Democratic nomination could be in the hands of these Missouri delegates. Who are they?

President Joe Biden’s departure from the 2024 presidential race sent shockwaves through the Democratic Party on Sunday, with many wondering who will take his place as the party’s nominee for president.

That decision could come down to the 3,939 Democratic National Convention delegates , a group of elected officials and party loyalists who generally pledge their support to the winner of each state’s primary election.

Missouri has 70 delegates and five alternates heading to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in late August. Biden is expected to release his delegates, including the 67 Missourians pledged to support him, and they will be able to vote for other candidates.

Biden has thrown his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris, but delegates would not be required to vote for her.

Here’s a closer look at who the delegates are.

Who are Missouri’s delegates to the Democratic National Convention?

Here are all 70 people elected to Missouri’s DNC delegation , including the roles they hold in their communities:

U.S. representatives: Congressman Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri’s 5th District, Congresswoman Cori Bush of Missouri’s 1st District

State legislators: State Sen. Doug Beck, State Sen. Karla May, State Rep. Ashley Aune, State Rep. Keri Ingle, State Rep. Richard Brown, State Rep. Raychel Proudie, State Rep. Elizabeth Fogle, State Rep. LaKeySha Frazier-Bosley

County legislators: St. Louis County Executive Sam Page, Jackson County Legislator Jalen Anderson

Mayors: Quinton Lucas of Kansas City, Tishaura Jones of St. Louis

State party officials: Party Chair Russ Carnahan, Party Vice-Chair Yvonne Reeves-Chong

County Democratic committee chairs: Nanda Nunnelly of McDonald County, Robert Cesario of Phelps County, Margaret Miles of Clay County

Everyone else:

• Political consultant Freddy Doss

• Cape Girardeau pastor Geneva Allen-Patterson

• Insurance executive and former Kansas City Council candidate Kenneth Bacchus

• MoDOT employee and veterans’ rights activist Sabrina Bonnette

• Former Missouri State Rep. John Bowman

• Former Camden Point mayor and current Santa Claus impersonator Kevin Boydston

• St. Charles County Democratic Party member Laura Castaneda

• Missouri House of Representatives legislative aide Peter Coyne

• Labor union government affairs director Zack Dunn

• St. Louis landlord & real estate investor Toni Easter

• Medical doctor Margaret Edwards

• Former St. Louis campaign treasurer Sean Fauss

• St. Louis activist and energy professional Harvey Ferdman

• Recent political science graduate Brock Freeman

• Grandview nonprofit manager Geoff Gerling

• Former Byrne’s Mill mayor Susan Gibson

• Brady Campaign gun safety organizer Rachel Gonzalez

• St. Louis management professional Ryan Granger

• Springfield-based psychologist Doug Greiner

• Columbia school board member Paul Harper

• St. Louis resident Linda Henry

• Retired state employee Larry Hightower

• Kansas City LGBTQ activist Randy Hite

• Retired St. Louis financial advisor Debbie Kitchen

• Former Metropolitan Community College administrator Marsha Lerenberg

• Platte County Commission candidate Charles McDonald

• Aurora resident Chuck McDonough

• St. Louis attorney Nelson Mitten

• Nurse Austen Musil

• Military housing specialist Sandra Nelson

• Former president of the United Way of Northeast Missouri Chade Shorten

• Former Missouri State Rep. Clem Smith

• Former teacher and candidate for Missouri State Representative Dr. Kem Smith

• Retired cattle farmer Marsha Snodgrass

• St. Louis doctor Sarah Starnes

• St. Louis alderwoman Daniela Velázquez

• Cass County Democratic Committee communications director Loree Voigt

• Clay County teacher and historian Kyle Yarber

• Chesterfield resident Eram Mahmud , an uncommitted delegate

• Sierra Club organizer Michael Berg , an uncommitted delegate

• Young at-large delegate Béla Holzer

• St. Louis at-large delegate Tyler Joy

• Former Fort Zumwalt school board candidate April Rivera

• St. Charles County Democratic Party volunteer coordinator Matthew Easterling

• Springfield union leader Justin McCarty

• Financial associate Cole Pierce

• St. Louis arts educator Steward Stiles

There are four delegates who we weren’t able to find information about online: Anderson Carver, Maggie Grimm, Preston Pierce, Jerry Wood.

Most of the delegates are selected through a detailed process laid out by the Missouri Democratic Party that requires an application, involves district and state elections, and seeks to have an even number of women and men. A few people are automatically made delegates, including the state’s Democratic representatives in Congress.

Who will Missouri’s Democratic delegates vote for?

Missouri’s delegates to the Democratic National Convention can technically vote for whoever they want to be the presidential nominee — even if they were originally “pledged” to support Joe Biden.

Technically, that’s always been the case: Many delegates are selected specifically because of their promise to back the winner of their state’s primary vote, but there’s no mechanism forcing them to uphold that promise at the convention.

The Associated Press sums it up like this : “DNC rules do technically leave room for ‘good conscience’ to drive delegate decisions, yet they rarely abandon their pledged candidate.” But when their pledged candidate exits the race, the path forward depends on their own political leanings and discussions with other party members.

Only three delegates were elected for this year’s convention “uncommitted” to supporting any particular candidate: Eram Mahmud, state Rep. Raychel Proudie and Michael Berg. The other 67 delegates and four alternates were “pledged” to Biden — until now.

Do you have more questions about Missouri’s delegates and their impact in the 2024 election? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com .