Do Florida Democratic delegates have to vote for Biden now that he dropped out? Your questions answered

With weeks before the Democratic National Convention that would have formally nominated President Joe Biden to be the party's candidate for president of the United States in an election less than four months away, Biden ended his reelection campaign and dropped out of the race .

Persistent questions about his age and poor performance in his first debate against GOP candidate and former president Donald Trump led to pressure from his own party to step down. Biden has since endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic presidential nominee.

So what happens with the Florida delegates who were already pledged to him?

Florida Democratic Chair Nikki Fried announced Monday that within 24 hours of Biden's announcement, 236 of Florida's 254-member delegation had signed a letter endorsing Harris .   

"Vice President Harris keeps Florida in play," said Fried in a Zoom meeting with reporters. "We are running a former prosecutor against a convicted felon. No one is better prepared than Vice President Harris to prosecute the case against Donald Trump."

Was President Joe Biden the official 2024 Democratic candidate for president?

Not yet. Biden was the presumptive candidate, having won enough delegates in the presidential primaries to qualify.

Before dropping out, Biden received 3,896 pledged delegates nationwide ahead of the convention, where he would have officially become the party's presidential nominee. The Democratic National Convention is scheduled for August 19-22, 2024 in Chicago.

How many Democratic delegates does Florida have?

Florida has a total of 254 delegates and 19 alternates for the 2024 Democratic National Convention:

• 146 District-Level Delegates

• 30 Automatic Delegates 

• 29 PLEO(Party Leader and Elected Officials) Delegates

• 49 At-Large Delegates 

• 19 At-Large Alternates

Don't Florida delegates have to vote for Biden?

Not once he dropped out. Florida delegates who were previously bound to vote for Biden at the convention were unbound, meaning they are allowed to vote for a candidate of their choosing, according to Ballotpedia .

Florida Statute §103.101 says that "Any party rule directing the vote of delegates at a national nominating convention shall reasonably reflect the results of the presidential preference primary, if one is held."

The Florida Democrats did not hold a primary for this election as President Joe Biden was the  only candidate nominated .

But ultimately it comes down to the Democratic National Convention's "Good Conscience" clause. Rule 13(J) of the DNC Delegate Selection Rules  allows for delegates to not vote for a candidate that won the primaries in their state. Here's how it reads:

"Delegates elected to the national convention pledged to a presidential candidate shall in all good conscience reflect the sentiments of those who elected them."

Originally adopted in the 1980s, the "good conscience" clause was added so delegates at the DNC can vote for anyone they choose if they, in all good conscience, represent their beliefs even if the person didn't win the primary in their state.

Will Biden be on the Florida ballot?

In Florida, the parties submit the names of the candidates who will represent them after their conventions, according to the state elections website . The ballot will reflect whoever is selected by the delegates at the convention.

What happens at an open convention?

An open convention happens when there isn't a pre-determined nominee and the selection happens at the convention, with delegates free to vote for whichever candidate they want, similar to the more raucous method used before primaries.

At the convention, rather than casting votes for the candidate the states have already agreed upon in a more-or-less ceremonial manner, delegates at the DNC will be casting votes for the candidates they want and may go to several rounds of voting to pick a winner if no immediate winner presents itself. So far, Harris seems to gathering support quickly.

The Democratic party hasn't had an open convention since 1968 during disputes over the Vietnam War.

Will there be legal challenges?

Unclear, but national Democratic elections-law attorney Marc Elias on Sunday basically said: Don't count on it.

"The Democratic nominee for president will be on all 50 state ballots," he wrote on X. "There is no basis for any legal challenge. Period."

Who are the Florida delegates for the 2024 Democratic National Convention?

These are the delegates selected by voters in the Congressional districts on April 20, 2024.

CD 1

• Dianne Krumel, Escambia

• Jewel Cannada-Wynn, Escambia

• Zackary "Zack" Elliott, Escambia

• Jeffrey "Jeff" Nall, Santa Rosa

CD 2

• Savannah Atkins, Leon

• Judy Mount, Jackson

• David "Dave" Jacobsen, Leon

• John Hedrick, Leon

• Elijah Hooks, Washington

CD 3

• Casey Willits, Alachua

• Sergia Quintana, Alachua

• Deborah Savage, Alachua

• Patricia "Pat" Eberhardt, Marion

• Dari Smith, Alachua

CD 4

• Preston Drummer, Duval

• Daniel Henry, Duval

• Axel Soto Diaz, Nassau

• Hazel Gillis, Duval

• Millicent "Millie" Leeds, Duval

CD 5

• Marion "Robin" Dion, St. Johns

• Carol "Michelle" Jennings, St. Johns

• Kelly McBride, Duval

• John "Geoff" Gundlach, St. Johns

• Steven Smith, St. Johns

CD 6

• Danny Fuqua, Volusia

• Nicholaas "Nick" Sakhnovsky, Volusia

• Leslie "Les" Thackston, Volusia

• Gail Danhoff, Flager

• Jewel Dickson, Volusia

CD 7

• Benjamin "Ben" Friedman, Seminole

• Phillip "Phil" Giorno, Volusia

• Jennifer Adams, Seminole

• Arylnne "Moira" Dictor, Seminole

• Marian Williams, Seminole

CD 8

• Kenton "Kent" Hills, Brevard

• Jerard "Kelley" Kelley, Brevard

• Daniel McDow, Brevard

• Michelle Green, Brevard

• Catherine "Cathy" Riley, Brevard

CD 9

• Matthew Inman, Orange

• Nicholas Maldonado, Orange

• Susanne Pena, Orange

• Maria Revelles, Osceola

• Aniuska Vilchez Santiago, Orange

CD 10

• Samuel Chambers, Orange

• James "Jim" Langford, Orange

• John "Johnnie" Walker, Orange

• Kathryn "Kathy" Copeland, Orange

• Hedder Pierre-Joseph, Orange

• Laurel Richmond, Orange

CD 11

• Dylan Hellebrand, Orange

• Ashok "Ash" Marwah, Sumter

• Reginald "Reggie" McGill, Orange

• Amy Blackmon, Orange

• Meisheng "Echo" King, Orange

CD 12

• Joseph Adams, Sr., Citrus

• Brian Stewart, Hernando

• Marilyn Holleran, Pasco

• Kimberly "Kim" Walker, Pasco

CD 13

• Nathan Bruemmer, Pinellas

• Donald "Don" Grimme Jr., Pinellas

• Judithanne McLauchlan, Pinellas

• Karen Mullins, Pinellas

• Patricia Smith, Pinellas

CD 14

• Edmond "Ed" Lally, Pinellas

• Michael "Mike" Suarez, Hillsborough

• Michael Womack, Hillsborough

• Arthenia Joyner, Hillsborough

• Susan McGrath, Pinellas

• Lydia Husdson, Hillsborough

CD 15

• Yvonne Lumpkin, Hillsborough

• Patricia "Patte" Alonzo, Hillsborough

• Mohammad Khatib, Pasco

• Samer Salhab, Hillsborough

• Adraine "Vanessa" Lester, Hillsborough

CD 16

• Glenn Pearson, Manatee

• Christopher "Chris" Wetherington, Manatee

• Lisa Carpus, Hillsborough

• Kathleen Dermody, Manatee

• Patricia Devilliers, Manatee

CD 17

• Peter Imhoff, Sarasota

• Louis "Lou" Grossman, Sarasota

• Marvin Covey, Charlotte

• Mary Clupper, Sarasota

• Barbara Katz, Sarasota

CD 18

• Perry Brokaw, Polk

• William "Woody" Wilbanks Jr, Polk

• Tammy James, Polk

• Davette Thompson, Highlands

• Linda Tripp, Glades

CD 19

• Robert "Bob" Geltner, Lee

• Marco Perez, Lee

• Julius Simmons, Lee

• Debra "Debbie" Jordan, Lee

• Jane Schlechtweg, Collier

CD 20

• Richard "Rick" Hoye, Broward

• Percy Lee Johnson, Broward

• Michael Rajner, Broward

• Montjoy Cornish Brown, Broward

• Christine Jones, Broward

• Sophia Nelson, Palm Beach

CD 21

• Bruce Benson, St. Lucie

• Ellis Bromberg, St. Lucie

• Felicia Bruce, St. Lucie

• Lori Fritsch, Martin

• Jane McLaughlin, St. Lucie

CD 22

• Imran Siddiqui, Palm Beach

• Mark Siegel, Palm Beach

• Rolando Barrero, Palm Beach

• Shirley Herman, Palm Beach

• Joan Katz, Palm Beach

• Janet Waksman, Palm Beach

CD 23

• Alfredo Olvera, Broward

• Chase Cooper, Broward

• Nathan Lax, Palm Beach

• Nancy Bowen, Broward

• Laura Plotnick, Broward

• Melissa Shiff, Broward

CD 24

• William Aristide, Miami-Dade

• Joseph "Joe" Geller, Miami-Dade

• Bernard Jennings, Miami-Dade

• Linda Joseph, Miami-Dade

• Elizabeth Judd, Miami-Dade

• Edith Owens, Miami-Dade

CD 25

• Charles Horowitz, Broward

• Daniel Mulieri, Broward

• Ronald Surin, Broward

• Barbara Sharief, Broward

• Ryann Greenberg, Broward

• Linda Thigpen, Broward

CD 26

• Adam Molny, Collier

• Terence "Terry" Murphy, Miami-Dade

• Victor Vazquez, Miami-Dade

• Jacqueline "Jackie" Gil-Abarzua, Miami-Dade

• Macarena "Maca" Iglesias, Miami-Dade

CD 27

• Juan Cuba, Miami-Dade

• Raul Martinez Jr., Miami-Dade

• Maria "Cecillia" Tavera, Miami-Dade

• Maria "Mllie" Herrera, Miami-Dade

• Jacqueline "Jackie" Kellogg, Miami-Dade

CD 28

• Manuel "Manny" Fernandez, Miami-Dade

• Manuel "Manny" Gutierrez, Miami-Dade

• Marcos Reyes, Miami-Dade

• Holly Hummell-Gorman, Monroe

• Angela Weathers, Miami-Dade

Party Leader and Elected Official Delegates (PLEO)

• Committeeman Junaid Akther

• Chair Nikki Barnes

• Sen. Lori Berman

• Rep. Lavon Bracy-Davis

• Chair Pamela Castellana

• Rep. Kevin Chambliss

• Rep. Lindsay Cross

• Committeewoman Kyandra Darling

• Sen. Tracie Davis

• Rep. Dan Daley

• Mayor Alix Desulme

• Leader Fentrice Driskell

• Mayor Javier Fernandez

• Committeeman Tom Garner

• Rep. Dianne Hart

• Rep. Christine Hunschofsky

• Labor Leader Fedrick Ingram

• School Board Member Jennifer Jenkins

• Councilman Rahman Johnson

• Rep. Johanna Lopez

• Amb. Robert Mandell

• Property Appraiser Amy Mercado

• Councilman John McGovern

• Sen. Rosalind Osgood

• Councilman Jimmy Peluso

• Mayor Emir Penserga

• Caucus President Luis Salazar

• Councilman Joshua Simmons

• Rep. Marie Woodson

At-Large Delegates

• Maribel Balbin

• Mitchell Berger

• Marc Burton

• Pat Byrd

• Melissa Ceriale

• Edward Chambers

• Morgan Cintron

• Janet Cruz

• Ramon Day

• Jerry Demings

• Val Demings

• Christina Diamond

• Lourdes Ferrer Diaz

• Jennifer Webb Laura Domingues

• Sean Domnick

• Samuel Dorr

• Al Dotson

• Joe Falk

• Anne Gannon

• Eunice Garbutt

• Lucy Garner

• Stephen Gaskill

• Felice Gorordo

• Karen Green

• Margaret Gupta

• Shashi Gupta

• Fran Haasch

• Tricia Hallison-Mischler

• Alex Heckler

• Rand Hoch

• Ricardo "Ricky" Junquera

• Marsha Laufer

• Sebastian Martinez

• Derrick McRae

• Claudia Mendoza

• Allison Morano

• James Morton

• Elio Muller

• Roxey Nelson

• Daryl Parks

• Danielle Prendergast

• Rep. Michele Rayner

• Dariel Cruz Rodriguez

• David Singer

• Andrew Spar

• Crystal Wagar

• Andrew Warren

• Ken Williams

Alternate Delegates

• Cindy Banyai

• Gavin Brown

• Christopher Cano

• Sara Chubb

• Todd Delmay

• Ben Diamond

• Crystal Etienne

• Saima Farooqui

• Christina Forrest

• Adriana Gonzalez

• Octavio Hernandez

• Kim Holdridge

• Marie Flore Lindor Latortue

• Rick Minor

• Jonathan Moses

• Robert Palacios

• Sheldon Plotnick

• Issac Vazquez

• Bongsoon Zubay

Automatic Members

• DNC Member Nadia Ahmad

• DNC Member Grace Carrington

• Chair Nikki Fried

• DNC Member Audrey Gibson

• DNC Member Karla Hernández-Mats

• DNC Member Samantha Hope Herring

• DNC Member Carol Pensky

• DNC Member Terrie Rizzo

• DNC Member Vivian Rodriguez

• Congresswoman Kathy Castor

• Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

• Congresswoman Lois Frankel

• Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz

• Congresswoman Frederica Wilson

• DNC Member Alan Clendenin

• DNC Member Samuel Green

• DNC Member Casmore Shaw

• DNC Member Shevrin Jones

• DNC Member Chris Korge

• DNC Member Sean Shaw

• DNC Member Steve Simeonidis

• DNC Member Lonnie Stephenson

• DNC Member Daniel Henry

• DNC Member Samuel Vilchez-Santiago

• Congressman Maxwell Frost

• Congressman Jared Moskowitz

• Congressman Darren Soto

• Party Leader Joe Andrew

• Party Leader Richard Gephardt

• Party Leader George Mitchell

James Call, Tallahassee Democrat and Joyce Orlando, USA TODAY NETWORK contributed to this article.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Biden drops out: Do Florida delegates still have to vote for him?