US President Joe Biden Drops Out of the Election Race
President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he will end his re-election campaign, marking an abrupt end to his long political career and shaking up the presidential race just four months before Election Day.
Biden, 81, faced increasing concerns within his party about his ability to serve and his chances against Donald Trump in November.
Follow live updates on Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024
"While it was my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to step down and focus on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term," Biden wrote in a letter posted on X. "I will address the Nation later this week to explain my decision in more detail."
In his letter, Biden expressed gratitude to Vice President Kamala Harris for her partnership but did not endorse her as his successor for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination.
Biden's withdrawal concludes a remarkable national political career that began during Richard Nixon’s presidency and has spanned four presidential campaigns, 36 years in the U.S. Senate representing Delaware, chairmanships of the Judiciary and Foreign Relations committees, and eight years as Barack Obama’s vice president.
Biden’s decision to exit the race just weeks before the Democratic convention and months before the election is unprecedented in modern politics. The last sitting president to abandon a re-election bid was Lyndon Johnson in March 1968, amidst the Vietnam War, which was eight months before the election.
Biden’s departure is expected to trigger a scramble within the Democratic Party as ambitious officials vie to succeed him. Potential candidates include Vice President Harris, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
The process of adding a new candidate to the ballots raises numerous legal challenges, with Republicans likely to mount legal obstacles to the Democratic nominee.
Concerns about Biden’s health and performance have persisted throughout his presidency, peaking after his debate with Trump on June 27. His lackluster performance, marked by a raspy voice and incomplete thoughts, alarmed many in his party. Biden later blamed his performance on exhaustion and a cold, urging the country to focus on his accomplishments rather than one bad night.
Unconvinced, Democratic lawmakers increasingly called for him to step aside, appealing to his patriotism and the need to prioritize the country over his re-election bid, especially if he believed Trump posed a threat to democracy.