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President Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race less than four months before Election Day and his endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him sets off a series of frantic steps that Democrats must take to have their ticket ready to face Donald Trump.
“Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be our party’s nominee this year. Democrats, it’s time to come together and defeat Trump. Let’s do it,” Biden wrote in X.
While Harris is the likely nominee with the president’s endorsement, it is not guaranteed until delegates vote at the convention next month to formally nominate a candidate.
There are also questions about who Harris’ running mate would be as number two on the ticket if she officially becomes the nominee.
Vice President Kamala Harris has been endorsed by President Biden to replace him on the 2024 Democratic presidential ticket
Some of the names that were floated as possible replacements before Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed Harris on Sunday include California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
While these senior Democrats are slowly reacting to the news of Biden’s exit from the race, they have yet to weigh in on joining Harris’ ticket.
These are the names that have been mentioned and what they are saying:
Governor Josh Shapiro
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s name often comes up as a Democrat with a bright political future and possible aspirations for the White House.
The governor of the battleground state was one of the first Democratic leaders to oppose replacing Biden following his shaky debate performance, but it is unclear whether he would join Harris’ ticket.
“President Biden is a patriot who has served our country honorably in the Senate, as vice president, and as one of the greatest presidents in modern history,” he wrote in X.
Governor Josh Shapiro with Vice President Kamala Harris in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 13
“President Biden has done so much to advance our country, defend our democracy, and protect real freedom. I am proud to serve alongside him and am grateful for his leadership and unwavering commitment to fulfilling the goals of Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth that raised him,” he continued.
Governor Andy Beshear
Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat who won reelection in the ruby state of Kentucky last year, released a lengthy statement on Biden’s exit from the presidential race.
“President Biden will be remembered as a momentous president. Together with Vice President Harris, he led us through the aftermath of the January 6 attack on our Capitol and out of a global pandemic. He showed up in Kentucky in the aftermath of devastating tornadoes and historic flooding, delivering immediate federal relief that is helping our communities rebuild,” she said.
“His leadership provided infrastructure investments that bring clean water and high-speed internet to parts of Kentucky that have for too long been ignored and underserved,” he continued.
Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear previously said the mention of his name as Biden’s replacement was flattering. He praised him in a statement Sunday.
“While your decision today may not have been easy, it is in the best interest of our country and our party. I want to thank you for your leadership, your kindness, and your successful presidency, which enabled us to accomplish great things.”
“It’s time for our nation to come together. We need to reduce the anger, the bitterness and the noise. We have an opportunity to remember that we are taught to treat our neighbors as ourselves and that we are all neighbors to each other,” he concluded.
Governor Roy Cooper
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has won his state in two elections, while Trump won the state in the presidential race. He is now term-limited and preparing to leave office.
His addition to the Democratic presidential ticket could bring North Carolina closer to the Democrats. He has also frequently appeared with Biden and Harris on the campaign trail.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper speaks at a Biden Harris campaign event in Greensboro, North Carolina, on July 11.
“President Biden has cemented his place among our nation’s greatest presidents,” Cooper wrote in a statement Sunday. “When our democracy faced peril, President Biden stood firm as the rarest kind of leader who could help us move forward with a vision to repair the soul of our country,” he said.
Cooper praised his passage of transformative legislation that will benefit the economy, families and the country for generations.
“I am deeply grateful to be able to call President Joe Biden a friend, and I believe he holds dear to my heart his service to our great nation,” he concluded.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has often been mentioned as one of the possible future leaders of the Democratic Party. She also hails from a battleground state and was a co-chair of Biden’s campaign.
She said her job in the election will continue to be to do everything she can to elect Democrats and stop Trump.
“President Biden is a great public servant who knows better than anyone what it will take to defeat Donald Trump,” he wrote in X.
“His remarkable work to lower prescription drug costs, fix the damn roads, restore supply chains home, address climate change and ensure America’s global leadership for decades to come will go down in history,” he continued.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vowed to do everything she can to help elect Democrats and defeat Trump
“My job in this election will remain the same: do everything I can to elect Democrats and stop Donald Trump, a convicted felon whose agenda of raising costs for families, banning abortion nationwide, and abusing the power of the White House to settle his own bills is completely wrong for Michigan,” she concluded.
Pete Buttigieg
Transportation Secretary and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg’s name has also been floated by some hopeful Democrats looking to a younger generation of leaders.
The 42-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, gained national attention for running in the 2020 primary before joining the Biden administration.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg thanked Biden for his “unwavering focus on what’s best” for the country
On Sunday, he wrote: “Joe Biden has earned his place among the best and most important presidents in American history.”
“I am so proud to serve under your leadership and grateful for your unwavering focus on what is best for our country,” he posted on X.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has been a vocal supporter of President Biden and reacted to his exit from the presidential race with high praise.
“President Biden has been an extraordinary, history-making president, a leader who has fought hard for working people and delivered amazing results for all Americans. He will go down in history as one of the most influential and selfless presidents,” Newsom said in response to Biden’s exit from the race for seat X.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom praised Biden as a “history-making” president
Asked earlier about replacing Biden on the ticket, Newsom strongly rejected it. It is still unclear what his stance is on the vice presidential post.
