July 21, Delaware, USA
President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid on Sunday. He endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate to face Donald Trump in November. Biden, 81, is the oldest person to have been President. He will stay in office until his term ends on January 20, 2025, and plans to address the nation this week.
Biden has been isolating at home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, after testing positive for COVID-19. He wrote on social media that, while he intended to seek reelection, he now believes it is best for the party and the country if he steps down and focuses on his duties for the remainder of his term.
Biden’s poor performance in the June 27 debate led Democrats to urge him to drop out. On July 13, a gunman tried to assassinate Trump. Trump recently named Senator J.D. Vance as his vice presidential running mate. Polls show that many Americans do not want a Biden-Trump rematch. After Biden’s announcement, Trump said Harris would be easier to beat than Biden.
Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison said the party would soon announce the next steps. If Harris becomes the nominee, she would be the first Black woman to lead a major-party ticket in U.S. history. Harris, a former attorney general of California and U.S. senator, said she intends to unite the Democratic Party and the nation to defeat Trump.
Harris’s campaign and supporters are working to secure delegate support ahead of the Democratic National Convention in August. Governor Gavin Newsom of California and other Democratic leaders have expressed support for Harris. Some potential challengers have praised Biden but have not mentioned Harris.
Biden changed his mind about running on Sunday afternoon and announced his decision on social media. Polls show Harris and Trump tied at 44% each in a hypothetical matchup. Republicans argue that Biden should resign immediately, making Harris President and putting Republican Speaker Mike Johnson next in line.
Biden’s campaign had $95 million at the end of June. Experts disagree on how this money could be transferred to a Harris-led campaign. Harris raised $27.5 million on ActBlue in the first five hours of her campaign.
Biden’s withdrawal leaves his replacement with less than four months to campaign. He was the oldest President ever elected when he beat Trump in 2020 and described himself as a bridge to the next generation. Biden’s age became more apparent in recent weeks, and his poor debate performance raised doubts about his candidacy.
Harris, a former prosecutor, will face Trump, who has two criminal prosecutions related to the 2020 election and other legal issues. Despite winning the Democratic primary easily, Biden’s support for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and other issues led to declining support within his party. Even before the debate, Biden trailed Trump in some national and battleground state polls.