Colorado Democratic party leaders outline plan to name new presidential nominee

DENVER (KDVR) — The Colorado Democratic Party Chairperson Shad Murib says a new presidential nominee will be chosen by elected delegates either through an early roll call ahead of the convention or at the convention in Chicago that starts in less than a month.

Right now, Vice President Kamala Harris is the only person to declare her candidacy, but that could change.

Murib says any candidate will need 300 delegate signatures to be placed into nomination and be considered.

“We fully expect that Kamala Harris will receive the signatures she needs to be placed into nomination, especially given the support that she has from President Biden. If other candidates choose to enter then they will be accepted onto the ballot if they are able to achieve those signatures and then we begin the contest from there,” Murib said.

Harris has overwhelming support from Colorado delegates, according to Murib. But if other candidates get the required signatures and get placed into nomination, that would stir things up at the convention.

“We’ll go through rounds of voting. The pledged delegates who are elected are able to vote on the first ballot and then it opens up to other delegates like myself who are automatic delegates,” Murib said.

But if democrats unite behind Harris soon, delegates could solidify their decision in an early virtual roll call vote before the convention.

“We’ve elected delegates across this country to convene in Chicago to represent their states based on the outcome of their primary and we expect that that will continue, whether it’s an early roll call vote or a vote happening in Chicago, and everybody is going to take President Biden’s guidance and support for Kamala Harris very seriously in that decision,” Murib said.

“This is democracy. Sometimes it gets messy, but I’ve never been more optimistic,” he said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.