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Election 2024 updates: Democrats raise $27M after Biden exit, Harris steps forward

President Joe Biden was under heavy pressure from fellow Democrats.

Last Updated: July 21, 2024, 6:54 PM EDT

President Joe Biden's decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race on Sunday came after heavy pressure from congressional Democrats, including Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and more than 30 House lawmakers.

Biden, 81, had resisted calls to step aside that grew almost daily following his poor performance in his June 27 debate with former President Donald Trump and persistent questions about his age and mental fitness. His decision comes just a few months before the Nov. 5 election.

Biden backed his vice president, Kamala Harris for the top of the ticket -- triggering many others in the party to issue statements backing Harris.

10 hours and 25 minutes ago

First Lady Jill Biden supported Joe in 'whichever road he chose'

As President Joe Biden made the decision to step aside from his bid for reelection, he had the support of his wife, Jill.

The first lady's communications director, Elizabeth Alexander, said Jill was "supportive of whatever road he chose" in the 2024 election.

First Lady Jill Biden looks on as President Joe Biden speaks to supporters and volunteers during a campaign stop in Harrisburg, PA, July 7, 2024.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

"Down to the last hours of the decision only he could make, she was supportive of whatever road he chose," Alexander said of Jill.

"She’s his biggest believer, champion, and always on his side, in that trusted way only a spouse of almost 50 years can be,” Alexander said.

9 hours and 45 minutes ago

Major AAPI, Black, Latino political groups endorse Kamala Harris for president

Several major political action committees representing AAPI, Black and Latino voters have endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president.

The AAPI Victory Fund, The Collective PAC and Latino Victory Fund all announced the endorsement on Sunday.

"We will fight with all of our might to make her the first South Asian and Black woman ever to serve as President of the United States," spokespeople for the AAPI Victory Fund said in a statement.

10 hours and 51 minutes ago

RFK Jr. blasts Harris as a 'war hawk'

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. blasted Harris in a press conference on Sunday, criticizing her on everything from foreign policy to civil rights and her work as district attorney in California.

"I think, you know, Kamala Harris is the party of war. She is a war hawk -- you know, the Democratic Party was always the peace party. Kamala Harris is a war hawk on Ukraine. She's a war hawk on China," he said.

Kennedy also accused Harris of having "one of the worst civil rights record of any public official," calling her complicit in the "school-to-prison pipeline."

-ABC News' Will McDuffie

6:02 PM EDT

What pushed Biden to drop out of 2024 race?

President Joe Biden had been facing growing pressure from his own party to step aside from the 2024 race, despite his repeated assurances that he plans to stay in the race.

Pressure had mounted after his disastrous June debate with former President Donald Trump which left many within the Democratic Party questioning if he could win his reelection campaign. Before he made his announcement, at least 40 congressional lawmakers had publicly called on Biden to step aside.

Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden hold hands at the Democratic National Committee 2023 Winter meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, February 3, 2023.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images

Biden's decision Sunday -- which came as he recovers from COVID-19 -- took members of his staff by surprise, despite his repeated assurances doing little to decrease public pressure for him to step down.

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