Biden is OUT, election in tailspin

After mounting pressure from his base, President Joe Biden announced he would not seek reelection due to concerns about his fitness for office, sending the Democratic Party into a tailspin less than four months before Election Day.

“My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” posted the seasoned Washington veteran on Sunday, effectively marking the conclusion of his storied 54-year political career. After a widely panned debate performance against Donald Trump at the end of June, Biden faced pressure from the media and other prominent figures in the Democratic Party to bow out of the race. Previously, he boasted he would only drop out if “the Lord Almighty came down and said, ‘Joe, get out of the race.’”

Less than a month before the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, the party now faces unprecedented questions about moving forward in the contest against Trump. Following an assassination attempt on his life, crucial court victories in Florida, an electrifying vice-presidential running mate announcement, and last week’s RNC, Trump’s recent momentum starkly contrasts with the divisions plaguing the Democratic Party.

Further complicating matters is the dilemma of how to proceed after Democrats have already cast their votes for Biden in the primaries. Amidst these concerns, the outgoing president has expressed “full support” for Kamala Harris. Several states have also pledged their delegates to Harris.

By Monday evening, she had secured enough delegates to become the party’s nominee. However, this does not necessarily guarantee that she will clinch the position, with Republican officials, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, threatening to challenge the legality of replacing Biden sans the primary process.

“Tonight, I am proud to have earned the support needed to become our party’s nominee,” Harris announced on “X.” “Over the next few months, I'll be traveling across the country talking to Americans about everything on the line. I fully intend to unite our party and our nation, and defeat Donald Trump.”

“I think she is no better than him,” Trump reacted to the possibility of running against Harris instead of Biden. “She could be far less competent, which is hard to believe.”

This is a developing story. Refresh for updates.