COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The Democratic National Convention (DNC) is four weeks from Monday and there are more questions going into it with President Joe Biden's decision to drop out of the race.
"I love Joe Biden, I was saddened that he dropped out, but again, he is so empathetic and so cares about the country as a whole that he did it for the party and for the country, and how many people are that selfless to do that," said Sen. Bill DeMora (D-Columbus).
Monday night, the Ohio delegation held a virtual meeting, with members pledging all votes to Harris, DeMora said.
DeMora is not a delegate for the DNC but he is the coordinator for Ohio's delegation, meaning he will be in Chicago for the convention.
"Theoretically, when Joe Biden dropped out, every delegate became a free agent," DeMora said. "Theoretically, they can vote who they want to vote for. Now you’ve seen all our members of Congress, Sen. Brown, and all five members of Congress have come out endorsing the vice president. I think you’ve had some local public officials do the same. I am going to wait until we talk as a delegation to determine what's going to happen."
Shannon Hardin, Columbus City Council President, will also be at the DNC.
"What I know for sure is that the Democratic party will come together and be unified," Hardin said.
The nomination will not be official until the DNC. Biden and other high-profile Democrats have endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. So has Hardin.
"I am all in for Kamala Harris," he said. "I actually endorsed her four years ago and so I'm just doing so again because I think she certainly is the most qualified person. She has stood side by side with President Joe Biden while we faced some of the largest issues in our country."
The Ohio delegation has a previously scheduled meeting set for next week
