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:
Asian stocks dip on heels of Biden's announcement
Most Asian markets were down Monday but European traders appeared more upbeat after President Biden's announcement that he was dropping out of the 2024 U.S. presidential race. The downbeat start to the week in Asia followed losses Friday on Wall Street as businesses around the world scrambled to contain the fallout from the massive Microsoft product outage caused by a faulty product update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike.
U.S. futures were little changed early Monday, however, and oil prices were up slightly.
The Reuters news agency said the STOXX 600 pan-European index gained nearly 0.6% shortly after trading began, rebounding after logging its biggest weekly fall of 2024 amid the unprecedented technology disruption on Friday.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 slipped 1.2%, however, and the Shanghai Composite index dropped 0.6% after China's central bank unexpectedly lowered its one-year benchmark loan prime rate, or LPR, which is the standard reference for most business loans, to 3.35% from 3.45%. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 dipped 0.6% and South Korea's Kospi lost 1%, but the Hang Seng in Hong Kong added 1.3%.
U.S. benchmark crude oil gained 31 cents early Monday to $78.95 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude, the international standard, added 35 cents to $82.98 per barrel.
The U.S. dollar fell to 156.53 Japanese yen from 157.49 yen, and the euro rose to $1.0884 from $1.0877.
On Friday as the full scale of the CrowdStrike glitch sunk in, the S&P 500 fell 0.7%, ending at 5,505.00, closing its first losing week in the last three and its worst since April. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.9% to 40,287.53, while the Nasdaq composite sank 0.8% to 17,726.94.
With reporting from The Associated Press.
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.
UnidosUS Action Fund to endorse Harris on Monday
UnidosUS Action Fund, the political arm of UnidosUS, the largest Latino civil rights organization in the country, will officially endorse Vice President Kamal Harris for president on Monday morning.
"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 that, "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."
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.
Second gentleman Doug Emhoff "deeply grateful" for Biden's friendship and leadership
Vice President Harris' husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, posted a statement Sunday evening expressing his admiration for President Biden and first lady Jill Biden.
"I am deeply grateful to @POTUS and @FLOTUS for their years of friendship and support," he wrote . "President Biden is a true patriot who leads our nation with honesty, decency, and integrity. Alongside @VP, they have fought tirelessly for families and communities, delivering for Americans across our nation. I am so proud of their accomplishments and thankful for their leadership."
All six Black state attorneys general endorse Harris for president
All six Black state attorneys general in the United States endorsed Harris for president on Sunday, saying there is no one more qualified than her "to lead and continue to uphold the values of our great nation."
New York Attorney General Letitia James said she is leading the coalition of the Black attorneys general - Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Maryland Attorney General Athony Brown, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford - to endorse Harris.
Two major labor unions supporting Harris
Leaders of two prominent labor unions spoke out in support of Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday.
Service Employees International Union, or SEIU, which represents 1.9 million workers in health care, public services and other occupations, wrote that Harris "has been a powerful and steady voice advocating for working people. Across industries and backgrounds, we will support her as our President." Harris spoke at the SEIU convention in Philadelphia in May.
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, said the union's executive council has voted to endorse Harris, though the decision will still have to be ratified by delegates to the AFT convention.
"Harris is fighting to restore Roe, fighting for families, for student debt relief and is a powerful advocate for workers," Weingarten wrote.
—CBS News' Nidia Cavazos, Aaron Navarro
California Gov. Gavin Newsom endorses Harris
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a fellow Democrat whose name was sometimes floated as a potential candidate himself, threw his support behind Harris.
"Tough. Fearless. Tenacious. With our democracy at stake and our future on the line, no one is better to prosecute the case against Donald Trump's dark vision and guide our country in a healthier direction than America's Vice President, @KamalaHarris," Newsom posted on social media.
Most Popular
Comments / 0