U.S. President Joe Biden announced today that he will not seek reelection. Rice University political scientists are available to discuss what’s next for the Democratic party.
Rice political scientist Robert Stein said the 46th president’s historic move is the only hope for other Democratic candidates running in downballot races this fall.
“Biden’s diminished likelihood of reelection significantly undermined the Democrats’ hope of keeping a majority in the Senate and gaining a majority in the House,” said Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science and fellow in urban politics at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
Stein expects Vice President Kamala Harris would be the obvious choice to take his place as the party’s nominee and would choose her own vice president.
“Harris’ presidential nomination avoids a long and damaging convention fight that could undermine any nominee’s chances of defeating former President Trump in November,” he said.
Stein is an expert on voting and elections. His expertise and scholarly work has been widely cited by local, state and national media.
Mark Jones, a professor of political science at Rice, said the Democratic party has two main options at this point.
“The Democrats have two main options at this point,” he said. “Immediately rally behind Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s new nominee, or open the competition up to any and all challengers.”
Jones also serves as a fellow at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. His expertise and scholarly work has been widely cited by local, state and national media as well as numerous political campaigns.
To schedule an interview with Stein or Jones, contact Amy McCaig, senior media relations specialist at Rice, at 713-348-6777 or amym@rice.edu.