As the pressure mounts on President Joe Biden to step aside as the Democratic nominee, several prominent Democratic lawmakers and strategists are engaging in discussions and publicly supporting the idea of an open nominating process at the Democratic National Convention. The debate comes in light of recent calls from lawmakers urging Biden to withdraw his candidacy.

The second Democratic senator to call on Biden to step aside, Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), expressed his support for an open nominating process on Thursday. Tester, who is up for reelection in the Senate and facing a tough race in a red state, stated that he would prefer to see an open nominating process at the convention next month. Notably, he did not endorse Vice President Kamala Harris at this time, according to his office.

This call for an open nominating process reflects the divergent perspectives within the Democratic Party regarding a potential replacement for Biden. During a recent meeting with fellow California Democrats, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) reportedly endorsed the idea of an open process to select the party's next nominee in the event Biden withdraws.

Democratic strategist Jon Reinish emphasized the importance of listening to lawmakers like Tester, who are running competitive races, stating, "The party is always served very well when they listen to someone like Sen. Tester, who is a thoughtful, fair, smart, strong person." Reinish added that considering input from individuals whose jobs are at stake carries more weight than those in secure positions.

Despite growing criticism from lawmakers and DNC delegates, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) remains committed to proceeding with its virtual roll call in August. However, discussions have taken place among members of the convention rules committee regarding the possibility of an open convention if Biden were to drop out of the race. Such a scenario would require the committee to decide on the feasibility of a virtual roll call.

While the current convention process typically confirms the candidate with the most primary delegates, an open convention was once the norm. Before the implementation of the primary process, delegates would enter the convention uncertain of the ultimate nominee. The last open convention held by the Democratic Party occurred in 1968 amid disputes over the Vietnam War.

If Biden were to withdraw, he would relinquish the delegates won during the primaries, allowing them to support alternative candidates. The nomination requires 1,976 delegate votes, and Biden has already amassed nearly 4,000. In the absence of a predetermined nominee, a delegate voting process outlined in Democratic Party rules would commence, potentially leading to an accelerated presidential primary to win over the approximately 4,700 convention delegates.

The convention itself would feature supporting speeches for each candidate lasting 20 minutes, followed by a roll call vote conducted by states in alphabetical order. Historian Casey Burgat explains that the concept of "smoke-filled backrooms" arises from past conventions where negotiations and horse trading decided the nominee's fate.

While President Biden and his campaign remain firm in their determination to proceed, speculation arises regarding potential contingency plans being made by Vice President Harris's team. Burgat suggests that behind-the-scenes discussions may be underway, assessing state delegations' willingness to support Harris if the need arises.

Opinions vary on whether an open convention would be beneficial or further divide the party. Those in favor argue for a healthy competition that fosters inclusive participation and energizes the party base. However, concerns are expressed about the potential chaos and image of internal strife that could result from an open convention.

For now, the calls for Biden to step aside continue to gain momentum, intensifying the discussions surrounding the possibility of an open nominating process at the Democratic National Convention. The outcome of these deliberations will shape the future path of the Democratic Party in the coming weeks and months.