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Election 2024 updates: Campaign renamed to 'Harris for President'
President Joe Biden was under heavy pressure from fellow Democrats.
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.
Watch the ABC News special, "Biden Stands Down: The Race for the White House," tonight from 7-9 p.m. ET on ABC and ABC News Live.
Latest headlines:
Sen. Manchin considering reregistering as Democrat, running against Harris: Sources
Sen. Joe Manchin is considering reregistering as a Democrat to run against Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidential nomination, two sources with knowledge of his decision told ABC News.
The development comes hours after Manchin said he would not run if Biden dropped out of the race.
"No, I want to support a new generation," Manchin told CNN's Jake Tapper on "State of the Union" Sunday.
-ABC News' Rachel Scott
Attorney General Garland, Sec. of State Blinken react to Biden's announcement
Attorney General Merrick Garland and Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed President Joe Biden's decision not seek reelection, with both men sharing their respect for their commander in chief.
"From the beginning of his tenure, President Biden has made clear in both word and deed that he stands for the rule of law and for the Justice Department's critical mission to protect the safety and the civil rights of everyone in our country," Garland said in his statement. "I am grateful for his leadership and for the enormous respect he has shown for the 115,000 public servants of the Justice Department over the past three and a half years. As President Biden has noted, there is critical governing work to be done in the months ahead, and the Justice Department will continue to work tirelessly to uphold the rule of law, keep our country safe, and protect civil rights on behalf of the American people."
Blinken called his time with Biden "the honor" of his life.
"It has been — and remains —the honor of my life to work for @POTUS for the past twenty-two years. He has restored U.S. leadership around the world and delivered historic accomplishments as President. I look forward to building on that record with him over the next six months," Blinken said in a post on X.
DNC raising money off of Biden's decision
In a message sent after President Joe Biden announced he would leave the presidential race and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris, the DNC asked supporters for small-dollar donations.
"In the coming days, the Party will undertake a transparent and orderly process to move forward as a united Democratic Party to defeat Donald Trump in November," they wrote.
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.
"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.