The race was upended in June 1968 when Kennedy was assassinated. McCarthy won a plurality of both the popular vote and the delegate count in the Democratic primaries, but the rules at the time did not bind delegates to their primary results. After Kennedy's assassination, his delegates became uncommitted, with most ultimately backing Vice President Hubert Humphrey, who had not actively campaigned in the primaries. He had entered the primaries in April 1968 and was the preferred candidate of President Lyndon B. Johnson. This gave Humphrey the majority needed to secure the Democratic nomination at the 1968 Democratic National Convention.
the race was upended in june 1968 when kennedy was assassinated mccarthy won a plurality of both the popular vote and the delegate count in the democratic primaries but the rules at the time did not bind delegates to their primary results after kennedy's assassination his delegates became uncommitted with most ultimately backing vice president hubert humphrey who had not actively campaigned in the primaries he had entered the primaries in april 1968 and was the preferred candidate of president lyndon b johnson this gave humphrey the majority needed to secure the democratic nomination at the 1968 democratic national convention