Pritzker's DNC could be wild ride

President Biden has decided to end his re-election campaign , opening the door for candidates like Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker to step in and push for the Democratic nomination in Chicago.

Why it matters: Democrats are without a nominee just weeks before the Democratic National Convention, which starts Aug. 19.

• The governor's name has been in the mix as a possible contender for president and vice-president .

Context: Biden stepped aside after relentless calls for him to leave following his disastrous debate performance .

• Critics argued he was unlikely to beat former President Trump and would be incapable of serving another four years if he did win.

Zoom in: In a statement Sunday, Biden said, "I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris for being an extraordinary partner in all this work."

• He then endorsed the vice president in a second social media post .

Zoom out: Harris now receives support of the Democratic National Committee and control of the campaign war chest Biden has amassed.

• "Over the past year, we have been building the stage — literally and figuratively — for President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Democrats to tell our story to the American people," DNC chair Minyon Moore said in a statement.
• "The historic progress Democrats achieved under the Biden-Harris Administration will still be central to that story."

Yes, but: Other candidates , like Pritzker, could also be in play.

• The Tribune reported the governor would make an announcement Monday about his political future and cited an unnamed source that he "would be running for something."

Reality check: The decision will be made by Democratic delegates, not on a public ballot.

• Harris has been calling Democratic leaders and elected officials to try to lock down the nomination, Axios' Hans Nichols reported.

The intrigue: Even though Pritzker supported Biden after the debate performance, he stopped short of saying he wouldn't run if Biden dropped out.

• Pritzker, a billionaire, could self-finance a shortened campaign.
• He has been an aggressive surrogate on the Biden campaign trail and would also have a home-field advantage at the convention.

What they're saying: "As we extend our gratitude to President Biden and reflect on his many accomplishments, we must not ignore the threat posed by Donald Trump's potential return to the White House ... I will work every day to ensure that he does not win in November," Pritzker said in a statement .

The vibe: Chaotic. While unlikely, a brokered convention, pitting candidates and their delegates against each other live on the United Center floor next month, could happen.

• Vice President Harris could also be nominated virtually beforehand.

What's next: Hold on to your straw hats. It's going to be a bumpy ride.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional details throughout.