Biden Drops Out of Presidential Race, Endorses Harris
Ask students: What were some of the reasons Democratic officials were pressuring President Biden to leave the presidential race?
On Sunday, July 21, President Biden announced he’s dropping out of the 2024 race and endorsing Vice President Harris to be his party’s nominee. The move follows weeks of declining polls and calls from Democratic officials for him to step aside.
View the transcript of the story.
Discussion Questions
- Why did Biden decide not to pursue another term, according to his announcement?
- Who did President Biden endorse for the Democratic nomination?
- What were some of the reasons Democratic officials were pressuring President Biden to leave the presidential race?
- When is the Democratic National Convention?
- How might the Democratic party choose the next nominee, including vice presidential candidate?
Focus Questions
How do you think the Democratic party should choose the next Democratic presidential and vice-presidential candidate now that the primary season has passed? Who do you think should decide, and how?
Media literacy: Do you think the media had a role in pushing Biden out of the presidential race? If so, how?
Extension Activity
Explore the historic context of Biden's decision to end his campaign. Watch the following interview with former News Hour anchor Judy Woodruff and discuss the following questions:
- What are the closest historic examples to Biden's decision?
- What is different about Biden stepping aside and those other historic examples?
- Based on historical context, what do you predict will be the impact on the race between Republican and Democratic candidates?
2024 Election Lesson Plans and Resources
Explore our election resources to engage your students in learning about the election process and its significance at every level. Discover lessons on election fundamentals, laws, security, current events, youth involvement, and historic U.S. elections.
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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