Biden’s Exit Shakes Up 2024 Election

Yesterday afternoon, President Joe Biden took the unprecedented step of ending his re-election bid amid lagging poll numbers and mounting calls within his own party to step aside following his lackluster debate performance last month. With less than four months until the general election — and less than a month until the Democratic National Convention (DNC) — Democrats will be scrambling to coalesce behind a new presidential ticket to square off against former President Donald Trump and his running mate Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) this fall.

• Situational awareness. Shortly after his announcement, President Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination, and several prominent national and state Democrats have already followed suit. This includes: (1) Reps. Steven Horsford (D-NV), Nannette Barragán (D-CA), and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) — the chairs of the Congressional Black, Hispanic, and Progressive Caucuses; (2) Democratic Govs. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI), Josh Shapiro (D-PA), and Gavin Newsom (D-CA), who have been viewed as potential presidential candidates in the future; (3) Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) Chair Suzan DelBene (D-WA); (4) House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA) and former Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC); and (5) Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), among others. As of now, the Vice President is in the pole position to lead the Democratic ticket this fall, but it remains to be seen if anyone else will jump into the race ahead of next month’s DNC in Chicago, IL.