Following the announcement of Joe Biden’s withdrawal, Kamala Harris is positioning herself as the leading contender to represent the Democratic Party in the November 2024 US presidential election. However, the official designation of the candidate will only take place at the Democratic convention, to be held in Chicago from August 19 to 22

Joe Biden has finally decided to withdraw from the presidential race. The American president announced his decision on Sunday, July 21, after weeks of doubts about his physical and mental capabilities. “It is in the best interests of my party and the country that I step aside to focus fully on my duties as President until the end of my term,” he said in a statement. He also expressed his support for his vice-president, Kamala Harris, to replace him.

Under increasing pressure, particularly after a mediocre performance in a debate against Donald Trump on June 27, Joe Biden had been facing calls to step down from his position from many members of his party and donors worried about a possible defeat by the Republican candidate. What are the next developments? H24 MEDIA takes a look at the next steps.

The choice of the 3,936 Democratic Party delegates

The decision on the future Democratic candidate rests in the hands of the 3,936 delegates attending the convention.

Initially, this gathering was simply intended to confirm Joe Biden’s candidacy, since no strong rival had opposed him in the primaries. He had thus secured the support of 3,896 delegates.

With Biden’s withdrawal, what direction will the delegates take?With Joe Biden’s public endorsement of Kamala Harris, it’s highly likely that she’ll receive broad support at the Chicago convention.

“Our delegates are ready to take their responsibility seriously and quickly propose a candidate to the American people,” said Jaime Harrison.Elaine Kamarck of the Brookings Institute had anticipated, prior to Biden’s withdrawal, that such a situation could lead to a tumultuous convention, with each faction trying to promote its favorite candidate.

A similar scenario occurred on March 31, 1968, when President Lyndon B.Johnson announced that he would not seek a second term in office in the midst of the Vietnam War. The candidate chosen at the last minute, Hubert Humphrey, ultimately lost to Richard Nixon.In July 1924, Democratic delegates even needed 101 rounds of voting at New York’s Madison Square Garden to choose their candidate.

Several potential candidates to replace Joe Biden

With the announcement of his withdrawal, Joe Biden immediately expressed his support for Kamala Harris as his successor.

Harris, the daughter of a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, has already made history by becoming California’s first black female attorney general and the first senator of South Asian descent. Despite these achievements, her profile divides the Democratic Party. Some doubt her ability to beat Donald Trump, while others point to her failure in the 2020 primaries, as Politico points out.

It is important to note that there is no electoral rule stipulating that the running mate automatically takes the place of the incumbent candidate.Other prominent Democrats are also being considered for the nomination. Among them, California Governor Gavin Newsom. At 56, this former mayor of San Francisco has recently stepped up his activities abroad and aired ads extolling his record, investing millions of dollars in a political action committee.Following the announcement of Joe Biden’s retirement, he hailed on X “one of the most influential and altruistic presidents” in the country’s history, fuelling speculation about his presidential ambitions.

Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, is another potential candidate

At 52, she leads a state with a strong working-class population and large black and Arab communities, electorates that Joe Biden had trouble winning over. Her supporters believe that Michigan will be one of the key states in the next presidential election, making her an ideal candidate for the party.

Finally, the name of Josh Shapiro, 51, Governor of Pennsylvania, has also been mentioned.

Shapiro leads one of the largest “Swing States” and has a solid record as the state’s former Attorney General. He is known for exposing sexual abuse by Catholic priests and for suing Purdue Labs, makers of the powerful opioid OxyContin.