President Joe Biden, the first US president to exit a reelection run in decades, announced his decision on July 21, 2024. The announcement came amid growing concerns about his health and vitality and mounting calls from Democrats for him to step aside due to poor performance at the CNN presidential debate in June. Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the new Democratic nominee.
Biden's decision was met with reactions from various political figures, including California Governor Gavin Newsom and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who praised his impactful presidency. However, Republicans called for Biden to resign immediately and slammed his decision as unprecedented.
The Democratic Party now faces the challenge of choosing a new nominee. Unlike Republican delegates, Democratic delegates are not bound to their candidate and can vote freely at the convention. Biden could have some influence over the delegates but they could also choose a different candidate than his pick.
Biden's decision was influenced by concerns about his health and vitality, as well as pressure from influential Democrats such as Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Chuck Schumer. His poor performance at the CNN presidential debate in June further fueled calls for him to step aside.
The rolling streak of news surrounding Trump's criminal cases and health issues gave him a jolt of momentum, allowing Republicans to present an energized and unified front at their convention. Biden, on the other hand, seldom sparked such enthusiasm and his primary campaign was mostly a coronation with token opposition.
The Democratic National Convention is scheduled for August 19-22, 2024 in Chicago.
