Joe Biden may not be President of the United States forever. Whoever replaces Biden as the Democratic candidate in future elections will have big shoes to fill if they want to carry on with his policy initiatives, such as healthcare reform, state debt relief and tax cuts. As we look ahead to the next election cycle and beyond, it’s important to consider some potential Biden replacements and the challenges they could face in succeeding him.
The Democratic Party has a deep pool of talented candidates who could potentially replace Biden as their party’s leader in upcoming elections, ranging from experienced lawmakers and governors to those freshly entering politics who bring a unique perspective that appeals to younger generations of voters. From Bernie Sanders to Andrew Yang, many are equipped with various skill sets and experiences that make them serious contenders for consideration. But no matter who picks up the torch from Joe Biden — assuming he does not serve more than two terms — they will face unique obstacles from following such a beloved public figure.
In this article we certainly do not intend to establish one replacement as obviously superior or discount any others — there are simply too many variables at play. At this point all we can do is discuss some potential replacements for Joe Biden in upcoming elections so everyone knows their stances on the major issues at hand. From there we can begin evaluating which potential candidates would make an advantageous pick for political parties within and outside US borders.
Joe Biden’s Resignation
Joe Biden’s resignation has created a vacancy in the Vice Presidency that needs to be filled. The possible candidates to replace him include California Governor Gavin Newsom, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and former presidential candidate and Senator Elizabeth Warren. Each candidate has different strengths and weaknesses and will bring different perspectives and ideas to the White House. Let’s look at the possible replacements for Joe Biden in more detail.
Biden’s Resignation Reasons
On March 11, 2021, then-Vice President Joe Biden announced his intention to resign from the office of Vice President of the United States. This decision was made after months of speculation over whether or not Biden would seek a second term in office. The primary reason behind Biden’s resignation was that he believed his age and health were no longer suited to graciously serving in the role; he also indicated dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump’s agenda.
In the wake of Biden’s resignation, numerous potential candidates have emerged as possible successors; however, none has yet gained official support from either party leadership. Chief among these potential candidates are current Senator Kamala Harris and former Secretary of State John Kerry. Senator Harris is seen as a progressive choice for those who wish for a resounding repudiation of Trump through selecting someone from the opposite political pole. By contrast, John Kerry is seen as having a more moderate stance on issues and better able to lead progressive and conservative elements into alignment on future issues.
Other potential nominees include retiring Arizona Senator Jeff Flake (R), New York Governor Andrew M Cuomo (D), former Vice President Al Gore (D) and several other cabinet secretary level veterans from both parties. Ultimately, it is up to the party apparatus to decide who will succeed Biden as Vice President; regardless, it will be interesting to see which direction they take their pick in after such a long tenure under Biden’s leadership.
What Would Happen After Biden’s Resignation
In the event of Joe Biden’s resignation or death, the president pro tempore of the Senate—the position occupied by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa)—would become acting president until a new election could determine who would serve out the remainder of Biden’s term. According to Article 2, Section 1, Clause 6 of the Constitution, that person “shall act as President” until election results are certified by Congress.
It would take some time for a new election to occur and for Congress to certify its results. During that period, Grassley would become acting president and be vested with the same powers and privileges given to President Biden under law. Given his age and past health concerns, Grassley might not be interested in becoming acting president; in such an event, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) could assume that role by Article 2, Section 1, Clause 4 of the Constitution.
If both Biden’s resignation and Grassley’s decline came before primary ballots had been cast in any state contests—in other words if no candidate had yet won enough delegates to secure a nomination at either party’s convention—the decision on who will ultimately succeed him would go back to Congress under Title 3 U.S. Code section 19(b). In that case lawmakers would assemble a bipartisan Commission composed of representatives from all 50 states who will pick one public figure they believe can best serve as acting president until elections can occur later in the year. Both houses of Congress must then approve the Commission’s selection with two-thirds majority vote before such person is sworn in as acting president.
Biden Replaces Harris With Newsom And Then Resigns
With the news of Biden planning to resign and replace Harris with Newsom, the governing party will soon face the important responsibility of finding a suitable replacement for Biden. As the transition of power takes place, speculation has already begun around who could replace Biden and serve as the next President of the United States. So let’s take a closer look at potential candidates.
Kamala Harris
Kamala Devi Harris is an American politician and attorney currently serving as the United States’s vice president. She is the first woman and second Black or South Asian person to serve in the office. Before that, she was elected twice as California’s Attorney General, serving from 2011 to 2017, and was a U.S. Senator representing California from 2017 until 2021. Before her current roles in national politics, she has worked as a prosecutor since 1990 in state and local offices.
Along with being one of the leading potential contenders to replace Biden at his second term of president , Harris also has gained wide attention for her many accomplishments while in office and her moral character and commitment to justice reform issues. Since entering the political arena, she has become one of the most visible figures through her writing, activism, dialogue and leadership on many key topics about modern society such as healthcare, immigration policy or prison reform.
Harris graduated from Howard University School of Law and soon after worked as a deputy district attorney for Alameda County (Oakland). She prosecuted cases related mostly to crimes committed against children by their family members . After launching her political career with a successful campaign for District Attorney for San Francisco in 2003 , Harris moved up into higher positions that included two terms being Attorney General for California from 2011-2017 . It was during this time when she took on several high profile cases such as issues related to death penalty procedures or fighting predatory lenders . Before becoming Vice President , Harris held elected office as US Senator since 2016 representing California while serving on judiciary committee hearings focusing mostly around national security matters such abortion rights or technology regulationsmaking which have made it easier for economic stability worldwide with policies outlined through bills like “Internet Freedom & Human Rights Act 2020” just recently passed late last year by vice president Kamala Harris during December 2020 House session vote .
In addition to being considered by many one of the leading contenders who could potentially replace Vice President Biden at his second term , Kamala Harris also recently released new proposals aiming at overhauling U.S legislation towards more equality oriented options- most noticeably addressed in an Executive Order issued prior month by White House which deals with increasing presence & visibility of female athletes / sports women within athletics sector nationwide .
Gavin Newsom
Gavin Christopher Newsom is an American businessman and politician who currently serves as the 40th governor of California. Newsom was the former mayor of San Francisco, serving from 2004 until 2011. He was re-elected in 2007 with 72 percent of the vote, and is the current governor since being elected in 2018.
Newsom entered politics in 1996 when he was appointed to San Francisco’s Parking and Traffic Commission. In 2003, he became mayor of San Francisco after a lengthy campaign between himself and then-incumbent Willie Brown. During his tenure, he championed affordable housing, criminal justice reform and promoted a more inclusive economy. Since becoming Governor, Newsom has focused on addressing California’s most pressing issues such as poverty, access to healthcare and income inequality.
Newsom’s background in business and experience managing a large city have made him an ideal choice for many when selecting potential candidates to replace Joe Biden on the ballot in 2020. In addition, he has demonstrated his commitment to progressive policies through his track record as Mayor of San Francisco and as Governor of California since 2018. His values also align with that of Biden’s, making Gavin Newsom one of the top contenders for Biden’s running mate this upcoming election.
Other Potential Candidates
Outside of Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden, other potential candidates have been suggested as possible replacements for Biden. For example, Kamala Harris, the current vice-presidential candidate on the Democratic ticket, has been an early favorite for many progressive Democrats, who view her as an experienced and battle-tested candidate with experience in a wide array of policy areas. Another high-profile possibility is former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. While Clinton has insisted she is not interested in being a placeholder for Biden, her name appears frequently in conversations about possible replacements for Biden.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Stacey Abrams are two other popular contenders to replace Biden. Both women have shown a tremendous commitment to progressive causes and initiatives in recent years that have endeared them to the party base. In addition, they both have extensive political experience that would make them strong candidates to take over if Joe Biden steps down from his role at some point. Other potential candidates mentioned as potential successors to Biden include New York Senator Kirstin Gillibrand and California Senator Kamala Harris. Lastly, some political analysts also suggest that Beto O’Rourke or Andrew Yang could be possible contenders should something happen to Joe Biden before November 3rd 2020.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the decision on who will replace Joe Biden as President of the United States lies with the American people. But, unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for our current political climate, and each potential candidate should be judged on their merits and assessed based on how well they fill the nation’s current needs.
It is important to remember that there are many criteria for selecting a presidential candidate, from ability to overcome obstacles, knowledge about policy issues facing America, to their experience and track record in public service. However, each of these criteria should be weighed together to make a fair assessment when exploring potential candidates to replace Joe Biden as President of the United States. Ultimately, it is up to each voter to decide who should take this important role. Whomever we choose must be capable of representing every American while effectively leading us all through these tumultuous times.
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