ICYMI: Joe Biden drops out, endorses Harris

WILMINGTON, DE — On Sunday afternoon, President Joe Biden shocked the world by announcing his withdrawal from the 2024 U.S. Presidential race. In a prepared statement tweeted to his account on X, Biden stated "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 and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term." The decision comes as a result of Biden's disastrous debate performance against former President Donald Trump on June 26th. Subsequently, elected Democrats and voters en masse called on Biden to step aside and let another Democrat take the party's mantle into the November election. Biden, 81, is the oldest President in U.S. History. Biden has lost the lead in swing states even more, following a failed assassination attempt against Trump on July 13th in Butler, PA.

Biden didn't just heed the calls to step aside. Moments following his announcement that he was stepping aside, Biden posted on his X account that he was endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic nominee. "Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it's time to come together and beat Trump. Let's do this." Harris, 59, ascended to the top as major Democrats quickly coalesced around her as the party's standard bearer. In a statement posted to X, Harris thanked President Biden for his years of service, his endorsement and that it was "my intention is to earn and win this nomination. I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party—and unite our nation—to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda. If you’re with me, add a donation right now."

Since her announcement on Sunday afternoon, Harris has obtained the endorsement of hundred of Democratic member of the U.S. Congress, almost all Democratic governors, and Democratic leaders. As of this afternoon, Harris has secured 1,015 pledged delegates, more than half of the 1,968 delegates needed to clinch the Democratic nomination according to the Associated Press. She is expected to clinch the nomination by Wednesday. The Harris campaign has also raised nearly $100 million dollars since Biden's announcement that he was stepping down, the largest fundraising overhaul in U.S. history for a candidate in 2024 hours. With Democratic donors donating roughly $150 million to SuperPACs, Democrats have raised nearly $250 million in 24 hours.

With excitement high across the Democratic Party, attention turns to who Harris will pick as her running mate, with Governors Andy Beshear, Josh Shapiro, and Roy Cooper leading the list. Biden will remain as President through January 20th, 2025.