Biden has made no public indications he plans to bow out of the race.
Topline
Vice President Kamala Harris has emerged as the most likely replacement for President Joe Biden if he decides to bow out of the race following his potentially career-ending debate performance last week—an unprecedented scenario in modern politics that would set off a rushed competition among the Democratic Party’s rising stars to become her running mate.Key Facts
Names commonly floated as replacements for Biden at the top of the ticket, mostly governors serving as surrogates for the Biden-Harris campaign and who have high approval ratings in their home states, would appear most likely to be top contenders for her running mate.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has staunchly defended the president in the wake of the debate backlash and is set to campaign for him in Pittsburgh and New Hampshire in the coming days—but he and others potential options, like Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, could be at a disadvantage in the hypothetical VP replacement race since they represent safely blue states.
Alternatively, potential picks like Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro could help the party shore up support in the crucial swing states where Biden is trailing former President Donald Trump, according to polling averages, despite winning both states in 2020.
