With Joe Biden officially withdrawing from the presidential race, the spotlight has shifted to Vice President Kamala Harris, who could become the first female president of the United States. Biden’s decision came after mounting pressure from prominent Democrats, including representatives Jamie Raskin and Adam Schiff, and influential figures like Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama. His performance in the first presidential debate on June 27 was particularly criticized, prompting calls for him to step aside.
On July 21, Biden made the announcement via X.com, expressing his honor in serving as President but stating that stepping down was in the best interest of both the party and the country.
He assured his support for Kamala Harris, urging Democrats to unify and focus on defeating Donald Trump. Despite Biden’s endorsement, Harris’s nomination is not guaranteed and will be decided at the upcoming Democratic National Convention (DNC).
The DNC, scheduled to start on August 19 in Chicago, will play a crucial role in determining the Democratic nominee. Although Biden was the incumbent, he was not yet officially the nominee. Delegates from each state were expected to confirm his nomination, but now they will need to select a new candidate.
If Harris is to be the nominee, she will likely benefit from Biden’s substantial campaign funds and the fact that primary voters had indirectly supported her as part of the Biden-Harris ticket.
If no candidate secures a majority of the 3,900 delegates at the convention, the process will involve additional voting rounds with “superdelegates,” including governors and former presidents. These superdelegates will help decide the final nominee if no clear winner emerges from the initial delegate votes.
Possible alternatives to Harris being discussed include several prominent Democratic governors such as Gavin Newsom of California, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania. While Harris is considered a logical choice to minimize disruption, the political landscape remains unpredictable, reflecting the chaotic nature of the post-Trump era.
