Question What happens to a U.S. presidential candidate if he/she dies after their respective political party grants them the nomination, and before they are elected? Are there bylaws set up by each individual party that provide procedures for this? Also, is there a historical precedent in U.S. history where this may have happened in the past?
Answer No presidential candidate of a major party has ever died or withdrawn before a presidential election and no President-elect has ever died or withdrawn after winning the general election, but before taking office.
However, one vice-presidential candidate died after he was nominated, but before the general election, and another dropped off his party's ticket.
The procedures for finding replacements for candidate vacancies are guided by federal and state laws and party regulations. They are not exactly a patchwork, but they have evolved in response to practical problems that have arisen during the presidential elections, and in response to the growth of political parties as integral players in the election process.
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