President Biden announced Sunday that he is dropping out of the race against former President Donald Trump, ceding to unrelenting pressure from Democrats who said his declining abilities and poll numbers would drag down the party and lead to inevitable defeat in November.
The move upends the 2024 presidential race just weeks before early voting begins and leaves Democrats scrambling for a new ticket. Mr. Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the ticket.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your president,” Mr. Biden, 81, said in a letter posted on X. “And 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 duties as president for the remainder of my term.
“For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me reelected. I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris for being an extraordinary partner in all this work. And let me express my heartfelt appreciation to the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me.”
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024
Mr. Biden said he will address the country later this week “in more detail” about his position.
The president said of Ms. Harris, “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”
Mr. Biden’s decision is historic and puts the Democratic Party in uncharted territory with less than four months until Election Day and just a few weeks before early voting begins in many states.
Top Democratic National Committee officials met online Sunday to forge ahead with plans for a virtual vote as soon as Aug. 1 to nominate a new ticket. It’s not clear whether they will proceed with the online vote or wait until the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, which convenes on Aug. 19.
“I don’t know if the DNC is more or less inclined now to conduct the roll call vote virtually. But they are pressing forward with that plan. Every action being taken is pointing in that direction,” said Josh Putnam, party rules expert and founder of FHQ Strategies LLC, a nonpartisan political consulting venture.
First lady Jill Biden, who increasingly was viewed as one of the president’s top handlers and advisers as his health and mental acuity faltered, said she backed her husband’s decision.
“Down to the last hours of the decision only he could make, she was supportive of whatever road he chose,” Mrs. Biden’s communication director told The Associated Press. “She’s his biggest believer, champion, and always on his side, in that trusted way only a spouse of almost 50 years can be.”
Mr. Biden’s decision to leave is seismic. Yet it also felt inevitable, given the chaos that enveloped him after a disastrous debate performance against Mr. Trump on June 27.
The president’s halting voice and stares exposed long-standing fears that Mr. Biden was too old to be president and declining in cognitive ability.
It led to soul-searching among Democrats who felt Mr. Biden’s signs of aging had been apparent for years and should have been debated before the presidential cycle began last year. Democrats also worry that fundraising has dried up.
Mr. Biden continued to mix up names and give halting responses in interviews after the debate, cementing the feeling he needed to step aside.
A failed assassination attempt on Mr. Trump eased pressure on Mr. Biden for a few days, only for it to return in full force as Mr. Trump basked in the glow of the Republican National Convention while the president contracted COVID-19, placing him in physical and political isolation.
On Sunday, top Democrats got behind Ms. Harris, 59, who ran alongside Mr. Biden during the primary campaign. She has struggled in the polls since becoming vice president.
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton endorsed her, as did Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, who is among the most influential House Democrats.
Democrats could decide to hold an open convention in Chicago or conduct a virtual vote with multiple candidates. To get on the ballot, a candidate must have the backing of roughly 300 delegates.
The party’s roughly 4,700 delegates will decide the winner.
Ms. Harris now stands as the clear favorite to replace Mr. Biden on the ballot.
It would ensure the Biden-Harris war chest remains with the ticket, which is critical for funding the campaign. A Harris-led ticket would avoid potential backlash from the Democratic base who believe she deserves to be the nation’s first Black, female presidential nominee.
Although Ms. Harris has suffered from low poll numbers, some surveys show her outperforming Mr. Biden. On average, Ms. Harris trails Mr. Trump by 2 percentage points nationally and outperforms Mr. Biden against the former president in several swing states.
• Tom Howell Jr. contributed to this report.
• Susan Ferrechio can be reached at sferrechio@washingtontimes.com.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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