President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race as the Democratic nominee has sent shockwaves through the political sphere.
In a statement on his X handle Sunday, Biden said, “I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”
Shortly after, Biden declared his support for Vice President Kamala Harris to take on the bid. “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 decision I’ve 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,” Biden wrote.
These developments followed a stumbling debate performance that raised concerns among Democrats about the 81-year-old president’s fitness for office and ability to defeat former President Donald Trump, who recently survived an assassination plot.
Biden’s withdrawal leaves the Democrats in an unprecedented position with months until the November election. It also creates a new battleground for Democrats eyeing the presidential ticket and reshapes the political strategy in the Republican party where Trump is a central figure.
For years, Harris faced criticism about her capability to be a heartbeat away from the presidency. Now, Democrats hail her as their best hope to stop Trump’s comeback. Despite blazing a trail as the first woman, Black, and South Asian vice president in U.S. history, Harris long struggled with approval ratings as bad or worse than Biden’s. However, the past year has seen a transformed Harris, and with Biden’s endorsement, she’s suddenly on the cusp of making history.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, an increasingly popular Midwest Democrat, is also speculated to run for president in 2028. Whitmer, who campaigned for Biden in the past, has expressed her political aspirations without explicitly stating she might run. Her leadership in Michigan allowed her to enact several progressive policies, including protecting abortion access and passing gun safety measures.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, one of Biden’s fiercest supporters, also has presidential ambitions. Although often listed as a possible 2028 candidate, many Democratic pundits now say he could be a stand-in for Biden. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who ran for president in 2020 and is touted as one of the administration’s best communicators, also has presidential aspirations.
Other potential candidates include Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who has seen high approval ratings since his election in 2022, and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who has raised his profile by opposing Trump and defending Biden. The list of potential nominees stretches beyond these figures, with Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and Maryland Governor Wes Moore also gaining national attention.
Senators Amy Klobuchar and Cory Booker, who have run for president in the past, remain recognized names among Democrats.
The Democrats have developed a deep bench of possible future presidential candidates, indicating a vibrant and competitive primary season ahead.
