President Joe Biden Withdraws from 2024 Presidential Race
By Jake Beardslee ·
July 21, 2024
President Joe Biden has announced his decision to end his re-election campaign, effectively concluding his extensive political career and dramatically altering the landscape of the upcoming presidential election.
The 81-year-old president faced mounting pressure within the Democratic Party due to concerns about his age and perceived inability to defeat Donald Trump in the November election. Max Correa / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
In a statement released on X, Biden wrote, "While it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term." He added, "I will speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision." @JoeBiden / X
Biden's withdrawal, coming just months before the election, is unprecedented in modern American politics. The last sitting president to abandon a re-election bid was Lyndon Johnson in 1968, but his announcement came significantly earlier in the election cycle. Cecil W. Stoughton / Wikimedia
The decision has created uncertainty within the Democratic Party regarding potential successors. Vice President Kamala Harris, despite her historic role as the first female vice president, faces low approval ratings. Other potential candidates include prominent governors such as Michigan's Gretchen Whitmer and California's Gavin Newsom. Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK
In his statement, Biden expressed gratitude to Vice President Kamala Harris, acknowledging her as "being an extraordinary partner." However, he refrained from offering an endorsement for Harris as his potential successor for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination. Nathan Howard/Pool via USA TODAY NETWORK
Biden's withdrawal follows a poorly received debate performance against Trump on June 27, which intensified doubts about his capabilities. The president later attributed his performance to exhaustion and illness, but the incident sparked a growing rebellion within his own party. Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK
As the Democratic Party grapples with this unexpected development, questions arise about the process of selecting a new nominee and potential legal challenges in placing a new candidate on ballots across the country. Mandi Wright / USA TODAY NETWORK
