President Joe Biden has announced he will not seek re-election, instead endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as his preferred successor. Biden stated that his decision was made in the best interest of the United States, emphasizing his commitment to completing his current term.
Pressure had been mounting on Biden to withdraw from the race due to concerns over his health, with a significant number of Democratic and Independent lawmakers urging him to step down. To date, 37 legislators from these groups have called for his exit ahead of the upcoming November elections.
Among the voices advocating for a generational shift is Senator Joe Manchin, who recently became an independent. During an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union, “Manchin stressed the importance of passing the leadership torch to a new generation.
Other notable Democrats, including Senators Peter Welch of Vermont, Jon Tester of Montana, Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, and Sherrod Brown of Ohio, have also echoed calls for Biden to make way for younger leadership. These calls intensified following Biden’s recent underperformance in a presidential debate.
Facing off against former President Donald Trump, the 81-year-old Biden expressed pride in his administration’s accomplishments over the past three and a half years. “Over the past three and a half years, we have made great progress as a nation. Today, America has the strongest economy in the world,” Biden stated, highlighting key achievements such as historic investments in national rebuilding, lowering prescription drug costs, and expanding affordable healthcare.
Biden emphasized the nation’s unprecedented progress, attributing these successes to the collective effort of the American people. “Together, we overcame a once-in-a-century pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. We’ve protected and preserved our democracy, and we’ve revitalized and strengthened our alliances worldwide,” he said.
Reflecting on his tenure, Biden described serving as President as the greatest honor of his life. He reiterated his belief that stepping down and focusing on fulfilling his presidential duties for the remainder of his term is in the best interest of the country and his party. He also expressed his gratitude to Vice President Harris for her partnership and support.
Biden concluded by reaffirming his belief in the collective strength and potential of the American people, promising to address the nation in more detail about his decision later in the week.