Meet the Top 5 Democratic Contenders Who Can Replace Joe Biden | News Explained

Here’s a look at five Democrats who could replace Biden.

1. Kamala Harris

The 59-year-old vice president seems like an obvious choice: she will automatically become president once Biden chooses to step down. But the problem is that her approval ratings are abysmal. “She has been widely criticized for failing to define her own role in the Biden administration,” according to a Guardian report. As a result, experts believe she would struggle against Trump.

Credit: Reuters

2. Gretchen Whitmer

Some speculation suggests that Michigan Governor Whitmer, 52, could also replace Biden. She served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2001 to 2006 and the Michigan Senate from 2006 to 2015. Whitmer first became Michigan governor in 2019 and has secured her bid for re-election in 2022. “She favors stricter gun laws, repealing abortion bans and supporting universal preschool,” the Guardian report said.

Credit: Gretchen Whitmer

3. Gavin Newsom

California Governor Gavin Newsom, 56, who previously served as lieutenant governor of California and mayor of San Francisco, is another candidate. His support for Democrats in elections outside California sparked rumors last year that he was running a “shadow campaign” for the White House. However, after the Biden vs. Trump debate ended on Thursday, Newsom played down rumors that he would replace Trump. He told reporters he was “very proud of the president.”

Credits: Reuters

4. JB Pritzker

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, 59, has also been regularly listed as a potential alternative to Biden. He’s ambitious and one of the wealthiest among the likely surrogates listed here: The Pritzker family owns the Hyatt hotel chain. During his tenure as governor of Illinois, he codified the state’s abortion rights and declared it a “sanctuary state” for women seeking abortions.

Credit: Reuters

5. Josh Shapiro

Josh Shapiro has been governor of Pennsylvania since 2022. He served four terms in the state House of Representatives and later two terms as a Montgomery County commissioner. According to an April 2024 Franklin & Marshall College poll, he has 54% approval in the state, including 29% approval among registered Republicans, the Financial Times reported.

Credits: Wikimedia Commons