Dean Phillips gains his first delegates. Here’s why they’ll likely vote for Biden at the convention

Former presidential candidate Dean Phillips will receive at least three of Ohio’s delegates to the Democratic National Convention even though he has dropped out of the race and endorsed President Joe Biden. But they’re likely to be Phillips delegates in name only.

The president locked up the Democratic nomination on March 12 and so far has won 99% of convention delegates, a sign that even some of the more organized efforts to oppose him haven’t gained traction with the party’s voters. Party rules also make it nearly impossible at this point in the presidential primary process for any candidate other than Biden to even be eligible to receive votes for the nomination at its summer convention.

In several states, activists have been encouraging voters to fill out their ballots for the option of “uncommitted” to protest Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war, earning the option 27 delegates. Such an effort is underway on Tuesday in Pennsylvania as it holds its presidential primary.

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The minimum goal for Democrats competing for delegates is to win 15% of the statewide vote or 15% of the vote in an individual congressional district. In the March 19 Ohio primary, “uncommitted” wasn’t a ballot option, leaving Democrats wishing to express opposition to Biden with only one other choice: Phillips.

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In this image taken from Uber dashcam video released by the Clark County, Ohio, Sheriff's Office, William Brock, right, holds a weapon to Uber driver Loletha Hall outside his home in South Charleston, Ohio, on March 25, 2024. Brock, 81, who authorities say fatally shot Hall who he thought was trying to rob him after scam phone calls deceived them both, was indicted on a murder charge, Monday, April 15, 2024, by a Clark County grand jury. Hall had no knowledge of the calls made to Brock, authorities said. (Clark County Sheriff's Office via AP)

What we know about the shooting of an Uber driver in Ohio and the scam surrounding it

In this image taken from Uber dashcam video released by the Clark County, Ohio, Sheriff's Office, William Brock, right, holds a weapon to Uber driver Loletha Hall outside his home in South Charleston, Ohio, on March 25, 2024. Brock, 81, who authorities say fatally shot Hall who he thought was trying to rob him after scam phone calls deceived them both, was indicted on a murder charge, Monday, April 15, 2024, by a Clark County grand jury. Hall had no knowledge of the calls made to Brock, authorities said. (Clark County Sheriff's Office via AP)

Uber is helping investigators look into account that sent driver to Ohio home where she was killed

In this image taken from Uber dashcam video released by the Clark County, Ohio, Sheriff's Office, William Brock, right, holds a weapon to Uber driver Loletha Hall outside his home in South Charleston, Ohio, on March 25, 2024. Brock, 81, who authorities say fatally shot Hall who he thought was trying to rob him after scam phone calls deceived them both, was indicted on a murder charge, Monday, April 15, 2024, by a Clark County grand jury. Hall had no knowledge of the calls made to Brock, authorities said. (Clark County Sheriff's Office via AP)

Ohio man fatally shot Uber driver after scam phone calls targeted both of them, authorities say

It has taken more than a month to determine the delegate count in Ohio because the state doesn’t release presidential primary results by congressional districts, requiring news outlets such as The Associated Press and the parties to do it themselves. On election night, Phillips came close to the threshold in four congressional districts, per an AP count, but it remained unclear if he would receive any delegates in the end.