Biden’s age has become a source of concern among many voters, including some who are inclined to support him over former President Donald Trump.
Through it all, Biden has defended his re-election bid, argued that his age is an asset, opposed the special counsel’s report and explained why he should be re-elected — pointing to accomplishments like the draft Bipartisan Infrastructure Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. and touting low national employment figures.
Haley vows to stay in the race in 2024, calls Trump ‘unstable and unbalanced’
Haley vows to stay in the race in 2024, calls Trump ‘unstable and unbalanced’
What does all this mean? Biden is unlikely to leave the race, especially since he struggled in the South Carolina Democratic primary earlier this month and is engaged in a likely rematch with Trump. But speculation about his withdrawal from the competition continues to circulate.
In the event that Biden somehow withdraws in the primaries after securing a majority of the 3,936 delegates needed to secure the Democratic nomination, a new candidate would have to be selected at the DNC convention in Chicago in next August. But it would be a complicated process given that the primaries are already underway.
Virtually all major Democratic governors and senators support the president’s re-election bid and have long rejected the idea of replacing him on this year’s ballot.
But who could potentially succeed Biden if such a scenario were to occur?

Vice President Kamala Harris
In many ways, Harris would be a natural successor to Biden.
As vice president, she worked closely with Biden on everything from voting rights to foreign policy. She previously served as San Francisco District Attorney, California Attorney General, and a California Senator, who is herself a historic figure as the first Black, Indian-American, and female vice president.
And she has become the face of the administration’s challenge to the series of abortion restrictions crafted by Republicans following the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade.
Trump says Newsom would be an ‘easy’ opponent if Biden drops out
Trump says Newsom would be an ‘easy’ opponent if Biden drops out
But Harris already launched a 2020 presidential bid that looked promising but failed to win over voters over time. (She ultimately ended her campaign before the primaries and caucuses began.)
As vice president, Harris was highly praised by Biden. However, his office struggled with staff turnover and reports of dysfunction early in his tenure.
And she’s also faced less-than-ideal approval ratings, sparking concerns among some Democrats about her electability as the party also looks ahead to 2028 — when she would be a potential front-runner. given its positive ratings with black voters. and young voters.

Gavin Newsom, Governor of California
Newsom, a former mayor of San Francisco and lieutenant governor of California, leads the nation’s largest state and has in recent years emerged as one of Biden’s most prominent Democratic surrogates.
California is often used as a foil by national Republicans to contrast the conservative policies of states like Florida and Texas. But Newsom has been outspoken not only in promoting the Golden State, but in touting Democratic policy positions and legislative victories — and he’s not afraid to make his arguments directly to the Republican Party.
As governor, Newsom has taken more moderate positions in recent years on issues related to labor and addressing homelessness in his state.
Newsom’s political trajectory could potentially collide with that of fellow Bay Area native Harris, but they have long had a strong working relationship and the governor has been highly complimentary of her work with Biden.

Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan
Whitmer, a two-term governor of battleground Michigan, is used to tough political fights. And during her tenure as governor, she won many of those battles: In recent years, Democrats have performed well in the Wolverine State, holding all of the state’s top offices and flipping the control of the state legislature in the 2022 midterm elections.
When Whitmer ran for reelection in 2022 against Republican Tudor Dixon, she won by nearly 11 points, reflecting her broad appeal to the electorate in a state where margins are often tight.
This fall, Michigan is expected to be one of the closest states in the nation in the presidential race. And Whitmer, a former lawmaker and former state’s attorney, is expected to be a critical voice for the Biden campaign throughout Michigan.
The governor encouraged Biden to speak more forcefully about abortion rights, an issue that galvanized many voters — but especially women — across the country after Roe was overturned.
In a potential field without Biden, Whitmer’s background in the Midwest, strong alliance with labor unions and moderate appeal could make her a serious candidate. But she would also be a new face in a contest that would likely put Trump on the Republican side.

Amy Klobuchar, Senator from Minnesota
Klobuchar, who has served in the Senate since 2007, ran for president in 2020 and had a surprisingly strong showing in the New Hampshire primary — even outperforming Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts at the time.
But her campaign couldn’t get the kind of momentum it needed in the South Carolina primary to pursue her candidacy, and she left the race.
Klobuchar would nevertheless be a candidate to watch in an open field, as she has strengthened her national presence in the primary and could boast a long history of bipartisan accomplishments representing Minnesota in the Senate.

Cory Booker, Senator from New Jersey
Booker also ran for president in 2020, ending his campaign in January of that year.
But the former Newark mayor has been a national figure for years and is considered a likely 2028 candidate.
He could easily reignite a potential 2028 campaign in South Carolina, as he campaigned statewide in 2019 and 2020.
In a scenario where Democrats had to choose a candidate other than Biden, he would likely be part of the conversation.

Roy Cooper, Governor of North Carolina
Cooper isn’t a big name among Democratic voters outside of North Carolina, at least not yet. The former state lawmaker, former North Carolina attorney general and current two-term governor, rose through the ranks of government and, along the way, overcame political divisions that would plague most politicians.
In a Republican-leaning state where Democratic candidates must compete on difficult terrain, Cooper, a moderate, came out on top.
Democrats haven’t chosen a Southern governor as their presidential nominee since Bill Clinton in 1992. Looking ahead, likely in 2028, Cooper is poised to be on the minds of many in the party .

Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland
Moore, a U.S. Army veteran and Rhodes Scholar, was first elected to the governorship in 2022. He has focused heavily on tackling issues such as child poverty and housing affordability. housing, two of the thorniest public policy challenges for leaders at the state and federal levels. .
One of Moore’s main initiatives is to reshape how patriotism is defined in politics, as he told Insider during his first gubernatorial campaign that a party or movement cannot claim independence. ‘ideal like his.
“I refuse to let anyone try to fight this,” Moore told Business Insider in an October 2022 interview, “or pretend that they have a higher stake or a higher claim than me or my family or the people with whom I served or members of my community.”
The governor, seen by many as a potential 2028 candidate, has been a strong political ally of both Biden and Harris.
Although Moore is relatively new to elected politics, his profile continues to grow within the Democratic Party.