President Joe Biden has decided not to run for reelection, following his disastrous debate performance last month and his failure since to convince his fellow Democrats that he can defeat former President Donald Trump in the fall.
Democrats now have an unprecedented challenge given the traditional primary season has long since ended.
Biden on Sunday endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democrats’ nominee this fall, but he can’t automatically make her the candidate.
As we first wrote back in February, individual delegates will now select the party’s nominee on the convention floor (or, potentially, during a virtual roll call).
These delegates aren’t just pledged to vote for Biden; they’re also approved by his campaign. So it will largely be Biden backers who will be picking his replacement.
Biden said he will finish his term and will address the nation later this week. Harris said she’s “honored” to receive Biden’s endorsement and vowed to “earn and win” the nomination. Harris could be the first Black woman and first Asian American to lead the ticket of a major political party. Several notable Democrats, including Bill and Hillary Clinton and some leading progressives, announced their support for Harris, while praising Biden’s leadership.
Despite Biden’s backing, it remains unclear whether Harris will become the nominee, or what process the party will take to select an alternative. Either during a virtual roll call, which is tentatively planned for early August, or at the convention in Chicago beginning August 19, delegates will select a new candidate to be the party’s nominee.
Trump reacts: In a phone call with CNN after Biden announced his exit, Trump described Biden as “the worst president by far in the history of our country.” The former president issued a fundraising appeal in a message to supporters.