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If a Presidential Candidate died from Covid-19?

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Kyle Phoenix

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If either Trump or Biden (or even both) died from Coronavirus before the election in November, how would Democrats and Republicans decide who takes their place?

To be clear- this is not an outcome I wish for as it would be bad for democracy if the candidate who got nominated through the primary process didn't make it to the general election. But the U.S. hasn't only had an election during a pandemic once before in 1918 and both candidates are over 70 years of age (Biden is 77 and Trump is 73), so it's a possibility given they have a higher risk than younger candidates.
 
Pence would replace Trump. Who would replace Biden isn't certain.
 
Vice presidential candidates. That's what they're for.
 
To actually answer the question, the officers of the national RNC or DNC would pick the replacement. That's how it legally works. This does happen for local and state partisan officers - with the replacement then selected by the local or state party officials.

The exception is if the deadline to get on the ballot has already passed or election already begun (depending on the state's law). If too late to get on the ballot, that party would have NO candidate and the other side would be unopposed. If the election is already underway, the dead person stays on the ballot. Although very rare, dead people have won elections. Then the process is the same as if that person died while in office.

If Trump or Biden dies before those deadlines, the RNC or DNC could pick anyone who is qualified - basically any American at least age 35 unless prohibited. For example, having served 2 terms Barack Obama could not be selected as he is disqualified. Nor could George Bush.

If Trump or Biden died during the election period, they would remain on the ballot. If the dead one won, the VP probably would become president, though if it was Trump the Democrats would probably take it to the Supreme Court that the House picks the replacement because the VP isn't actually on the ballot and never took office. An argument could be made for both sides as that has never happened.

That's how it all works.
 
Last edited:
Kyle Phoenix said:
If either Trump or Biden (or even both) died from Coronavirus before the election in November, how would Democrats and Republicans decide who takes their place?

To be clear- this is not an outcome I wish for as it would be bad for democracy if the candidate who got nominated through the primary process didn't make it to the general election. But the U.S. hasn't only had an election during a pandemic once before in 1918 and both candidates are over 70 years of age (Biden is 77 and Trump is 73), so it's a possibility given they have a higher risk than younger candidates.
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We would cast off democracy as a whole and appoint Hillary, the rightful heiress to the presidential throne, to the position. She would hold the seat until an appointee from a more appropriate demographic could be chosen. It's important in a democracy that your leaders are representative of the nation and, therefore, we need a president of ambiguous gender identity, mixed race and not so self serving as to understand that (s)he is in the position only as a figurehead and will faithfully execute the policy dictated by the global community.
 
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