After three weeks of intense debates within the Biden administration and in the media, the 61% of Americans who wanted President Joe Biden to step aside have had their wish granted.
Only minutes after announcing he would no longer seek re-election, Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor. Major Democratic Party figures, including the Congressional Black Caucus and Bill and Hillary Clinton, quickly followed suit. Notably, former President Barack Obama has not yet publicly endorsed Harris.
Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison has promised a “transparent and orderly process” to select Biden’s successor, though further details are still forthcoming. However, the significant endorsements for Harris, combined with Democratic fears of weakening a presumed nominee in the face of Donald Trump’s candidacy, make Harris the most likely to become the next presidential nominee.
Who is Kamala Harris?
Harris’ rise from the first Black woman and Asian American vice president to likely leading a major party ticket is historic. The daughter of immigrants from India and Jamaica, Harris began her career as a prosecutor, spending almost three decades in law enforcement. She started as a local prosecutor, then became the district attorney of San Francisco before being elected California attorney-general in 2011. Her 2003 district attorney race saw her defeat a two-term incumbent with a record-breaking vote count.
Harris’ first run for statewide office in 2010 was close, winning by less than a percentage point. To this day, Harris has never lost a general election, including her Senate run in 2017, where she became the second-ever Black woman elected to the US Senate. In a unique circumstance, Harris only had to defeat another Democrat to win her Senate seat, as no Republican placed in the state’s electoral runoff.
Senate Stint and Presidential Ambitions
In the Senate, Harris served on the homeland security, intelligence, and judiciary committees, where she gained a platform to grill Trump’s judicial nominees. Her questioning of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and involvement in the Mueller investigation established her as a formidable politician.
Harris gained national attention during the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries, particularly for her confrontation with Biden over his past comments on pro-segregation politicians. Despite a strong start, her 2020 presidential campaign struggled with disorganization and a lack of compelling policy proposals, leading to its suspension before the Iowa caucuses.
Vice President Harris
As vice president, Harris played a key role in breaking ties in a 50-50 split Senate on critical legislation. Biden also assigned her challenging portfolios, including immigration, where she faced criticism for ineffective efforts to address the root causes of the influx into the U.S. However, Harris found success championing abortion rights, leading the administration’s efforts following the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
The Road Ahead
The road ahead for Harris is uncertain. While the vice presidency is often seen as a stepping stone to the presidency, only three former vice presidents—Biden, George H.W. Bush, and Richard Nixon—have successfully won the office through an election in nearly 150 years. Harris will soon need to select her own vice presidential running mate, likely a moderate male figure to reassure voters concerned about her progressive stance.
Harris’ campaign will aim to portray resistance within the Democratic Party as futile and damaging ahead of the general election against Trump. With head-to-head matchups showing her doing only marginally better than Biden against Trump, Harris has much to do in a short time.
Harris’ first comments after Biden’s endorsement saw her pledge to “unite the Democratic Party — and unite our nation — to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda.” The 2024 race, defined by negative partisanship, will see Harris facing a monumental challenge. With her history as a senator, presidential aspirant, and vice president, Harris will need to exceed her past performances to secure victory in November.
