This afternoon, Joe Biden stated that he would not be accepting the Democratic nomination, however as a substitute specializing in his remaining time in workplace as president.
Given the traditionally unprecedented second—no sitting president has dropped out of the race so late within the election cycle earlier than—there’s a lot we nonetheless don’t find out about how issues will play out over the subsequent few months. Will there be an open conference? Right here we have a look at a few of the doable frontrunners to take over the ticket.
Kamala Harris, Vice President
Photograph: Getty Photos
Why It May Occur
Initially, the vp has already obtained endorsements from each President Biden and former President Bill Clinton. (Harris’s response, in assertion launched on Sunday afternoon: “I’m honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination.”) She can also be the particular person likeliest to hold on his legacy and protect a way of stability. As a member of the 2024 Biden-Harris ticket, the vp is the one candidate whose marketing campaign might assume control of the funds raised by Biden for the presidential election at this level. She can also be the president’s key mouthpiece for points associated to reproductive rights—a important election concern—and a former prosecutor who can be going up in opposition to a convicted felon.
Why It May Not Occur:
Some level to what are perceived as Vice President Harris’s political weaknesses; the Trump marketing campaign has reportedly been honing its assault on Harris for a while. Just a few Democrats, together with Governor Jon Tester of Montana (himself dealing with a tough election), have already publicly called for an open convention.
What Else You Have to Know:
In the case of race, there’s a cynical level to be made: It doesn’t look nice for Democrats to side-step the primary Black girl to function vp. It additionally maybe hurts the Trump marketing campaign to have a Black girl on the ticket in a 12 months when they’re hoping to achieve Black voters.
J. B. Pritzker, Governor of Illinois
Photograph: Getty Photos
Why It May Occur:
Pritzker has been an outspoken critic of Donald Trump, seeming to indicate little hesitation in the case of condemning the previous president’s felony document. He has additionally been vocal in regards to the risks he believes Trump poses, saying earlier this month: “If he’s elected in 2024, he will probably be a horrible man, nonetheless, who understands precisely the right way to manipulate the levers of presidency, and he’ll do it.” Aside from the refreshingly fiery rhetoric, Pritzker may also level to an impressive progressive record.
Why It May Not Occur:
Although fashionable within the Midwest, and credited with charting a brand new path for the Democratic Occasion in his state, Pritzker has in all probability much less nationwide identify recognition than some others.
What Else You Have to Know:
The billionaire governor of Illinois (in addition to America’s wealthiest elected official) might primarily self-finance a marketing campaign. Additionally: Pritzker will probably be welcoming Democrats to Chicago subsequent month for the Democratic Nationwide Conference.
Gavin Newsom, Governor of California
Photograph: Getty Photos
Why It May Occur:
The California governor has constructed a storied profession in politics since he was elected mayor of San Francisco in 2003. He held the place of the state’s lieutenant governor from 2011 till 2019, after which he was elected governor. Newsom has lengthy been floated as a presidential contender, and his enthusiastic work as a marketing campaign surrogate for Biden struck some as an indication that he’ll run for workplace. “I believe that is in equal service to Biden ’24 and Newsom ’28,” Matt Bennett, co-founder of the centrist assume tank Third Method, advised the New York Times in September 2023, referring to Newsom’s efforts. However with Biden out of the race ahead of anticipated, maybe Newsom would contemplate expediting his plan.
Why It May Not Occur:
Newsom discovered himself on the middle of a recall election in 2021 as a consequence of his actions in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, when he defied his personal security suggestions to partake in a cocktail party on the French Laundry. After he survived the vote, Newsom advised The Texas Tribune that he wouldn’t run for election in 2024, noting that he was shaken by the recall. “They went after me. Arduous. That’s sobering,” he mentioned. “That wakes you up, how susceptible, how briskly that is, how individuals come and go, and, , how individuals reduce you off.”
What Else You Have to Know:
Regardless of his function as California Governor, Newsom has been trying past his dwelling state for a while. In 2023, he launched the political motion committee, Campaign for Democracy, which, per its mission statement, seeks to “combat rising authoritarianism throughout the nation.” Whereas that may sign nationwide ambitions, Newsom has been an outspoken advocate for Biden throughout this election cycle. After the president’s efficiency on the presidential debate in Atlanta left Democrats questioning his health to run, the governor continued on as a agency Biden marketing campaign surrogate. Additionally it is maybe value noting that ought to Vice President Harris emerge because the Democrats’ nominee,
Josh Shapiro, Governor of Pennsylvania
Photograph: Getty Photos
Why It May Occur:
Because the governor of Pennsylvania—and fairly a preferred one at that, profitable upwards of three million votes throughout his gubernatorial election in 2022, a record-breaking quantity—Josh Shapiro heads up a state that has lengthy been a spotlight of presidential campaigning. (Whereas Trump received Pennsylvania by a slim margin in 2016, Biden was capable of flip it blue in 2020, serving to to verify his win.)
Moreover, in a polling memo published by Politico earlier this month, Shapiro was one in every of 4 Democratic politicians (additionally together with Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland, Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan) proven to outpace President Biden “by roughly 5 factors” throughout seven battleground states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Why It May Not Occur:
Whereas fashionable inside his state and throughout the aisle, Shapiro, like Pritzker, lacks the identify recognition that different friends of his, like Gretchen Whitmer and Gavin Newsom, have throughout the nation.
He has additionally beforehand denied his curiosity in operating for president ought to Biden drop out of the race. “I simply requested the great individuals of Pennsylvania to be their governor,” Shapiro told KDKA-TV in early July. “They honored me with this chance to have the job that I would like and the job that I believe I can do good issues from to make individuals’s lives higher. God prepared, I’ll have the well being and the power to proceed to serve, and I’ll serve all 4 years.”
What Else You Have to Know:
Shapiro is a agency proponent of abortion entry. In 2023, he ended Pennsylvania’s long-established contract with Actual Alternate options, a nonprofit group identified to help anti-abortion counseling facilities throughout the state. “For many years, taxpayer {dollars} have gone to fund Actual Alternate options. My administration won’t proceed that sample—we’ll guarantee girls on this commonwealth obtain the reproductive well being care they deserve,” Shapiro said in a statement. “Pennsylvanians made clear by electing me as governor that they help a lady’s freedom to decide on, and I will probably be steadfast in defending that proper.”
Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan
Photograph: Getty Photos
Why It May Occur:
Governor Whitmer has grow to be a rising star within the Democratic Occasion since her election in 2018. In 2020, she delivered the Occasion’s response to then-President Trump’s State of the Union tackle, and was even shortlisted to be President Biden’s operating mate within the 2020 election. She has confirmed herself a key determine within the Midwest—even profitable reelection within the swing state in 2022 with a powerful 54% of the vote—and will surely assist enliven the Midwestern battleground states within the upcoming election.
Why It May Not Occur:
In October 2022, Whitmer advised ABC syndicate WXYZ Detroit that she wouldn’t run for president within the case that President Biden selected to not search reelection in 2024. “I’m operating for 4 extra years as governor,” she mentioned.
What Else You Have to Know:
Throughout her time period as governor, the self-described progressive Democrat has proven her capacity to work throughout the aisle, operating on infrastructure-based insurance policies which earned bipartisan help. Biden additionally nominated Whitmer for vice chair of the Democratic Nationwide Conference, which she has served since 2021.