What happens if Biden steps down
The pressure on US President Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential race has grown significantly in the past few days. Concerns over his age and doubts about his mental fitness are immense, even among his closest associates. According to media reports, Biden is considering withdrawing. Important questions and answers if Biden withdraws:
What would happen if Biden steps down now?
Biden has already won the internal primaries of his party and secured the necessary delegate votes for the nominating convention taking place from August 19-22 in Chicago, Illinois. Originally, the 81-year-old was supposed to be officially nominated as the presidential candidate there. If Biden were to actually withdraw shortly beforehand, the delegates in Chicago would no longer be bound by the results of their state primaries but free in their decision.
The Democrats would likely not be interested in starting an open competition among several replacement candidates and turning the convention into a venue for a voting drama. More likely, they would try to rally the party behind a new leading figure beforehand.
Who could that be?
Biden's Vice President, Kamala Harris, is seen as a natural successor. Recently, signs have emerged that Biden might nominate Harris as his presidential candidate for the November election in place of himself. The 59-year-old, who was long considered bland and struggled with poor poll numbers, has gained momentum in recent times.
Harris is the first woman and the first Black person to take the oath as US Vice President. Her father immigrated to the US to study economics. Her mother, a cancer researcher and civil rights activist, came from India. The Democrats would need compelling reasons to overlook Harris. Additionally, she would need a vice presidential candidate by her side if she were to run.
Are there alternatives to Harris?
Besides Harris, the names of Gavin Newsom and Gretchen Whitmer have been mentioned most frequently lately. Newsom is the Governor of the powerful state of California. He has made a name for himself nationally and has worked intensely on his political profile, most recently with much-noticed foreign trips. Whitmer is the Governor of Michigan and has been seen as an up-and-coming figure in the party for some time. Before the 2020 election, Biden had considered her as his vice presidential candidate. US media report that both have made it clear that they are not available as potential vice presidents for Harris.
What if Biden withdraws after the convention?
Would Biden drop out of the race only after his official nomination, the Democratic Party leadership would be in a good position. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) consists of several hundred members - representatives from all states. Therefore, it would not be a small board circle making the decision. However, according to experts, it could cause problems if the decision on who represents the party was made in such a round. To prevent this, it is theoretically possible for an additional party convention to be called - if it is feasible in terms of time and logistics.
If Joe Biden indeed decides to withdraw from the United States Presidential Election 2024, the spotlight would shift towards potential successors within the Democratic Party. Among them, Vice President Kamala Harris, a historical figure as the first woman and the first Black person to hold the position, has gained significant momentum and is strongly considered as a viable replacement. Should Biden withdraw after the nominating convention in Chicago, the Democrats would need to navigate the process carefully to avoid internal conflict, potentially considering an additional party convention if necessary.
