In a surprising turn of events, President Joe Biden announced his decision to drop out of the presidential race on August 1, 2024, just over three months before the November 5 election. The Democratic National Convention (DNC) is scheduled to take place from August 19 to August 22, 2024, in Chicago. Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor and officially changed his campaign name to 'Harris for President'. This decision came following intense pressure from party leaders due to Biden's disastrous debate performance against former President Donald Trump.
Historically, only two Democratic presidents, Harry S. Truman in 1952 and Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968, decided not to run for re-election during an election year. In both cases, the Democrats who became the nominees lost the general election to Republicans.
The Democratic National Convention delegates are now tasked with choosing a replacement nominee within a month. There is no precedent or clear rules on what will unfold next as there has never been a candidate who abandoned his campaign so close to a national convention. The delegates, who typically serve as functionaries, will now preside over this historic decision.
Despite Biden's endorsement of Harris, the delegates are free agents and able to vote for any candidate they choose. Access to the delegate list is crucial for any potential challenger in order to canvass and persuade them. Without access to the delegate list, alternative candidates are effectively blocked from reaching out to the convention's delegates.
Truman decided not to seek another term due to low popularity caused by U.S. military involvement in Korea and corruption scandals in his administration. Johnson withdrew from the race during primary season due to struggles with ending the unpopular Vietnam war.
Biden's decision came as a shock, leaving many wondering what will happen next in this historic election year.
