Why did Joe Biden withdraw from the 2024 US Presidential race?
On Sunday, US President Joe Biden announced that he is withdrawing his reelection bid against former President Donald Trump in the upcoming 2024 US election, causing a significant stir in the country’s political landscape. Following his announcement, Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democrats’ new presidential candidate.
Why did Joe Biden stop his reelection campaign?
Calls for Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race grew after his poor debate performance against Donald Trump on June 27. Biden blamed his performance on jet lag and international travel, but many Democrats urged him to quit the race. Opposition within his party increased over the past week, with 36 congressional Democrats publicly asking him to drop out due to concerns over his mental sharpness, according to Reuters.
Lawmakers from his party were unhappy with Biden continuing his reelection campaign, fearing that if he were elected again, it could cost them both the White House and control of Congress next year. Sources told Reuters that Biden had a “last minute change of heart” and decided to drop out on Sunday afternoon after several meetings with his top advisors, despite having no intention to do so up until Saturday night.
Who is Kamala Harris?
Kamala Devi Harris was born in California to Shyama Gopalan, a Tamil biologist, and Donald J. Harris, a Jamaican-American professor. After her parents divorced, Kamala moved with her mother and sister to different schools before attending Howard University, an all-black college, for her bachelor’s degree.
She graduated with a degree in political science and economics, then pursued law, joining the bar association in 1990. That same year, she began her career as a deputy district attorney in California. In 2003, she was elected district attorney of San Francisco. She served two terms as California’s attorney general in 2010 and 2014. In 2017, she became a junior US Senator from California, making her the second African American woman and the first Southeast Asian woman to serve in the Senate.
Harris became known for her support of tax and health reforms, citizenship for immigrants, and gun control laws. In 2020, she ran for the US presidential elections but dropped out to support Democratic nominee Joe Biden, who later chose her as his Vice President.
If Kamala Harris wins the Nomination
If Harris wins the nomination, she would be the first Indian-origin woman to run for president in the United States. If she wins the presidency, she would be both the first Indian-origin president and the first woman president. Her Indian heritage is expected to be significant in the upcoming elections, especially since the Republican Vice President nominee, JD Vance, has an Indian wife and is appealing to immigrant voters.
