After Thursday’s disastrous excuse for a presidential debate, New York Times opinion columnist Thomas Friedman wrote that Joe Biden “has no business running for reelection.” Columnist Nicolas Kristof also said he hopes Biden “reviews his debate performance” and “withdraws from the race.” Johanna Maska, a Democratic consultant and former Barack Obama aide, wrote on X: “We cannot do this, Democrats. Joe Biden can’t put a sentence together.” Meanwhile, numerous other Democratic insiders and donors are in a state of panic.
So if President Biden won’t make it to November, then who could step up? Here’s a quick run through of the possibilities:
Kamala Harris
Despite her low approval ratings at below 40 percent, at the comparatively young age of fifty-nine, Vice President Harris would be the most practical choice and could pick up campaigning right where Biden left off. The GOP, however, is already running against her as an equally baffling public speaker compared to the man she’d replace.
Gavin Newsom
Governor of California, he’s built his national profile well, beat back a recall campaign and emphasized his ability to take on Republicans. He rode out the storm of his lockdown-breaking French Laundry dinner. He is in a great position for 2028, though, so why risk it now?
Michelle Obama
Well, she’s popular, but it’s highly unlikely she’ll take Biden’s place. She has no experience as a candidate and has never expressed a desire to run. In fact, she told Oprah she’d never run.
Gretchen Whitmer
Governor of Michigan and a former prosecutor, she’s a rising star for helping Wolverine State Dems recapture the state House and Senate in 2020, the first time in decades; however her appeal to swing voters nationally is unclear and, like Newsom, she found herself a hate figure for her Covid policies and hypocrisies.
Andy Beshear
Governor of Kentucky, he has the chops to win in red-state America, and he recently announced an economic program including federal funding for decarbonization technologies. He comes across, though, as a stereotypical middle-aged southern white male and lacks national name recognition.
Roy Cooper
North Carolina’s governor recently made headlines for vetoing legislation on an anti-masking law — red meat for the left. But he probably just isn’t well known enough to take over this late in the race.
Wes Moore
Governor of Maryland, he was recently thrust into the spotlight after a ship crashed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge. When asked if he felt ready to replace Biden, he said, “President Biden is not just the nominee, but [he] is the best candidate for the presidency.” He was also accused of misleading voters about his upbringing. Probably not a candidate.
Josh Shapiro
Only two years into his role as governor of Pennsylvania, he’s fairly inexperienced and may be a better fit for the 2028 race. Like Whitmer, though, he is popular in a crucial Democratic state and seen as a centrist, which is a likely key to Democratic victory.
Raphael Warnock
Georgia senator Warnock won two tight Senate races in 2020 and 2022 in a prime swing state and is an excellent orator. But he has some personal baggage, lacks national name recognition and he would leave a vacancy in the US Senate for a Republican governor to fill.
Cory Booker
A long-time New Jersey senator, Booker is better known than many others on this list, but he’s widely regarded as someone whose youthful promise hasn’t been fulfilled.
Pete Buttigieg
Secretary of transportation and former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, he competed well in the 2020 presidential primaries. The first openly gay person to serve in the president’s cabinet, his social media presence boosted his popularity among Gen Z (and Midwestern Facebook moms). His tenure as secretary of transportation has been undistinguished and his star has dimmed. Not a serious contender.
Hillary Clinton
Total name recognition, weak campaigner, underperformed in 2016, but still a top bet. She has nothing to lose and she could sit on top of the ticket over Harris without outraging feminists. The downside? She has lost to Trump before.
Jared Polis
Openly gay Colorado governor Jared Polis also won reelection in a purple state by twenty points, but his wider appeal is untested.
Amy Klobuchar
Minnesota’s senator, she is seen as pragmatic and agreeable, but her 2020 campaign did not gain much traction and may not be the best choice to take on Trump.
J.B. Pritzker
Governor Pritzker is a billionaire who could raise significant funds quickly from the wealthy Democratic elite, but he’s strongly associated with the decline of Chicago and the rest of Illinois.
Despite the overwhelming number of options, no Democrat stands out as a no-brainer. And if recent noise from the White House is to be believed, Biden is gearing up for debate number two already.
