Biden Steps Down: Harris to Lead Democrats in Historic 2024 Run

President Joe Biden has ended his reelection campaign, paving the way for Vice President Kamala Harris to become the Democratic Party’s new standard-bearer. Biden, 81, announced his decision on Sunday, citing growing concerns within his party about his mental acuity and ability to defeat former President Donald Trump in the upcoming election.

In a heartfelt post on X, Biden expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve as president and outlined his reasons for stepping down. "It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. 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 my duties as President for the remainder of my term," Biden wrote. Shortly after, he endorsed Harris, making her the first Black woman to run at the top of a major-party ticket in U.S. history.

File footage of US president Joe Biden. Photo source X

Biden’s decision comes after a wave of public and private pressure from Democratic lawmakers and officials following his lackluster performance in a June 27 debate against Trump. During the debate, Biden's frequent gaffes and struggles to complete sentences overshadowed Trump’s false statements and shifted the focus to Biden's fitness for office.

The pressure mounted as Biden's missteps continued, including invoking Russian President Vladimir Putin’s name when he meant Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, and mistakenly referring to Harris as "Vice President Trump." These incidents, combined with his third COVID-19 diagnosis just days before his announcement, intensified calls for him to exit the race.

Biden's decision marks a historic moment, as he becomes the first sitting president to relinquish his party's nomination for reelection since President Lyndon Johnson in 1968. This unexpected turn leaves Harris with less than four months to campaign for the presidency.

Harris’s nomination represents a bold move by the Democratic Party, marking an unprecedented gamble on its first Black and Asian American woman candidate. Biden’s advanced age and increasing frailty had led many to see him as a transitional figure—a bridge to the next generation of Democratic leaders. However, concerns over Harris's experience and popularity had previously made Biden believe he was the only Democrat capable of defeating Trump again.

Despite winning the Democratic primary race earlier this year, Biden's support within his party waned, especially among young, progressive Democrats and voters of color. His strong backing of Israel's military campaign in Gaza further eroded his support base.

As Biden steps aside, Harris must now unite a party and rally a base that has shown tepid enthusiasm for Biden’s second term. The Democratic National Convention in August will see delegates initially pledged to Biden enter uncommitted, creating a potentially unpredictable scenario.

The upcoming election will present a stark contrast between Harris and Trump, who at 78 faces multiple criminal prosecutions related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. The outcome will hinge on key battleground states, where Biden previously managed to secure victory.

Biden's departure underscores the intense political dynamics and challenges ahead for the Democratic Party as it navigates a historic and high-stakes election cycle.