Election 2024: What’s next for Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and the DNC

WASHINGTON — After President Joe Biden announced he was dropping from the race to stay in the White House, and then threw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris, many may be asking what is next for both Biden and Harris.

What’s ahead for Biden?

Biden dropped out of the race Sunday in a letter to the nation posted on social media that read, in part: “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. 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.”

Biden said that he intends “to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”

The term will end with the swearing-in of the next president on Jan. 20, 2025, when whoever wins the Nov. 5 election will take the oath of office.

He said that he will be addressing the nation later this week, giving more detail about his decision to drop out.

Biden had been under immense pressure for nearly a month after his performance during the first presidential debate in June and falling ill with COVID-19. Until Sunday he had said he was looking forward to getting back on the campaign trail.

Biden has endorsed Harris for the Democratic nomination.

What’s ahead for Harris?

Harris officially launched her campaign for president Sunday, writing on social media:

Her campaign also filed with the Federal Election Commission on Sunday, CBS News reported.

The campaign raised more than $60 billion on Sunday after the change, The New York Times reported. It is the third biggest fundraising day for ActBlue, a nonprofit “home of small-dollar donors.”

While Harris keeps collecting endorsements from governors and other top Democrats, she still has to decide who will serve as her running mate as vice president.

NBC News said some of the politicians on the shortlist include:

• North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (endorsed Harris)
• Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly (endorsed Harris)
• Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (endorsed Harris)
• Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock (endorsed Harris)
• Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (endorsed Harris)

Other names have been floated as potential challengers to Harris for the nomination.

What’s ahead for the DNC?

The Democratic National Convention had planned on nominating Biden as the candidate but now will change course, saying it will determine when and how it will choose the next candidate. DNC members have a meeting set for Wednesday at 2 p.m. to hammer out the details. CBS News reported senior members held an emergency meeting on Sunday.

The DNC chair pledged that they would be transparent in choosing the nominee:

“In the coming days, the Party will undertake a transparent and orderly process to move forward as a united Democratic Party with a candidate who can defeat Donald Trump in November. This process will be governed by established rules and procedures of the Party. Our delegates are prepared to take seriously their responsibility in swiftly delivering a candidate to the American people,” Jaime Harrison said according to CBS News.

The DNC is scheduled to be held on Aug. 19 through Aug. 22 in Chicago, the first time since the party nominated former President Bill Clinton for his second term, USA Today reported. The Republican National Convention, which officially nominated former President Donald Trump as its candidate, was held last week.

But the Chicago event may be a ceremonial convention. The Democrats may select their nominee before the convention begins by holding a virtual roll call before Aug. 7 since several states have ballot deadlines that come before the convention’s scheduled start date.

Harris is the presumptive nominee, but there are others who could get votes whenever they poll the delegates.

After Biden’s announcement, Bill Clinton, along with former Secretary of State and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, announced their support of Harris in a joint statement.

But former President Barack Obama only wrote about Biden’s decision and his dedication to the country with no mention of Harris, CNN reported.

Among potential nominees, according to USA Today:

• California Gov. Gavin Newsom (endorsed Harris)
• Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (endorsed Harris)
• Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (endorsed Harris)
• Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (endorsed Harris)
• Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (endorsed Harris)
• Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (endorsed Harris)

Each, however, has thrown their support behind Harris.

Two other candidates could still technically challenge Harris: Marianne Williamson resumed her candidacy in February but has zero delegates and Rep. Dean Phillips (D - MN) had four delegates but dropped from the race in March, USA Today reported.

The name of Sen. Joe Manchin (I - WVa.) had been floated but he would have had to change his party affiliation again. He told CBS Mornings on Monday that he will not be running. But he did add he wanted to see it be a competitive process.

“I think a lot of people would like to see a mini primary,” Manchin told the news program. “That’s the process — find out if you have the strongest candidate, whether it could be Kamala or whoever else.”

Still, DNC executive committee member Alan Clendenin said that a “supermajority” of delegates would support Harris.

“The delegates at the convention are the ones who place our candidate on the ballot,” Clendenin told CBS News. “If Biden was still on the ticket, that was going to be process.”

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