinch the majority of support during subsequent rounds of voting. 

In the last century of American politics, that’s rarely happened, although in a rare twist of irony, the Democratic Party suffered a chaotic brokered convention exactly 100 years ago. The last time a convention had to go past the first ballot was in 1952. 

Biden’s decision to back Harris means his delegates are likely guaranteed to rally around the Vice President. The incumbent president won the vast majority of the 4,000 delegates in the primaries, giving Harris a vast lead and almost certain victory over any other candidates. Only 1,976 delegates are needed to win the nomination. 

However, formerly pledged Biden delegates are not legally bound to support Harris, leaving the door open for a different candidate to gather support during an open convention. 

Intra-party squabbling could lead to a chaotic open convention, where potentially, candidates floated as alternatives to Harris could mount their own challenge for the nomination. Names including Govs. Gavin Newsom (D-CA), Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI), J.B. Pritzker (D-IL), Josh Shapiro (D-PA), and Roy Cooper (D-NC), have been repeatedly dropped as options for the Democratic presidential nominee. 

Democrats face one big hurdle going into an open convention: time. The Democratic National Convention will be held August 19-22 in Chicago. Harris has just weeks to shore up support with her party, while any supplanters have the same amount of time to build a national profile and win undecided delegates to their side.