In a recent electoral setback, Kamala Harris’ defeat is likely to be seen as a reflection on President Joe Biden, even though he was not on the ballot. As Democrats begin to assess the ramifications of President-elect Donald Trump’s decisive win, frustrations are emerging regarding Biden’s decision to pursue reelection until mid-summer. Many in the party assert that this choice, combined with concerns over Biden’s age and challenges such as rising inflation and immigration issues, significantly contributed to their electoral loss.
Andrew Yang, who previously vied for the Democratic nomination against Biden in 2020 and later endorsed Harris, stated, “The biggest onus of this loss is on President Biden.” He suggested that a decision to step down earlier might have changed the party’s fortunes. Throughout his presidency, Biden has dealt with major events, including navigating the nation through a prolonged pandemic, rallying international support for Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, and passing a substantial $1 trillion infrastructure bill that is expected to benefit various communities for years to come.
However, Biden will now transition from office to allow Trump, who has previously faced significant legal and political challenges, to return after only one term. Trump’s agenda promises to considerably alter the federal landscape and retract many of Biden’s policies. “Maybe in 20 or 30 years, history will remember Biden for some of these achievements,” remarked Thom Reilly from Arizona State University. He added that, in the immediate term, Biden’s legacy may unfortunately be viewed as facilitating a Trump comeback.
During the aftermath of the election, Biden has remained largely out of sight, reaching out to congratulate some Democratic lawmakers who managed to secure wins in lesser-known races, as well as reaching out to Trump for a White House meeting, which the president-elect accepted. In a statement following Harris’ concession speech, Biden commended her for conducting what he termed an “historic campaign” amid challenging conditions.
Some senior figures within the Democratic Party, including advisors from Harris’ campaign, voiced their dissatisfaction with Biden for not recognizing sooner that he may not have been suited for the ongoing political battle. These advisors, who preferred to remain anonymous, indicated that there was a growing sentiment within the party that Biden’s continuation was detrimental to Harris’ chances.
At 81, Biden concluded his reelection bid in July, a decision that came only weeks after a dismal performance in a crucial debate left many questioning his capacity to effectively serve. Public opinion polling reflected widespread concern, with a significant 77% of Americans expressing in August 2023 that they believed Biden was too old to serve an additional four years, as reported by a reputable polling agency.
Biden ultimately chose to withdraw from the race on July 21 after being urged by influential Democrats like former President Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi. He subsequently endorsed Harris and transferred his campaign apparatus to her. While Harris was able to galvanize more enthusiasm among the party’s base than Biden had, she encountered challenges in portraying how her administration would diverge from Biden’s.
During her appearance on ABC’s “The View” in September, when asked how her decisions would differ from Biden’s, Harris struggled to provide a clear example, stating, “There is not a thing that comes to mind.” This misstep provided fodder for the Trump campaign throughout the election cycle. Campaign advisors suggested that the compressed timeframe made it increasingly challenging for Harris to carve out her own identity separate from Biden.
They noted that had Biden announced his exit sooner, it would have allowed for a primary contest that could have better positioned Harris or another candidate to outline distinct policy differences. Nevertheless, factors such as dissatisfaction regarding post-pandemic economic conditions and a broken immigration system weighed heavily on voter minds in critical states, leaving the party in a difficult position.
Harris’ senior advisor David Plouffe labeled the outcome a “devastating loss.” While he did not place blame specifically, he acknowledged that the Harris campaign had “dug out of a deep hole but not enough.” After Harris’ concession address, several of her supporters expressed their disappointment that she did not have adequate time to present her vision to voters. “I think that would have made a huge difference,” remarked a Howard University student present at her speech.
The election results indicate a likely Republican control of the White House and Senate, with the fate of the House yet to be confirmed. Matt Bennett, a prominent voice in the Democratic Party’s affiliated group Third Way, described this moment as the most challenging the party has confronted in decades. “Harris was dealt a really bad hand,” he commented, suggesting that while some of the challenges were a result of Biden’s actions, others were out of his control. The question remains whether the Democrats would be in a better position had Biden chosen to withdraw earlier, a matter that will continue to be scrutinized in the coming months.