When will Biden officially become the Democratic nominee for president?

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is the presumptive Democratic nominee for the 2024 election, despite some unlikely thoughts about replacing him after last week's poor debate performance. 

But he will not officially become the nominee until the Democratic party has its national convention in Chicago. 

When is the Democratic National Convention?

The national convention for the Democrats is scheduled to begin on Aug. 19 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. It will run for three days, ending on Aug. 22. 

It is the first presidential convention since the coronavirus pandemic-affected Milwaukee event in 2020, which was partially virtual to adhere to social distancing measures at the start of the virus' spread through the U.S. 

Can Biden be replaced as the Democratic nominee?

The June debate between Biden and former President Donald Trump did not go well for the current president. Debate-watchers, Democratic allies and even Biden himself admitted his performance was off. And that poor showing inspired some thinking among pundits and voters about a scenario where Biden was replaced on the ticket for November. 

But as much buzz as the idea got in the days after the debate, it's extremely unlikely. Although Biden hasn't officially been declared the nominee because the convention hasn't happened yet, he has gained enough delegates in primary races to secure the position. The only scenario where he would be replaced is one where Biden himself decides to suspend his campaign. 

Biden has tried to downplay any talk of him stepping down, saying the day after the debate that he was in the race to win.

And even if he was considering leaving the race, a decision like that would be unprecedented in American politics, and would likely lead to a bitter fight for the nomination among rising stars in the Democratic party. That kind of division would be a major problem for Democrats, already facing a Republican party united around Trump.

When is the Republican National Convention?

Speaking of Trump, he is set to be declared the GOP nominee at the Republican National Convention. That convention is being held a month before the Democratic one, from July 15 - 18 at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

Like the Democratic convention in 2020, the last Republican National Convention in a presidential year was held largely virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Who will Trump pick as his running mate?

Trump's choice would likely become the immediate front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination four years from now if Trump were to win a second term, the constitutional limit. But that No. 2 will be under immense pressure from Trump and his allies to show loyalty at all times.

Trump has said his top consideration for a vice president is whether someone is qualified to take over as commander in chief.

But other factors at play: Who can raise money? Who performs well on television? Who will be most effective on the debate stage against Vice President Kamala Harris? Who risks overshadowing Trump, as a lame-duck if he is elected in November, with talk soon of 2028?