In a statement posted on X, President Joe Biden announced his exit from the presidential race — a historic decision that throws the 2024 election into upheaval and marks the latest exit of a presidential incumbent in modern history.
Dozens of congressional Democrats had publicly urged the 81-year-old to drop out of the race after his shaky debate performance last month against Republican challenger Donald Trump, 78.
The extraordinary move by Biden to decline the nomination will send shockwaves through the Democratic Party, triggering a frantic effort to replace him just weeks before the party’s nominating convention.
In a follow-up post on X, Biden endorsed Vice President Harris to be the party’s presidential nominee.
“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,” Biden wrote. “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.”
Vice President Kamala Harris said she will seek the Democratic nomination to replace President Joe Biden after Biden suddenly ended his campaign and endorsed her earlier Sunday.
In a statement issued by Biden’s campaign office, Harris made the following remark:
“I am honored to have the president’s endorsement, and I intend to earn and win this nomination. Over the past year, I have traveled across the country, talking with Americans about the clear choice in this consequential election. And that is what I will continue to do in the days and weeks ahead.”
Harris could be the first Black woman and first Asian American to lead the ticket of a major political party. In a move that would give her access to the campaign funds, the Biden-Harris campaign amended filings with the Federal Election Commission to rename its principal committee and declare Harris a candidate for president.
The president’s endorsement is likely to shut down any serious competition from other Democrats to be the nominee, clearing the path for the vice president to be the 2024 Democratic candidate.
Support for Kamala
Aside from Biden’s open endorsement, House of Representatives Democrat James Clyburn, who gave Biden a crucial endorsement in 2020, has issued a statement endorsing Harris.
The South Carolina lawmaker, seen as a kingmaker of sorts within the Democratic Party, had said on July 2 that he would back Vice President Kamala Harris if Biden did depart and suggested the idea of a “mini-primary” if Biden stepped aside.
Reports reveal that Harris spent more than 10 hours placing calls to over 100 party leaders, members of Congress, governors, labor leaders, and leaders of advocacy and civil rights organizations. On each of those calls, Harris made clear that she was extremely grateful for the president’s endorsement but planned to work hard to earn the Democratic nomination in her own right, the source said.
Trump reacts
In a phone call with CNN after Biden announced his exit, Trump described Biden as “the worst president by far in the history of our country.” The former president issued a fundraising appeal in a message to supporters.
While it’s unclear who the Democratic nominee will be, Trump said he thinks Vice President Kamala Harris will be easier to defeat than Biden would have been.
