My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term. My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best… pic.twitter.com/x8DnvuImJV
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024
President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race on Sunday, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him as the Democratic Party’s nominee. The decision has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, leaving the Democratic Party in an unprecedented situation just months before the November 5 election. In a social media post, Biden stated, “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President.
On behalf of the American people, I thank Joe Biden for his extraordinary leadership as President of the United States and for his decades of service to our country.
I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 21, 2024
And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”
Biden’s exit comes amidst an already turbulent presidential race, which has seen a felony conviction and an assassination attempt.
As Vice President, I see @JoeBiden when the cameras are on and when the cameras are off—in the Oval Office, in the Situation Room, and on the campaign trail.
Joe Biden is a leader who fights for the American people. pic.twitter.com/w2OIN6oGpU
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 20, 2024
The Democratic Party now faces the challenge of uniting behind a new candidate to face former President Donald Trump in the general election. Harris, who received swift endorsements from top Democrats, including lawmakers, governors, and key interest groups, faces her own set of challenges.
Her approval ratings have declined since 2021, and her 2020 presidential campaign struggled before voting began.
Another key shift: all year, Biden’s least implausible path to 270 ran through the Rust Belt trio rather than the Sun Belt trio. FWIW, I suspect Harris’s path is more evenly distributed across the “core six” owing to more upside than Biden among young/nonwhite voters.
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) July 22, 2024
Biden withdraws, Harris endorsed
The Republican Party is expected to challenge the legality of Harris assuming control of Biden’s campaign funds, potentially leading to legal battles with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and the courts.
GOP lawyers argue that both Biden and Harris would need to be officially nominated at the Democratic Party’s convention for such a transfer to be lawful. With the Democratic National Convention just weeks away, multiple state delegations have pledged to back Harris unanimously, giving her a head start towards securing the nomination. However, some lawmakers advocate for a more open process to allow other potential candidates to compete.
Biden’s announcement surprised many of his aides and advisers, with some having gone on record Sunday morning declaring his intent to stay in the race. The President informed Harris, his chief of staff Jeff Zients, and campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon of his decision Sunday afternoon, with his senior White House staff being notified shortly before his public statement. The Democrats’ process for choosing their nominee will be hurried and filled with uncertainty, as party leaders face the significant challenge of uniting behind a new candidate to face Trump in November.
The developments add a layer of unpredictability to an already tumultuous election cycle, and all eyes are now on the Democratic Party as it navigates this critical juncture.
