Democrats Quietly Jockey to Succeed Biden
As President Biden navigates the growing challenges of his beleaguered presidency, a growing list of Democrats are more and more aggressively positioning themselves for a potential run for the White House in 2024.
Democratic governors and senators are laying the groundwork for a potential presidential bid, either in 2024 or 2028, in case Biden drops out unexpectedly or chooses not to run for re-election before the Democratic National Convention next August.
This ambitious and aggressive move by the next generation of Democrats highlights their fears for their party and their own future political aspirations.
While publicly supporting Biden's re-election, these Democrats are also making calculated moves to boost their national profiles and establish themselves as potential contenders in the next presidential race.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, and California Representative Ro Khanna have all recently traveled to New Hampshire, a state known for its early presidential primaries.
Additionally, Pritzker, along with California Governor Gavin Newsom and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, have launched national political organizations focused on key issues like abortion rights and gun safety.
Vice President Kamala Harris has also been actively promoting her stance on abortion rights and engaging with historically Black colleges and universities through her "Fight for Our Freedoms College Tour."
While reiterating their support for President Biden and their commitment to his re-election campaign, behind the scenes, these Democrats are also preparing for a potential scenario where Biden may not be up for another term.
According to a recent analysis from the Brookings Institution, if Biden were to drop out of the race before the end of this year, there would be enough time for candidates to get on state ballots and determine the nomination. But if he were to drop out after January 1st, the nomination fight would most likely go to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where delegates would be free to support any candidate they choose.
This early jockeying by Democrats has not gone unnoticed, with some already making moves to solidify their positions:
California Governor Gavin Newsom recently traveled abroad to meet with foreign leaders, including President Xi Jinping of China.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy also went abroad to meet with leaders in South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan.
Arizona Senator Mark Kelly has been visiting swing states and stumping for Senate colleagues.
New Jersey Senator Cory Booker has been keeping in touch with his 2020 political team and reaching out to Democratic officials in South Carolina.
While some may view this as a shrewd move by Democrats, it is not without precedent. In 1968, President Lyndon Johnson withdrew from the race amid ongoing challenges such as the Vietnam War, stating that he could not devote his time to personal partisan causes.
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Whether or not Biden will face similar challenges in the coming years remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure, the next generation of Democrats are already preparing for a potential run for the White House.