Trump shooting: What happens if a US Presidential candidate dies before elections?

On Saturday evening, former President Donald Trump was hurried off stage during a campaign rally after apparent gunshots were heard, and he seemed to be injured.

Although the Trump campaign assured that the former President is "fine," the incident caused a significant stir in the political arena of the United States.

Further, in the latest development, the suspect who was gunned down by security forces at former President Donald Trump's Pennsylvania rally shooting has been identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said in an official statement.


Also Read: Trump's Raised Fist: What the gesture means which is widely used by fascists, socialists, and communists

Is this the first time a Presidential candidate has been attacked?
Historically, campaign violence isn't new.

In 1912, Teddy Roosevelt was shot during a speech but survived. In 1968, Robert F. Kennedy was fatally shot during his presidential campaign.

Modern presidents, including Trump, have faced assassination attempts. In 2017, the Secret Service foiled an ISIL plot against Trump at the ASEAN Summits.

Also Read: List of assassination attempts on US presidents and former presidents

What happens if a Presidential candidate is killed before an election?
According to the Brookings Institution, the process that would be followed if a presidential candidate dies or is incapacitated before taking office depends on the timing of the candidate's death or incapacitation. It involves different steps for pre- and post-election scenarios.

If a candidate dies or is incapacitated before the general election, the political party will select a replacement. This typically involves the party's national committee members, who would convene to choose a new nominee. Each party has its own rules and methods for this selection process.

If the candidate dies or is incapacitated after the election but before the Electoral College votes, the electors may have the discretion to vote for a replacement chosen by their party. If a president-elect dies or is incapacitated after the Electoral College vote but before inauguration, the vice president-elect would become president.