After President Biden ended his reelection bid Sunday, he also endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, making her the instant front-runner to replace him on the ticket to face former President Donald Trump.
But Harris is officially only one potential candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination.
The nation’s first Black woman vice president still needs to win a majority of delegates to the Democratic National Convention in August.
Biden’s endorsement will carry a lot of weight, and the vast majority of delegates are pledged to him, although they don’t have to vote for Harris now that he has dropped out.
Still, some prominent Democrats have called for an open contest for the presidential nomination, including a potential debate at the convention itself.
That dynamic could encourage other possible Democratic rivals to challenge Harris for the nod.
Here’s a breakdown of potential nominees.
Kamala Harris
As Biden’s loyal vice president and handpicked successor, Harris is the overwhelming front-runner to succeed him on the ticket and could wind up winning the nomination.
Harris ran a successful campaign with Biden and served loyally by his side for four years. Tens of millions of Democrats already have voted for her.
In the minutes after Biden gave Harris his endorsement, other top Democrats jumped in to back her.
Of course, Harris still has a couple of tricky weeks to go before the Democratic National Convention, and any slipup could potentially open the door to another candidate.
Some believe America is not ready to vote for a woman, let alone a Black woman, for the nation’s highest office.
Harris’ identity as a California progressive could be seen as a particularly tough sell in the Rust Belt battleground states that look likely to determine the next president.
Gavin Newsom
The California governor is a popular, young and articulate Democratic leader of the biggest blue state in the nation.
Like other relatively youthful Democrats, the 56-year-old would sell himself as a potentially dramatic contrast with the older Trump.
Like any other white male candidate, Newsom would have a tough time selling himself as an alternative to Harris.
Newsom’s slicked-back West Coast image would be perceived as a problem in the Midwest swing states.
AP Photo/Paul Sancya
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Gretchen Whitmer
The Michigan governor is many Democratic strategists’ dream candidate: She’s the successful and extremely popular leader of perhaps the most pivotal Rust Belt swing state.
At 52, she’s younger than many of her rivals, let along Trump, who is 26 years older than her.
Whitmer has a tough-as-nails Midwest demeanor that could hold broad national appeal, especially in contrast with Trump.
She’s also a woman, which might make it easier to sell Democrats on her as a trailblazing alternative to Harris.
AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
Pete Buttigieg
Biden’s transportation secretary is an effective communicator and popular moderate Democrat who won plaudits for a promising, if losing, Democratic primary campaign in 2020.
The gay former mayor of South Bend, Ind., Buttigieg brings Midwest authenticity. At just 42, he would claim a generational mantle for change, a dramatic shift from Trump.
Buttitieg performed abysmally with Black and Latino voters in the 2020 primaries. That would make him a particularly tough sell to the party’s base, especially if there is an open fight with Harris over the nomination.
Mark Kelly
He’s a moderate and popular senator from swing state Arizona.
A former astronaut, he’s married to Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who became a liberal hero when she survived an assassination attempt to become a prominent gun control advocate.
AP Photo/Marc Levy
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. (AP Photo/Marc Levy)
Josh Shapiro
The popular governor of Pennsylvania would instantly make Democrats favored to win the blue wall swing state.
He has a moderate record and recently won praise for his heartfelt statement to the nation after Trump was wounded in an assassination attempt.
Shapiro would be the first Jewish presidential candidate from a major party, which might be a counterpoint to Harris’ trailblazing claim as the first Black woman to lead a ticket.
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