Biden's potential successor is Kamala Harris, as indicated by recent reports.
In the event that President Joe Biden steps aside, Vice President Kamala Harris would be considered a very serious contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028. Her high name recognition, extensive experience, and strong fundraising network from the previous cycle give her a solid foundation to launch a campaign.
However, Harris' path to the nomination is not without complications.
Factors contributing to her potential nomination:
- Name Recognition and Experience: As the former vice president, Harris is the most recognizable Democrat likely to run in 2028, giving her a strong base to begin a campaign.
 - Fundraising Strength: Harris has built a broad and effective fundraising network, which is crucial in a potentially large and crowded primary field.
 - Party Sentiment: Some Democrats believe Harris was placed in a difficult position politically during the 2024 campaign and deserves a chance to lead a campaign on her own terms.
 
Factors that could weigh against her:
- Political Baggage: Harris may carry political baggage from the 2024 election, where Democrats lost the White House, Senate, and failed to regain the House. This could make some voters want a fresh start.
 - Desire for New Leadership: Many Democrats want to reset and pivot to new leadership after recent losses, which might work against picking a candidate associated closely with the prior administration.
 - Gender and Voter Bias: There remains an underlying challenge related to sexism and voter biases. Despite expressed progressive values, some voters may still hesitate to support a female president, a factor intensified by polarized political attitudes especially in the Trump era.
 
Born in Oakland, California, on October 20th, 1964, Harris began her career as an assistant district attorney focusing on sex crimes. She was elected to the US Senate in November 2016 and served as attorney general for California from November 2010. Harris oversaw an increased conviction rate in San Francisco between 2004 and 2007, from 52 to 67%.
During her tenure as attorney general, Harris pursued investigations of police misconduct and opened civil-rights investigations into two California police departments. She also implemented the 'Open Justice' project, an online platform giving the public open access to criminal-justice data.
Harris' stance on reproductive rights has become more prominent in recent years. After the US Supreme Court's decision in 2022 to strike down Roe v Wade, Harris has assumed a more active role advocating for reproductive rights in America.
In early 2024, Harris embarked on a national tour to highlight the threats posed to entitlements by a second Trump presidency. At an event in Selma, Alabama, to mark the 59th anniversary of 'Bloody Sunday', Harris called on Israel to do more for Gazans 'dying of malnutrition and dehydration' and demanded that the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not 'impose any unnecessary restrictions on the delivery of aid'.
A CNN poll shows Harris within 'striking distance' of Trump in a hypothetical matchup, with 45% of registered voters supporting Harris and 47% supporting Trump. However, one in three Democrats now believe Biden should withdraw from the presidential race.
The Biden-Harris victory in the 2020 presidential election was historic, marking the first time a woman of colour was elected to the second-most powerful position in the nation. If Harris were to become the Democratic presidential nominee in 2028, she would be poised to make history again.
[1] Source: The Washington Post [2] Source: The Brookings Institution
- Vice President Kamala Harris' potential nomination for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028 hinges on a combination of factors, including her name recognition, fundraising strength, and party sentiment.
 - As a former vice president, Harris enjoys a high level of recognition among Democrats, setting a strong foundation for her campaign.
 - Harris has cultivated a robust and efficient fundraising network, which will prove indispensable in a Primary field potentially teeming with candidates.
 - Some Democratic leaders feel Harris was unduly restricted politically during the 2024 campaign and believe she deserves the opportunity to head her campaign under her terms.
 - Harris may encounter challenges due to political baggage from the 2024 election, as Democrats may prefer a fresh slate following those losses.
 - The desire for fresh leadership could pose a challenge for Harris, as many Democrats seek to reset and pivot after their recent election setbacks.
 - Sexism and voter biases persist as an underlying issue, which could deter some voters from supporting a female president, a factor intensified by polarized political attitudes, particularly during the Trump era.
 - Born in Oakland, California, Harris embarked on a career as an assistant district attorney focusing on sex crimes.
 - Her conviction rate in San Francisco increased significantly between 2004 and 2007, rising from 52 to 67%.
 - Harris spearheaded investigations into police misconduct and civil-rights probes of two California police departments during her tenure as attorney general.
 - Harris launched the 'Open Justice' project, making criminal-justice data accessible to the public.
 - Harris' stance on reproductive rights has received increased attention in recent years, particularly after Roe v Wade was overturned in 2022.
 - In 2024, Harris embarked on a national tour, highlighting threats to entitlements under a potential second Trump presidency.
 - At an event in Selma, Alabama, Harris advocated for Israel to do more for the Gazan population and criticized Israel's Prime Minister for 'unnecessary restrictions on the delivery of aid.'
 - According to a CNN poll, Harris is within 'striking distance' of Trump in a hypothetical matchup, with 45% of registered voters supporting Harris and 47% supporting Trump.
 - The 2020 Biden-Harris presidential victory marked the first instance of a woman of color holding the second-most powerful position in the nation.
 - If Harris were to become the Democratic presidential nominee in 2028, she would make history again as the first woman of color to potentially assume the presideny.
 - Political analysts often discuss Harris' education-and-self-development platform, emphasizing personal growth, mindfulness, and stressing the importance of students learning through experience.
 - In her policy-and-legislation agenda, Harris champions career-development programs to help underrepresented groups gain the skills they need to enter and thrive in the workforce.
 - Harris frequently addresses car-accidents prevention in her speeches, emphasizing the importance of safe driving and advocating for stricter regulations on auto-manufacturers.
 - Harris' political philosophy has been shaped by her extensive exposure to politics and the criminal-justice system, making her well-equipped to tackle war-and-conflicts issues.
 - As an advocate for online-education, Harris aims to create equal learning opportunities for students regardless of their location or financial status.
 - Harris' job-search initiative focuses on streamlining the application process and connecting job-seekers with employers in their chosen field.
 - Harris frequently voices her opinion on general-news events, giving her perspective on issues related to crime-and-justice, politics, and accidents.
 - Harris' policies call for better weather-forecasting to minimize accidents and fatalities related to weather-related disasters, such as fires and floods.