Former presidential candidate Dean Phillips, despite withdrawing from the race and endorsing President Joe Biden, will receive at least three delegates from Ohio to the Democratic National Convention. However, these delegates will likely support Biden rather than Phillips. The Democratic nomination has been secured by President Biden, who has garnered over 99% of convention delegates, indicating a lack of traction for opposing campaigns. State party rules render it highly unlikely for any candidate besides Biden to qualify for the convention nomination at this stage. Activists have been encouraging the selection of ‘uncommitted’ on ballots as a form of protest against Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict, resulting in 27 delegates for that option. However, in Ohio, ‘uncommitted’ was not an option, leaving voters opposed to Biden with only Phillips as an alternative. After a lengthy process, it has been determined that Phillips has met the 15% threshold for delegates in three congressional districts: the 2nd, 6th, and 14th. A potential fourth delegate in the 12th district is yet to be confirmed due to narrow margins. The Ohio Democratic Party has stated that although delegates will be designated as Phillips delegates, they will support Biden. Notably, DNC rules mandate 300 delegates’ support for a candidate’s nomination, a threshold met solely by Biden. Thus, delegates have limited options beyond Biden or abstaining in a symbolic gesture.
