The Democratic Party needs to find a replacement candidate for President Joe Biden in the upcoming presidential elections. The announcement came this Sunday from Biden himself, stating that he will withdraw his candidacy. The new candidate must be selected quickly, as only a few days remain before the convention starts in Chicago on August 19.
While Vice President Kamala Harris would naturally be a leading choice, her selection is not guaranteed. The final decision rests with 3,900 party delegates who come from diverse backgrounds and are largely unknown to the public.
“Although I intended to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country to withdraw and focus solely on my responsibilities as President for the remainder of my term,” Biden said in a message on the social media platform X. This announcement, though anticipated, comes despite Biden and his campaign team’s persistent assertions that he would see it through to the end.
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The turning point was Biden’s disastrous performance during his June 27 debate with Donald Trump. Millions of viewers saw a hesitant Biden, leaving Democrats shocked and disoriented. Some Democratic congress members publicly urged him to drop his candidacy. Over the following days, influential party members joined in, frightened by polls showing Biden as a likely loser and worried about a potential landslide victory for Trump.
Initially, private suggestions were made for Biden to reconsider his candidacy. American media sources reported that senior figures like former President Barack Obama, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and current Democratic leaders in Congress Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries expressed their concerns.
Four potential candidates are being frequently mentioned: Kamala Harris, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
Other names in circulation include Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, though their chances seem limited. Former presidential candidates Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg, now Secretary of Transportation, are also being considered.
Kamala Harris:
Vice President Kamala Harris is well-positioned to be chosen if Biden steps down. The daughter of a Jamaican father and Indian mother, she has been a trailblazer, becoming the first woman and the first person of color to serve as California Attorney General and later as a U.S. Senator from South Asia.
As Attorney General, Harris built a reputation for strict law enforcement, which could be advantageous in a campaign focused on crime. However, some progressives criticize her for harsh penalties on minor offenses that disproportionately affected minorities. Additionally, her low popularity ratings might lead Democrats to consider other options.
Gavin Newsom:
No rule mandates that the current running mate becomes the automatic replacement. Hence, California Governor Gavin Newsor’s name is also in the mix. At 56, the former San Francisco mayor has been governing California for five years, establishing the state as a sanctuary for abortion rights.
Newsom has stated that discussions about Biden’s health are unhelpful for democracy but has remained somewhat reserved about his presidential ambitions. Recently, he has been traveling internationally, releasing numerous advertisements praising his record, and investing millions in a political action committee, fueling speculation about a potential 2028 or even 2024 presidential run.
Gretchen Whitmer:
Another potential candidate is Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. At 52, Whitmer champions a state that Biden aims to win over blue-collar workers, African-Americans, and Arabs. A staunch opponent of Trump, she’s also known for surviving a kidnapping plot by a far-right militia.
Her state will be fiercely contested in the upcoming November presidential election, making her a compelling candidate for some supporters. However, Whitmer recently downplayed speculation about her presidential run, expressing “pride” in supporting Biden.
Josh Shapiro:
At 51, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro leads the largest swing state, crucial in November’s elections. Before his 2022 governorship win against a Trump-backed radical right opponent, Shapiro was twice elected as Pennsylvania Attorney General.
In that role, he exposed sexual abuses by Catholic priests and sued Purdue Pharma, the maker of the potent opioid OxyContin.
