In a dramatic political move, President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race on Sunday, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor.
President Biden’s Withdrawal and Endorsement of VP Kamala Harris
The decision marks a significant shift in the Democratic Party’s strategy as it gears up for the upcoming election.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President,” Biden said in a statement. “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, who has faced growing concerns about his age and health, particularly following a lacklustre performance in a recent debate against former President Donald Trump, emphasised that his decision was made in the best interest of the nation.
In his statement, Biden called naming Harris as his running mate in 2020 “the best decision” he has made.
“Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Biden’s withdrawal comes just over three weeks after his first presidential debate against Trump, which was widely criticised.
The debate performance intensified calls from elected officials, donors, and commentators for Biden, 81, to step aside.
Biden assured that he will serve out the remainder of his term and plans to address the nation later this week to elaborate on his decision.
Harris, positioned to assume Biden’s place on the ticket, will now take control of most of his campaign resources and infrastructure.
In his statement, Biden highlighted his administration’s achievements over the past three and a half years. “Together, we overcame a once-in-a-century pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. We’ve protected and preserved our Democracy. And we’ve revitalized and strengthened our alliances around the world.” Biden also thanked Harris for being “an extraordinary partner in all this work.”
Since Biden withdrew before the Democratic delegates were set to cast their votes in a virtual roll call, delegates are now free to cast their votes for other candidates at the Democratic National Convention.
Biden’s decision to step down paves the way for Harris to potentially face Trump in the election, with under four months until Election Day.
In a joint statement, former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton expressed their “honoured” endorsement of Harris and pledged their support. “We’ve lived through many ups and downs, but nothing has made us more worried for our country than the threat posed by a second Trump term,” they wrote. “Now is the time to support Kamala Harris and fight with everything we’ve got to elect her. America’s future depends on it.”
Trump criticised Biden’s decision without mentioning Harris. “Crooked Joe Biden was not fit to run for President, and is certainly not fit to serve – And never was!” Trump said in a statement on Truth Social.
Trump’s campaign managers, Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita, also attacked Harris, previewing their strategy for the general election. “Kamala Harris is just as much of joke as Biden is,” they stated. “Harris will be even WORSE for the people of our Nation than Joe Biden.”
If nominated, Harris would face intense scrutiny as the Democrats weigh their next steps. Harris, who made history as the first woman and person of colour to serve as vice president, would now aim to become the first woman and woman of colour to be president.
Her candidacy would mark a significant milestone in American politics, reflecting her rise from local prosecutor to vice president in just two decades.
Kamala Harris’s Political Career
Harris, born in Oakland, California, to Shyamala Gopalan, a biologist and cancer researcher, and Donald Harris, an economist, has a storied career in public service.
She began her career in the Alameda and San Francisco district attorney’s offices before being elected as San Francisco’s district attorney in 2003.
Harris was later elected attorney general of California in 2010 and the U.S. Senate in 2016. In 2020, Biden selected her as his running mate.
In the vice president’s office, Harris has focused on voting rights and addressing the root causes of migration from Central America, tackling some of the most challenging policy issues.
As vice president, she has emerged as a vocal advocate for abortion rights and a critic of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, making her a significant figure in the current political landscape.
Biden’s decision ends a period of uncertainty and tension among top Democrats over his viability as a candidate.
Several Democratic lawmakers and donors had publicly urged Biden to step down following his debate performance.
Despite initial resistance, Biden ultimately decided to pass the mantle to Harris, marking the end of a long and storied political career.
Biden’s exit concludes a half-century in public service, beginning with his election to the U.S. Senate in 1972.
Known for his work on the Senate Judiciary Committee and his advocacy on issues like foreign policy and criminal justice, Biden has left a lasting legacy.
His decision to step aside now sets the stage for a historic and closely watched election in 2024.
Images from Getty Images and X
