Biden Drops Out of Presidential Race and Endorses Harris for Nominee
President Joe Biden announced Sunday he is dropping out of the 2024 race and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s new nominee, following mounting calls from Democrats to end his reelection bid. Biden stated he will finish his term and will address the nation later this week.
A Possible Historic Nominee: Harris expressed her gratitude for Biden’s endorsement and vowed to “earn and win” the nomination. Should Harris secure the nomination, she could become the first Black woman and first Asian American to lead the ticket of a major political party. Several prominent Democrats, including Bill and Hillary Clinton and leading progressives, have announced their support for Harris while praising Biden’s leadership.
What Happens Next: Despite Biden’s endorsement, it remains uncertain whether Harris will become the nominee or what process the party will use to select an alternative. Delegates will choose a new candidate either during a virtual roll call, tentatively planned for early August, or at the convention in Chicago beginning August 19.
Trump Reacts: In a phone call with CNN after Biden’s announcement, Trump described Biden as “the worst president by far in the history of our country.” The former president also issued a fundraising appeal to his supporters in a subsequent message.
Biden Drops Out of the Race: What Happens Next?
With President Joe Biden dropping out of the race, modern presidential politics has entered an unprecedented period. The Democratic Party now faces the task of choosing a new nominee without the typical series of primaries and caucuses that allow a broad swath of Americans to voice their opinions.
The decision will ultimately be made by the roughly 4,700 delegates to the Democratic National Convention. During a virtual roll call tentatively planned for early August, or at the convention in Chicago beginning August 19, these delegates will select any eligible candidate to be the party’s nominee. Following the selection of a presidential nominee, a vice presidential nominee will also be chosen, and these names will then appear on the ballot in every state and Washington, DC.
Modern party rules were largely designed to pass this process off to primary voters and then hold an orderly roll call vote to confirm their choice of nominee. With this responsibility now falling to the convention delegates, it is likely the party will need to clarify the process through interpretation of existing rules or by passing new ones.
Ultimately, the Democratic National Convention is the final authority on these rules, and a majority of delegates are free to change the process as they see fit.
