Biden campaign changes name to Kamala Harris for President

US President Joe Biden has dropped out of the election race, and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his replacement.

Top Democrat officials have been calling for Biden to leave for some time. He will continue as President throughout the remainder of his term.

Biden has made a number of gaffes in recent months, leading many to question his ability to run for a second term.

Key events:

6.30pm - Since Biden’s announcement this morning, Republican nominee Donald Trump has made several posts to his social media platform Truth Social.

He said in one: "Who is running our Country right now? It’s not Crooked Joe, he has no idea where he is. If he can’t run for office, he can’t run our Country!!!"

Trump also claimed the President’s Covid diagnosis was fake, calling him a “threat to democracy”.

"It’s not over! Tomorrow Crooked Joe Biden’s going to wake up and forget that he dropped out of the race today!" Another post read.

4.54pm - Hollywood was quick to react to the news that President Joe Biden was ending his bid for reelection and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris.

Barbra Streisand, a Democratic supporter, wrote on X that “we should be grateful for his upholding of our democracy.” While many paid tribute to Biden’s presidency, others wondered about the future.

Cher wrote on X that she was “tortured” because she didn’t believe the Democrats could win without Biden. She said it was time to think “way outside the box” and proposed a split ticket.

In recent weeks, several high-profile Hollywood names had begun calling for Biden to exit the race. Just weeks after headlining a record-breaking fundraiser for the president's reelection campaign, George Clooney wrote a New York Times opinion piece calling for Biden to end his bid.

Clooney argued that the party should pick a new nominee, saying the process would be “messy” but “wake up” voters in the party’s favour.

Others who attended or participated in the starry fundraiser in Los Angeles included Julia Roberts, Streisand, Jimmy Kimmel, former President Barack Obama, Jack Black, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Kathryn Hahn and Jason Bateman.

Ralph posted a photo of herself and Harris writing, “President Biden has endorsed Kamala Harris!”

- AP

3.25pm - @BidenHQ, which is the rapid response X account for the Biden campaign, has rebranded to @KamalaHQ.

3.12pm - Donald Trump’s campaign has spent the last year and a half viciously attacking Joe Biden, ridiculing his policies, mocking his fumbles and relishing a rematch they felt they were winning.

But it has also spent weeks preparing for the possibility that he might exit the race, readying a bevy of attacks against Vice President Kamala Harris that it unleashed as soon as Biden made his stunning announcement Sunday that he would step aside.

Biden soon after endorsed Harris, who was quickly winning support from Democrats to be the party’s nominee.

The shakeup less than four months before Election Day lays out new challenges for Trump’s team, which had until recently been focused on contrasting the former president’s vigor and mental acuity with Biden’s.

- AP

2.55pm - Democratic lawmakers are hailing President Joe Biden’s historic decision not to seek reelection as putting his country and his party before himself.

Republicans are calling on him to leave office as well, saying that if he is unable to run, then he’s unable to serve as president.

- AP

2:40pm: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has thanked Biden for his “leadership and ongoing service”.

“The Australia-US Alliance has never been stronger with our shared commitment to democratic values, international security, economic prosperity and climate action for this and future generations,” he said.

2.20pm: ActBlue, the Democratic fundraising platform, announced it had collected US$46.7 million (NZ$76.6 million) from small-dollar donations for Vice President Harris’ campaign as of 1pm NZT.

The Biden campaign and affiliated groups previously had about $96 million (NZ$159.9 million) in cash on hand. The Republican National Convention, by contrast, reported a campaign fund of US$102 million (NZ$169.9 million) in June.

- AP

1.43pm: After being left unchanged for hours following his announcement, Joe Biden's campaign website now leads to a donation page for Vice President Kamala Harris.

The move reflects his earlier endorsement of Harris, and is the same donation page which her own website leads to.

1.30pm: US Senator Elizabeth Warren has endorsed Kamala Harris in her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Warren ran against Biden and Harris for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020.

1.25pm: Prominent Democrat and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has pledged her support of Harris as "the next president of the United States".

"Now more than ever, it is crucial that our party and country swiftly unite to defeat Donald Trump and the threat to American democracy.

"Let’s get to work."

In recent days, Ocasio-Cortez had positioned herself as a strong ally of Biden amidst the calls for him to drop out.

1.20pm: The increased interest in Kamala Harris appears to have been too much for her official website, which was timing out and eventually loading shortly after 1pm (NZ time).

1.17pm: Dozens of people are on the street outside the presidential residence as news of Biden’s withdrawal from the campaign set in.

There were signs with messages like “We love you Joe!” and chants of “Thank you Joe!” as adults and some children took photos or just gazed at the complex that serves as both the president's home and the seat of executive power.

Biden was not at the White House this weekend. Instead he was recuperating from Covid-19 at his vacation home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

Another sign read: “You did it, Joe! Now let’s make some history,” a reference to Harris’ exclamation of “We did it, Joe!” during a phone call with Biden after their ticket was determined to have won the 2020 election.

- AP

1.04pm: At 1.45pm (local time), President Joe Biden’s senior staff was notified that he was stepping away from the 2024 race. At 1.46pm, that message was made public.

It was never Biden’s intention to leave the race: Up until he decided to step aside, he was all in.

His campaign was planning fundraisers and events and setting up travel over the next few weeks. But even as Biden was publicly dug in and insisting he was staying in the race, he was quietly reflecting on the disaster of the past few weeks, on the past three years of his presidency and on the scope of his half-century career in politics.

In the end, it was the president’s decision alone, and he made it quietly, from his vacation home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, sick with Covid-19, the first lady with him as he talked it through with a small circle of people who have been with him for decades.

- AP

12.54pm: Former Republican candidate and current US Senator Mitt Romney has praised Biden following his announcement to exit the 2024 race.

Romney was the Republican nominee for president in 2012, and went up against Barack Obama and Biden, who was his vice president at the time.

“I’m a classic Republican and he’s a classic Democrat; obviously, President Biden and I usually didn’t see eye-to-eye.

"I opposed many of his initiatives. But we did find common ground on infrastructure, Ukraine, the Electoral Count Act, adding religious liberty protections to the marriage bill, gun safety measures, and chip manufacturing.

“Others will judge his presidency. However, having worked with him these past few years, I respect President Biden. His decision to withdraw from the race was right and is in the best interest of the country."

12:40pm: Biden's decision to exit the race before his nomination now makes Donald Trump the eldest nominee in US history.

Biden was aged 77 when he secured the Democratic nomination for president in June 2020.

Trump was aged 78 when he formally accepted the Republican nomination for president last week.

12.25pm: California Governor Gavin Newsom, who was touted as a contender to replace Biden, has backed Harris in her run for the Democratic presidential nomination.

"Tough. Fearless. Tenacious.

"With our democracy at stake and our future on the line, no one is better to prosecute the case against Donald Trump's dark vision and guide our country in a healthier direction than America’s Vice President, [Kamala Harris]."

12.17pm: President Biden summoned his top advisers to his Rehoboth home Saturday to look at the latest poll numbers and what Democratic members were saying, according to CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins.

"He began to come to a decision Saturday evening, but made the final decision today. He also did what he does before any crucial decision: held a family meeting last night."

11.55am: Pete Buttigieg, who ran in the 2020 Democratic primaries, has endorsed Kamala Harris as Biden's replacement.

Buttigieg has been touted as a potential VP pick, as outlined on X by CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins. He was also labelled a contender to replace Joe Biden prior to his decision to step down.

11.42am: Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr has released a campaign video alongside a post to X which reads: "I’m the only candidate who can beat President Trump".

RFK Jr has spasmodic dysphonia, a neurological disorder that causes his vocal cords to squeeze too close together.

11.41am: Though some potential challengers to Harris for the Democratic bid have already made it clear they would not run, there is some early indication that she might not be alone in seeking the nomination.

West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, who left the party earlier this year to become an independent, is considering reregistering as a Democrat to vie for the nomination against the vice president, according to Jonathan Kott, a longtime adviser to Manchin.

Manchin, who repeatedly irked Democrats with his independent streak but was also a lynchpin for the Biden administration’s biggest legislative accomplishments, was the latest senator to call on Biden to drop his candidacy before the president made his announcement.

- AP

11.22am: Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said it has been, and remains, the "honor of my life" to work for Biden the past twenty-two years.

"He has restored US 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."

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has spoken on Biden's decision to not seek reelection.

He said on X: "President Biden has dedicated his life to public service, and that is something that deserves much respect.

"I thank the President for his leadership of the United States and his commitment to New Zealand. And I look forward to working with him for the remainder of his presidency."

10.49am: American actor Mark Hamill has released a statement in support of Biden's decision on X.

"[Biden] has a record of accomplishments unmatched by any president in our lifetime.

"He restored honesty, dignity & integrity to the office after 4 years of lies, crime, scandal & chaos. Thank you for your service, Mr. President. It's now our duty as patriotic Americans to elect the Democrat who will honor & further your legacy," he said.

10.37am: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X the country is grateful to President Biden, along with his "unwavering support for Ukraine's fight for freedom, which, along with strong bipartisan support in the United States, has been and continues to be critical".

"Many strong decisions have been made in recent years and they will be remembered as bold steps taken by President Biden in response to challenging times. And we respect today's tough but strong decision.

"We will always be thankful for President Biden's leadership. He supported our country during the most dramatic moment in history, assisted us in preventing Putin from occupying our country, and has continued to support us throughout this terrible war.

"The current situation in Ukraine and all of Europe is no less challenging, and we sincerely hope that America's continued strong leadership will prevent Russian evil from succeeding or making its aggression pay off."

10.30am: A political weakness that hounded Biden — age — could become an avenue for attack against Trump.

“This will probably boil down to Donald Trump, who is the oldest nominee in history, against Kamala Harris,” said Rep. Maxwell Frost, a 27-year-old Democrat from Florida who has worked to reach young voters for Biden’s campaign.

Frost, who endorsed Harris, pointed to the vice president’s work on gun violence protection as an issue that could engage young voters and said she “will be able to win back a lot of the youth vote.”

“She is someone who really values young voices in general,” he said.

10.16am: As Vice President Harris looks to lock up the nomination, she is hitting the phones and making her case to Democrats in Congress.

She spoke with Democratic lawmakers including Representative Annie Kuster, who chairs a moderate group called the New Democrat Coalition and endorsed Harris in the afternoon.

Harris also quickly won endorsements from leadership in several influential caucuses.

While some Democrats remained silent on who they want for a nominee, many others said the party should immediately assemble behind Harris. They want to quickly move past the painful, public deliberations of the weeks since the July 27 debate.

9.51am: President Joe Biden’s campaign formally changed its name to Kamala Harris for President, reflecting that she is inheriting his political operation — a sign of the prohibitive leg up she has for the Democratic nomination.

Democratic groups, including the Democratic National Committee, also filed paperwork changing the names of their joint fundraising committees to reflect Harris’ candidacy.

- AP

9.47am: Hollywood was quick to react to the news that President Joe Biden was ending his bid for reelection and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris.

Barbra Streisand, a Democratic supporter, wrote on X that “we should be grateful for his upholding of our democracy.” While many paid tribute to Biden’s presidency, others wondered about the future.

Cher wrote on X that she was “tortured” because she doesn’t believe the Democrats could win without Biden. She said it was time to think “way outside the box” and proposed a split ticket.

- AP

9.40am: The Republican State Leadership Committee has critiqued the Biden administration's policies on X.

"While Biden might be off the ballot, state Democrats will continue to have to defend his policies that led to sky high inflation, a wide open border, and sensational crime in our communities.

"President Trump will defeat whichever failed candidate the Democrats put up and it’s imperative that we get all Republicans up-and-down the ballot elected this fall."

9.38am: A White House spokesperson has reportedly told CNN that Biden is "looking forward to finishing his term".

“President Biden inherited an economy in freefall, a skyrocketing violent crime rate, and alliances in tatters from his predecessor. He turned that around to deliver the strongest economic growth in the world and the lowest violent crime rate in nearly 50 years, while making NATO bigger than ever. He looks forward to finishing his term and delivering more historic results for the American people,” Andrew Bates is reported as stating.

9.23am: Inside the White House, there’s low expectation that Harris will get a serious challenge following Biden’s endorsement, according to a person familiar with deliberations who requested anonymity to discuss the private conversations.

Among potential top tier contenders, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has already said she won’t run, while California Governor. Gavin Newsom has said he would back Harris if she became the nominee.

Other names that have been bandied about as viable contenders — including Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper — would also seem unlikely to run in light of Biden’s endorsement for Harris and the expected fundraising advantage she would hold over anyone else.

- AP

9.22am: South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, who is credited with helping President Joe Biden win the party’s nomination four years ago with his endorsement, has thrown his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.

Clyburn, a co-chair of Biden’s campaign, said the president showed good judgment in choosing a running mate who has the necessary “values and vision.” He said he is proud to follow Biden’s lead in supporting Harris.

Clyburn also heaped praise on Biden. He said the president “improved the lives of countless Americans through his selfless service” and thanked him for his strong leadership".

- AP

9.12am: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said "I've known President Biden for years".

"He’s a great man, and everything he does is guided by his love for his country. As President, he is a partner to Canadians — and a true friend."

"To President Biden and the First Lady: thank you."

9.11am: Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov urged Russians to “pay attention” and “watch what will happen” in the US election in November now that Biden has withdrawn his candidacy.

Peskov was quoted by Russian pro-Kremlin tabloid Life.ru as saying that “there are still four months until the elections. And this is a long period, during which a lot can change.”

-AP

9.08am: TIME magazine has released their digital cover for July 22 after the announcement Joe Biden is dropping out of the race.

"The cover at left was published on July 21 (local time); the one at right was published digitally June 28, the day after the first presidential debate," the magazine said on X.

8.59am: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese thanked Biden for his leadership and "ongoing service", in a statement on X.

"The Australia-US Alliance has never been stronger with our shared commitment to democratic values, international security, economic prosperity and climate action for this and future generations."

8.53am: Read more coverage from 1News below as we continue with our rolling coverage of this announcement.

8.46am: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on X he respects President Biden's decision, and added he looks forward to "us working together during the remainder of his presidency".

"I know that, as he has done throughout his remarkable career, he will have made his decision based on what he believes is best for the American people."

8.43am: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with President Joe Biden at the White House this week as planned, despite Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race, a person familiar with Biden's schedule said Sunday.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly, said the exact timing of the meeting has not been established because Biden is recovering from Covid-19.

Netanyahu is scheduled to deliver an address to Congress on Wednesday. He is also expected to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris, who is now seeking the Democratic Party's nomination.

An official in Netanyahu's office confirmed that the Israeli leader was set to travel to Washington, as scheduled, on Monday. The official also spoke on condition of anonymity pending a formal announcement.

- AP

8.35am: Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance said "Joe Biden has been the worst President in my lifetime and Kamala Harris has been right there with him every step of the way".

"Over the last four years she co-signed Biden's open border and green scam policies that drove up the cost of housing and groceries.

"She owns all of these failures, and she lied for nearly four years about Biden's mental capacity--saddling the nation with a president who can't do the job.

"President Trump and I are ready to save America, whoever's at the top of the Democrat ticket. Bring it on."

8.05am: US Vice President Kamala Harris has released a statement regarding Biden's endorsement of her to become the Democrat nominee.

"I am honored to have the President's endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this administration. Over the past year, I have traveled across the country, talking with Americans about the clear choice in this momentous election. And that is what I will continue to do in the days and weeks ahead.

"I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party - and unite our nation - to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda.

"We have 107 days until Election Day. Together, we will fight. And together, we will win."

7.50am: Former President Barack Obama said Joe Biden has been one of America’s "most consequential presidents, as well as a dear friend and partner to me".

"Today, we’ve also been reminded – again – that he’s a patriot of the highest order."

In his statement, Obama said: "President Biden pointed us away from the four years of chaos, falsehood, and division that had characterized Donald Trump’s administration.

"We will be navigating uncharted waters in the days ahead. But I have extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges."

7.49am: 1News US correspondent Logan Church told Breakfast in many ways, “the writing was on the wall” for Biden to drop out.

“Since that disastrous debate performance, there has been an increasing number of Democrats calling for him to step aside. At this point I guess he didn’t really have a choice.

“It’s going to be an interesting couple of weeks going forward ahead of the Democratic National Convention [in Chicago].”

“Next the Democrats have to decide who their presidential pick is going to be. Now most people at this stage including as you’ve been reporting Joe Biden himself have been supporting and throwing their backing behind Vice President Kamala Harris.”

Church said Democrats were planning to do a roll call or virtual vote in early August, ahead of their convention, which runs from August 19 to August 22.

He added Harris could see a path to victory in the election similar to Jacinda Ardern in 2017, when then Labour Party leader Andrew Little stepped aside, a move which changed the election and led to a Labour victory in New Zealand.

7.24am: Former speaker of the house Nancy Pelosi said President Joe Biden is a "patriotic American who has always put our country first", and held off on an endorsement of any potential nominee.

"His legacy of vision, values and leadership make him one of the most consequential Presidents in American history.

"With love and gratitude to President Biden for always believing in the promise of America and giving people the opportunity to reach their fulfillment.

"God blessed America with Joe Biden’s greatness and goodness."

7.20am: Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison says following President Joe Biden’s abandoning his reelection bid that "the work that we must do now, while unprecedented, is clear".

"In the coming days, the party will undertake a transparent and orderly process to move forward,” Harrison said in a statement, with “a candidate who can defeat Donald Trump in November.”

“This process will be governed by established rules and procedures of the party,” Harrison added. “Our delegates are prepared to take seriously their responsibility in swiftly delivering a candidate to the American people.”

His statement also noted: “In short order, the American people will hear from the Democratic Party on next steps and the path forward for the nomination process.”

- AP

7.14am: Former president Bill Clinton and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton have joined Biden in endorsing Kamala Harris.

"We are honored to join the President in endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris and will do whatever we can to support her."

"Now is the time to support Kamala Harris and fight with everything we've got to elect her. America's future depends on it."

7.13am: First lady Jill Biden responded by reposting the president’s letter announcing his decision and adding red heart emojis.

Granddaughter Naomi Biden Neal said on social media that “I’m nothing but proud of my Pop.”

She said he has served the country “with every bit of his soul and with unmatched distinction” and that “our world is better today in so many ways thanks to him.”

- AP

7:08am: Democratic officials, including many who were behind the effort to push Biden from the race, quickly released statements praising Biden's decision.

"His decision of course was not easy, but he once again put his country, his party, and our future first," said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. “Joe, today shows you are a true patriot and great American."

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said Biden should immediately resign if he is not fit enough to run for office. In a statement, Johnson said: "November 5 cannot arrive soon enough."

-AP

6:58am: US correspondent Simon Marks told RNZ's Morning Report he did not think Biden would drop out of the presidential race this early.

"This is a reflection of the pressure that has been brought to bear on Joe Biden, particularly by two people - Nancy Pelosi, the former speaker of the House of representatives and behind the scenes... former president Barack Obama.

"They have turned on their old friend and ally and basically forced him into this position."

He says nearly 40 Democrats in the House of Representatives and 70 percent of the Democratic caucus on Capitol Hill wanted Biden out.

- RNZ

6.36am: Former US President and Republican nominee Donald Trump has reacted to the news on his Truth Social platform.

6.32am: Installing Harris at the top of the ticket, which would be a history-making moment for the party elevating the first woman, Black person and person of South Asian descent as its presidential nominee. But it is not certain.

Officials from the highest ranks, including Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, prefer an open process, some believing it would strengthen any Democratic nominee to confront Republican Donald Trump.

-AP

6.30am: House Speaker Mike Johnson predicted that Republicans would challenge whether Democrats can legally replace Biden as the nominee if he steps down.

“I think they have got legal hurdles in some of these states, and it’ll be litigated, I would expect, on the ground there and they will have to sort through that. They have got a real problem,” Johnson said on CNN’s ”State of the Union.”

Johnson’s comments came earlier, amid the mounting calls for Biden to abandon his reelection campaign.

Nearly three dozen Democrats in Congress had said it was time for Biden to leave the race.

- AP

Biden made his announcement to not seek election on X (formerly Twitter).

"It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President," his statement read.

"And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.

"I will speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision."