US Election Update 2024 | Joe Biden Steps Down from Presidential Elections

In the surprising turn of the latest event, Joe Biden decided to step down from the US elections 2024, sending shockwaves through the political landscape. “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.” he stated. 

As the nation grapples with this unexpected announcement, speculation mounts regarding the future direction of the elections and candidates who will come into the limelight. However, what made Biden the talk of the town?

Joe Biden is popular for several key reasons. His fame stems from Biden’s long-standing political career, his role in significant legislative accomplishments, and his current position during the transformative period of American history.  He began his political journey at a very early age, becoming the youngest individual to be ever elected to the US Senate at 29. He served as the 47th Vice President of the United States from 2009 to 2017 under Barack Obama. 

In 2020, Biden ran for the presidential election and became the 46th President of the US on 20th January 2021. Biden’s presidency is historically significant as he is the first US president to serve alongside the first black woman vice president, Kamala Harris. 

Biden’s Exit from 2024 Presidential Race

In his latest statement, Biden announced that he ended his campaign for re-election. The decision was made public on July 21st, 2024. He also endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor, stating that he selected her as a Democratic candidate. The DNC is moving forward with a process to finalize the nominee by August 7th, 2024, ahead of the party’s conference in Chicago from 19th to 22nd August. The timeline makes it challenging for the other candidates to gain significant traction against Harris, who is backed by a substantial delegate number.6

Furthermore, Kamala Harris added that she is honored by Biden’s endorsement and is looking forward to winning the nomination, with the aim of uniting the country against Trump. However, she won’t be officially nominated until the Democratic National Convention in August.

The Unprecedented Challenge For Democrats

With Biden’s exit, the Democratic National Committee faces the challenge of selecting a new nominee. While Harris is the frontrunner, other potential candidates, including California Governor Gavin Newsom and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, are also being considered. In future cases, the Democrats need to coalesce and re-energize their base if they want to defeat Trump – says the source.

Historically, the parties used to choose their candidates in competitive conventions after the primaries, but the current situation is different. With no chronicled precedent to follow, Democrats will have to improvise with their guidelines on selecting the new nominee. On endorsing Harris as a Democratic candidate, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, in her post on X, stated:

“Kamala Harris will be the next President of the United States. I pledge my full support to ensure her victory in November.

Now more than ever, it is crucial that our party and country swiftly unite to defeat Donald Trump and the threat to American democracy.

Let’s get to work.”

What’s Next?

However, the DNC is preparing for the upcoming nomination process; the focus remains on consolidating support around Kamala Harris while enabling a fair and transparent candidate selection. Moreover, with the constant evolution in the political spectrum, the forthcoming weeks will be crucial for determining the final nominee for the Democratic party.

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