Pressure Mounts on Biden: Who Could Replace Him?
At least 30 Democrats in the House of Representatives, three senators, and several key donors—including actor George Clooney—have urged Joe Biden to withdraw from the race for a new term as President of the United States, following his poor performance in the debate with Donald Trump at the end of June.
In this context, the BBC examines potential Democratic replacements for Biden in the event of his withdrawal.
Opinion polls released in the weeks following the debate show an advantage for Trump in key states, increasing pressure on the current president. Joe Biden continues to assert that he will remain in the race, but he recently stated that the only reason he would withdraw is due to a medical issue.
How Joe Biden Could Be Replaced in the Presidential Race
There are two scenarios in which Joe Biden’s campaign could end: through his voluntary withdrawal or if his own party forces him out of the race. The BBC notes that the first option would be simpler: Democratic delegates who currently support the president would be free to vote for another candidate, and whoever secures the majority of delegates at the convention would become the new candidate. The second scenario would be much more complex.
The Democrats plan to organise a roll call vote to officially nominate Biden as the party’s candidate before the August 7 deadline for submitting candidacies, and 12 days before the convention begins. Leah Daughtry, chairwoman of the convention rules committee, stated on Friday that "any challenger would need verified support from hundreds of delegates" in the virtual vote to overturn the process, which would be very difficult to achieve.
Biden won 3,896 delegates in the Democratic primaries, and a candidate needs 1,968 to secure the nomination in the first round of voting. Vice President Kamala Harris is a clear and increasingly popular choice within the party to replace Joe Biden, according to the BBC. She has proven to be a loyal ally of the president and defended his performance in the debate. After the event, she acknowledged that Biden had a "slow start," but argued that he continued to provide more substantial answers than Trump.
A few days after the debate, as concerns grew about the president’s ability to win the election, Kamala Harris reiterated her support.
However, Harris faces low approval ratings. 51% of Americans disapprove of her, while 37% approve, according to opinion poll averages tracked by FiveThirtyEight.
Democrat Gretchen Whitmer, who has served two terms as Governor of Michigan, is gaining increasing popularity in the Midwest. Many experts predict she will run for president in 2028. She has campaigned for Biden but told the New York Times that she wants to see a Generation X president in 2028, without indicating that she might be the one to fill this role.
In 2022, Whitmer led a campaign that resulted in Democrats in Michigan taking control of the state legislature and the governor’s mansion. This political control allowed her to enact a series of progressive policies, such as protecting abortion access in Michigan and implementing measures on gun safety.
Gavin Newsom, Governor of California and a billionaire businessman and heir to the Hyatt hotel chain, frequently appears on American television praising Joe Biden. He is also often mentioned as a potential candidate for 2028, but many Democratic experts now suggest he could be a replacement for Biden.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg’s presidential aspirations are well-known. He ran for president in 2020 and is frequently cited as one of the best communicators of the Biden administration.
Josh Shapiro, Governor of Pennsylvania, has received high approval ratings since his election in 2022, in a state where Donald Trump narrowly won in 2016. Last year, he made headlines in American newspapers by quickly rebuilding a collapsed bridge on a critical highway in Philadelphia, which was seen as a significant political victory for a first-term governor.
J.B. Pritzker, Governor of Illinois and a billionaire businessman and heir to the Hyatt hotel chain, is among those who have consistently defended Joe Biden and criticised Donald Trump.
The Democratic Party has a strong pool of potential future presidential candidates, according to the BBC, making the list of those who could replace Joe Biden quite extensive. Among the names mentioned are Andy Beshear, the two-term Governor of Kentucky, and Wes Moore, the Governor of Maryland.
Additionally, Senators Amy Klobuchar and Cory Booker, who have run for president in the past, enjoy some recognition among Democrats. Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia has also been mentioned as a possible replacement for Biden.
Furthermore, a Reuters/Ipsos poll published on Tuesday showed that the only person who could defeat Trump is former First Lady Michelle Obama. However, she has repeatedly stated that she has no presidential aspirations.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
