President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he is ending his campaign for re-election due to intense pressure from Democratic leaders. They have raised concerns about his ability to beat former President Donald Trump in the upcoming November election.
Biden's decision has created uncertainty in the 2024 race, especially following a shocking attempt on Trump's life. Vice President Kamala Harris is now seen as the most likely candidate to take Biden's place as the Democratic nominee.
Biden made the announcement from his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where he has been isolating since testing positive for COVID-19 on Thursday night.
"It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President," Biden said in a written statement. "While I intended to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and country for me to step down and focus on my duties as President for the remainder of my term."
Biden did not immediately endorse anyone as his successor. He mentioned that he would speak to the nation later in the week to provide more details about his decision.
This is a significant change for Biden, who had been firm in his intention to run again despite increasing calls from Democratic lawmakers for him to withdraw. These calls intensified after a difficult debate with Trump on June 27 raised concerns about Biden's mental fitness.
Biden's decision came after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries warned him that his candidacy could lead to significant losses for Democrats in Congress. Over 30 congressional Democrats also urged Biden to step down, and former President Barack Obama reportedly shared similar concerns with Democratic allies. Additionally, Democratic donors from various sectors, including Hollywood and Wall Street, opposed Biden's re-election bid.
With Biden stepping down, Vice President Harris is now the leading candidate to become the Democratic nominee. However, other Democratic governors such as Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, and Gavin Newsom of California may also be considered.
Biden's decision marks the nearing end of a five-decade-long career in Washington, which began in 1972 with his unexpected win for a U.S. Senate seat in Delaware. He served as a senator for 36 years and then as Vice President under Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017.
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