Biden's decision to drop out upends presidential race

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:

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.

How some Democratic delegates are responding

Harris' team has begun calling Democratic delegates to ask them to back her for the nomination, one delegate told CBS News, though many had not received calls from either Biden's or Harris' teams by early evening Sunday.

Steve Santasiero, a Pennsylvania state senator and Bucks County Democratic Party chair, said he's voting for Harris and observed, "There seems to be a lot of support coalescing around Harris."

He said that he has not received guidance from the DNC about what will happen next, but he expects "as we get into the week, we should know more."

He and other delegates praised President Biden for his decision to relinquish the nomination that was rightfully his, after he had won the vast majority of around 4,000 Democratic pledged delegates.

"I think we all owe the Joe Biden — he has once again put the welfare of the country ahead of himself, Santasiero said. "History is going to record that he saved Democracy in 2020 – it may be the same this year as well."

Arizona delegate Roberto Reveles, 91, who is also running for state senator, said he's "extremely excited by the new dynamics."

"I think it really throws the Trump campaign — throws them off pace," Reveles said. He also said that he expected Arizona delegates would support Harris. He added that at a candidate meeting in the district where he's running, he made a statement of support for her, and "everyone was enthusiastic."

One Nevada delegate expressed a desire not "to see a coronation."

"I don't have a problem with her," the delegate said. "I still think there may be some other candidates who are better equipped. I don't know if I've seen enough yet. Maybe I need to look some more."

"I like Josh Shapiro. I personally like the governors," the delegate added. "They have a tendency to be better presidents because they managed to handle the bureaucracy. They have that set up. I think Pritzker is a good candidate. And brings his own personal funding. He could certainly replace them himself. Aside from that — I think it'd be unique if Whitmer ran. Two female candidates would really disrupt the Biden side."

Manchin "considering" presidential bid, according to aide

A close political aide to Sen. Joe Manchin, 76, tells CBS News the senator is "considering" a presidential bid, given today's developments and the outreach from donors urging him to launch a campaign.

The independent West Virginia senator is being inundated with calls from voters who want a moderate and who are upset that Harris is being "anointed" without a competitive process.

In an interview on "Face the Nation," before Mr. Biden's announcement, Manchin said he would not run. At the same time, he declined to say he'd support Harris and said he'd need to see a change in the Democratic policy platform to do so. He had words of praise for Governors Josh Shapiro and Andy Beshear.

Manchin would need to rejoin the Democratic Party if he were to run for president, which could easily be done.

— CBS News' Ed O'Keefe, Margaret Brennan