President Joe Biden on July 15, 2024. Photo by Erin Schaff-Pool/Getty Images

By Jacob Kornbluh July 21, 2024

President Joe Biden announced Sunday afternoon he is withdrawing from the presidential race after weeks of political jockeying in the wake of a disastrous debate performance and diminishing polling numbers. 

“While it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is 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 said in a statement. Moments later, the president endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his replacement. 

With the backing of the sitting president, her nomination could be clinched by the 3,979 pledged delegates at the Democratic National Convention, scheduled for August 19 through 22 in Chicago. 

Biden said he will address the nation later in the week. 

Can Harris beat Trump?

Democrats believe Harris stands a good chance of beating former President Donald Trump. Her advantage over other potential candidates partly stems from her position as a sitting vice president with an active campaign war chest of $281 million, and who has already been vetted on the national stage.

In a statement issued Sunday, Harris said, ““I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination. Over the past year, I have traveled across the country, talking with Americans about the clear choice in this momentous election. And that is what I will continue to do in the days and weeks ahead. I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party—and unite our nation—to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda.”

Former President Obama did not endorse Vice President Harris or anyone else on Sunday. “We will be navigating uncharted waters in the days ahead,” he said. “But I have extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges.”

Both former President Clinton and former Secretary of State Clinton endorsed Harris as the nominee.

Who will Harris pick as her running mate, VP?

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a popular governor from a critical swing state who has been mentioned as a potential first Jewish president since his gubernatorial campaign in 2022, appears to be a formidable choice for Democrats as Harris’ running mate. 

In a poll conducted by a Democratic super PAC, Blue Lab, he was among four Democratic candidates who performed the strongest, outperforming Biden by five points in battleground states.

Shapiro was already being vetted by donors as a vice presidential contender and potential running mate for Kamala Harris.

In 2022 Shapiro beat his Republican rival, State Sen. Doug Mastriano — a Christian nationalist who has repeated antisemitic tropes on the campaign trail, by 15%. It was the largest margin for a non-incumbent since 1946 and the most votes in a Pennsylvania gubernatorial election.

“President Biden is a patriot who has served our country honorably in the Senate, as Vice President, and as one of the most consequential presidents in modern history,” Shapiro tweeted on Sunday afternoon. “President Biden has gotten an incredible amount done to move our country forward, defend our democracy, and protect real freedom. I am proud to work by his side and am grateful for his leadership and his unwavering commitment to delivering for Pennsylvania — the Commonwealth that raised him.”

What role might Doug Emhoff play in the White House?

If Harris became the Democratic nominee and were to win the White House, the country would make history not only with her election as the first female president and first South Asian American president, the United States would also have a first gentlemen for the first time. And he would be Jewish.

Since becoming the second gentleman, Emhoff has constantly showcased his Jewish heritage, like baking matzo with Jewish day school kids. He often introduces Harris to Jewish crowds and at holiday receptions at their D.C. home. In speeches, Emhoff cites the placement of mezuzahs on the doorposts of the vice president’s residence, where they hosted a Passover Seder and celebrated Hanukkah.

While Emhoff advocates for Jews, his daughter Ella Emhoff does not identify as Jewish and has courted controversy during the Israel-Hamas war by encouraging her Instagram followers to support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), despite allegations that its staffers helped Hamas during the Oct. 7 attack.

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