President Biden announced he is dropping out of the presidential race and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic nominee — upending the 2024 campaign and embarking Democrats on an unprecedented process to replace him less than four months before the election.
"It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your president," Mr. Biden wrote Sunday in a letter to the American people posted to social media. "And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, 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."
In a separate post, he offered his "full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year."
Harris confirmed she will seek the party's nomination, saying in a written statement she intends to "earn and win" the party's support.
Democratic heavyweights quickly came out in support of her, with Bill and Hillary Clinton, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and California. Gov. Gavin Newsom among those saying Harris should take Mr. Biden's place. Others, like former President Barack Obama and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, praised Mr. Biden but held off on endorsing Harris or anyone else.
The delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago will ultimately vote on who becomes the party's nominee. Democrats are expected to hold an early virtual roll call vote formalizing the nomination on Aug. 1, weeks before the convention, which is slated to begin on Aug. 19.
The decision to step down comes after Mr. Biden's disastrous performance in the first presidential debate at the end of June, which left many members of his own party questioning whether he was capable of defeating Trump in November and serving a second four-year term. Pressure soon grew for him to step aside, with an increasing number of party leaders and Democratic lawmakers openly musing about replacing him on the ticket.
Former President Donald Trump is now saying that the next presidential debate should be hosted by Fox News, not ABC News. ABC News was scheduled to hold the next presidential debate in September.
Follow live updates on the reaction to Mr. Biden's decision to step aside, and what happens next:
Israel's Netanyahu heads for D.C. after Biden's announcement
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left Monday for a scheduled visit to Washington, one day after President Biden announced he would not be running for a second term and amid Israel's ongoing war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Ahead of his departure, Netanyahu said Israel will remain a key ally of the U.S. in the Middle East no matter who becomes the next president.
"In this time of war and uncertainty, it's important that Israel's enemies know that America and Israel stand together today, tomorrow, and always," Netanyahu said in a statement.
The Israeli leader is due to address both houses of the U.S. Congress on Wednesday, as well as speak privately with Mr. Biden in a meeting tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, but which will depend on the president's recovery from a COVID-19 infection that was announced by the White House last week.
"This will be an opportunity to thank him for the things he did for Israel in the war and during his long and distinguished career in public service, as Senator, as Vice President, and as President.," Netanyahu said. "It will also be an opportunity to discuss with him how to advance in the critical months ahead the goals that are important for both our countries: Achieving the release of all our hostages, defeating Hamas, confronting the terror axis of Iran and its proxies , and ensuring that all Israel citizens return safely to their homes in the north and in the south."
Netanyahu's visit comes after months of growing tension with Washington over how Israel has conducted its offensive in Gaza after Hamas' unprecedented Oct. 7 terrorist attack.
UnidosUS Action Fund endorses Harris
UnidosUS Action Fund, the political arm of UnidosUS, the largest Latino civil rights organization in the country, officially endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president on Monday morning, saying that throughout her career, "Harris has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the issues that deeply impact the Latino community and all Americans."
"Unidos Action Fund is really excited and proud to endorse Vice President Harris for president of the United States," UnidosUS Action Fund Executive Director Rafael Collazo told CBS News on Sunday. "We believe that she is the right leader for the moment to not only communicate the benefits that this administration ... But just as important, if not more importantly, her vision and their vision for the future and how the Harris administration will open up more doors of opportunities for the Latino community."
Collazo said, "Quite honestly, the overwhelming majority of Latino voters don't want to vote for Trump, but at the same time, don't have enough information about what this administration has done, how Vice President Harris has been instrumental in Latinos making those gains over the last few years and what her vision is for the future."
Collazo said there is "a lot of energy today," but stressed, "There's a lot of work to do"
"Latinos are hungry for information and I think they've been frustrated by a campaign season that has been dominated by the headlines around debates of ageism, and a lot of the drama around the last several months," Collazo said. "But now we're gonna listen to substance."
Harris expected to be outspoken on abortion rights, health policies
President Biden has frequently relied on Vice President Kamala Harris to be the White House's voice of unflinching support for reproductive health rights .
Now, as Democrats rebuild their presidential ticket just a few months before Election Day, Harris would widely be expected to take an aggressive stance in support of abortion access if she became the party's new presumptive nominee — hitting former President Donald Trump on an issue that could undermine his chances of victory.
"Most significantly, Harris would be the face of the drive to protect abortion rights," Larry Levitt, executive vice president for health policy at KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News, said in an interview before Biden stepped aside. "Abortion access would likely be front and center in her campaign."
A strong stance on abortion is not the only major contrast to the GOP that Harris offers: She is well versed in health policy. As a child, Harris often accompanied her mother to work on the weekends, visiting the lab where she was studying breast cancer.
Read more here from our partners at KFF Health News.
–By Stephanie Armour, Julie Appleby, Julie Rovner
Harris spoke on Sunday with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear
A source familiar with the call confirmed to CBS News early Monday that Vice President Kamala Harris spoke the previous day with Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who's been among the Democrats suggested as a possible vice presidential running mate as Harris works to mobilize support for her party's nomination.
Harris campaign says almost $50 million raised since Biden's announcement
Harris for President, the vice president's campaign to succeed her current boss President Biden as the nation's top elected official, said early Monday that since Mr. Biden's Sunday announcement that he was pulling out of the race and endorsing Harris as his replacement, "everyday Americans have given $49.6 million in grassroots donations to her campaign."
The figure communicated by the campaign just before 5:30 a.m. Eastern on Monday reflected a boost of about $3 million since its previous update, provided at around 9 p.m. Eastern, just hours after Mr. Biden withdrew.
"Win With Black Women" group holds massive fundraising call on Harris
A call Sunday evening among a group called "Win With Black Women" drew a record 40,000 participants from across the nation. The organization, which was instrumental in pushing for Vice President Kamala Harris during her 2020 campaign, said it had raised more than $1,000,000 in three hours during the call.
Last week the organization had published a letter with some 1,400 signatures supporting Mr. Biden's reelection bid, prior to his withdrawal from the race and his backing of Harris as his replacement at the top of the Democratic ballot.
–With reporting from CBS News' Erica Brown.
Harris campaign says "hundreds" of elected Democrats backing her
In its first news release, the Kamala Harris presidential campaign said, "Hundreds of elected officials from across the political spectrum followed President Biden's lead and announced their full-throated support for Vice President Harris as the Democratic nominee for president to defeat Donald Trump in November.
"As Vice President Harris said, she "will do everything in [her] power to unite the Democratic Party—and unite our nation—to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda."
It then listed many of them, "from Governors to Senators to House members," with brief statements from each.
First on the list: North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, who's been mentioned as a possible Harris running mate.
World leaders weigh in on Biden's decision
World leaders watching the U.S. election campaign have started to issue statements discussing their relationships with President Biden and offering thoughts on his decision not to seek reelection.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said : "I respect President Biden's decision and I look forward to us working together during the remainder of his presidency."
Israeli President Isaac Herzog thanked Mr. Biden "for his friendship and steadfast support for the Israeli people over his decades long career."
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country is "grateful to President Biden for his unwavering support for Ukraine's fight for freedom, which, along with strong bipartisan support in the United States, has been and continues to be critical," adding that "we respect today's tough but strong decision."
Read more here .
DHS Secretary Mayorkas says it's an "honor to serve in President Biden's Administration"
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement Sunday night, "Every day, it is my honor to serve in President Biden's Administration."
"We at the Department of Homeland Security are protecting the American people, our homeland, and our values, in keeping with the President's vision. … We will continue to do so as we devote ourselves, throughout the months remaining in this Administration, to meeting President Biden's vision of what our country is and can be," Mayorkas said.
A senior House Democrat says Harris does not want a "coronation"
A senior House Democrat told CBS News they spoke with Harris on Sunday after endorsing her, and during the call Harris said she did not want a "coronation" to secure the nomination. Harris also told other House Democrats the same, according to this congressional member.
The lawmaker believed this indicated Harris did not want to become the nominee solely through the expected virtual roll call in early August, but through rallying support from the pledged delegates.
This lawmaker believes Harris should pick a Democrat from a battleground state as her running mate, and said they really liked Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona as a possibility for vice president.
Harris spoke with Schumer, Jeffries and other top Democrats
Vice President Harris spoke with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Sunday, a source familiar with the conversation confirmed to CBS News. Harris also spoke with House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Sunday, a source confirmed.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, tweeted that Harris called her, "and I told her I am 1000% in for her to be our President! She has the smarts, the experience, the accomplishments and the agenda to lead us to victory in November."
Harris also spoke with the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Rep. Steven Horsford, and with Rep. Judy Chu, chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.
Harris to speak at White House Monday
Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to speak at the White House on Monday — her first public remarks since releasing her statement saying she intends to "earn and win" the Democratic presidential nomination.
Harris is slated to speak on the White House South Lawn at 11:30 am. ET at an event celebrating the NCAA championship teams from last season.
$46.7 million raised after Harris' campaign launch, ActBlue says
ActBlue, the Democratic Party's online fundraising platform, said in a post on X that it raised $46.7 million from grassroots supporters by 9 p.m. ET following Biden's exit from the race and Harris' campaign launch.
ActBlue said that Sunday was the biggest fundraising day of the 2024 election cycle.
Celebrities react to Biden dropping out
Hollywood was quick to react to the news that Mr. Biden was dropping out of the race and endorsing Harris.
Barbra Streisand, a Democratic supporter, wrote on X that "we should be grateful for his upholding of our democracy."
While many paid tribute to Biden's presidency, others wondered about the future.
Cher wrote on X that she was "tortured" because she doesn't believe the Democrats could win without Mr. Biden. She said it was time to think "way outside the box" and proposed a split ticket.
Following the June debate, several high-profile Hollywood names called for Mr. Biden to exit the race. Just weeks after headlining a record-breaking fundraiser for the president's reelection campaign, George Clooney wrote a New York Times opinion piece urging Mr. Biden to end his bid.
Clooney argued that the party should pick a new nominee, saying the process would be "messy" but "wake up" voters in the party's favor.
Nearly 100 Democratic lawmakers endorse Harris
At least 26 Senate Democrats and 72 House Democrats had endorsed Harris by just before 9 p.m. ET Sunday.
They are among a growing number of Democrats voicing their support for Harris to lead the ticket, just weeks before the Democratic National Convention, which is set to be held in Chicago from Aug. 19-22.
The top Democratic leaders in Congress, however, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, as well as former speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi, issued statements on Sunday that did not mention Harris.
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