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| US presidential election 2024: Joe Biden's Democratic challengers | US presidential election 2024: Joe Biden's Democratic challengers |
| (7 months later) | |
| US President Joe Biden is running for re-election next year, but national opinion polls and weak job approval ratings suggest voters may not be keen to re-nominate him. | US President Joe Biden is running for re-election next year, but national opinion polls and weak job approval ratings suggest voters may not be keen to re-nominate him. |
| Mr Biden, 80, formally announced his 2024 re-election bid in April, telling voters the country is in a pivotal moment and he needs more time to "finish this job". | Mr Biden, 80, formally announced his 2024 re-election bid in April, telling voters the country is in a pivotal moment and he needs more time to "finish this job". |
| The Democratic Party faithful, including elected leaders and top donors, are backing him up - but many voters still need convincing he is the best candidate the party has. | The Democratic Party faithful, including elected leaders and top donors, are backing him up - but many voters still need convincing he is the best candidate the party has. |
| Significant numbers of Democrats have called for other options, expressing concern over Mr Biden's age, mental acuity and a series of challenges ahead, both domestic and global. | Significant numbers of Democrats have called for other options, expressing concern over Mr Biden's age, mental acuity and a series of challenges ahead, both domestic and global. |
| The president's approval ratings have also declined to the lowest of his tenure, in overall terms and among Democrats. | The president's approval ratings have also declined to the lowest of his tenure, in overall terms and among Democrats. |
| But with the party unlikely to schedule any debates ahead of the primary election, he is not expected to face a serious contest. | But with the party unlikely to schedule any debates ahead of the primary election, he is not expected to face a serious contest. |
| So who is challenging Mr Biden? | So who is challenging Mr Biden? |
| Dean Phillips | Dean Phillips |
| Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips filed a long-shot bid for the nomination in late October, after calling on Mr Biden to step aside for months. | Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips filed a long-shot bid for the nomination in late October, after calling on Mr Biden to step aside for months. |
| Mr Phillips, 54, has served in the US House of Representatives since 2019 and represents a mostly suburban district that includes parts of Minneapolis' outskirts. | Mr Phillips, 54, has served in the US House of Representatives since 2019 and represents a mostly suburban district that includes parts of Minneapolis' outskirts. |
| The former businessman is a moderate Democrat and, prior to his bid, stepped down from his position as an elected leader in the House Democratic minority. | The former businessman is a moderate Democrat and, prior to his bid, stepped down from his position as an elected leader in the House Democratic minority. |
| He claims the man he is challenging has done "a spectacular job" as president but that "it is time for the torch to be passed to a new generation of American leaders". | He claims the man he is challenging has done "a spectacular job" as president but that "it is time for the torch to be passed to a new generation of American leaders". |
| The Democrat has hired Jeff Weaver, a top adviser to Bernie Sanders in his 2016 and 2020 presidential bids, and Zach Graumann, campaign manager to Andrew Yang's 2020 bid, as senior strategists. | The Democrat has hired Jeff Weaver, a top adviser to Bernie Sanders in his 2016 and 2020 presidential bids, and Zach Graumann, campaign manager to Andrew Yang's 2020 bid, as senior strategists. |
| Another hire, Steve Schmidt, who was a top adviser to Republican John McCain's 2008 campaign, helped with Mr Phillips' launch and is now leading outside fundraising efforts. | Another hire, Steve Schmidt, who was a top adviser to Republican John McCain's 2008 campaign, helped with Mr Phillips' launch and is now leading outside fundraising efforts. |
| Mr Phillips' policy offering does not substantially differ from that of Mr Biden, but his challenge represents an undercurrent of Democratic discontent. | Mr Phillips' policy offering does not substantially differ from that of Mr Biden, but his challenge represents an undercurrent of Democratic discontent. |
| Early polling and campaign events, however, suggest the little-known lawmaker's entry has done little to shake up the race. | Early polling and campaign events, however, suggest the little-known lawmaker's entry has done little to shake up the race. |
| Marianne Williamson | Marianne Williamson |
| Self-help guru Marianne Williamson was the first Democrat to jump into the 2024 race, with a formal campaign launch in March. | Self-help guru Marianne Williamson was the first Democrat to jump into the 2024 race, with a formal campaign launch in March. |
| Ms Williamson, 70, is a long-time social justice activist, best-selling author and former "spiritual advisor" to Oprah Winfrey who made her first foray into politics in 2020. | Ms Williamson, 70, is a long-time social justice activist, best-selling author and former "spiritual advisor" to Oprah Winfrey who made her first foray into politics in 2020. |
| She transfixed audiences with a frenetic performance at two Democratic primary debates, in which she declared that the only way to defeat Donald Trump was to "harness love for political purposes". | She transfixed audiences with a frenetic performance at two Democratic primary debates, in which she declared that the only way to defeat Donald Trump was to "harness love for political purposes". |
| The fringe candidate ended that campaign before voting began but she has remained an outspoken voice for the progressive left. | The fringe candidate ended that campaign before voting began but she has remained an outspoken voice for the progressive left. |
| Her 2024 policy platform backs universal government-run healthcare, free childcare, at least $1tn (£800bn) in slavery reparations to black Americans and a federal agency called the Department of Peace. | Her 2024 policy platform backs universal government-run healthcare, free childcare, at least $1tn (£800bn) in slavery reparations to black Americans and a federal agency called the Department of Peace. |
| Ms Williamson has sought to engage young voters through TikTok, but her campaign has gained little to no traction, barely registering in most polls. | Ms Williamson has sought to engage young voters through TikTok, but her campaign has gained little to no traction, barely registering in most polls. |
| Marianne Williamson responds to 'hit piece' allegations | Marianne Williamson responds to 'hit piece' allegations |
| Marianne Williamson responds to 'hit piece' allegations | |
| Cenk Uygur | Cenk Uygur |
| Progressive political commentator Cenk Uygur announced he was running for the Democratic nomination on his Young Turks talk show in October. | Progressive political commentator Cenk Uygur announced he was running for the Democratic nomination on his Young Turks talk show in October. |
| Mr Uygur, 53, founded and has hosted the programme since 2002, during which time he has built an outspoken, populist persona and often courted controversy with his views. | Mr Uygur, 53, founded and has hosted the programme since 2002, during which time he has built an outspoken, populist persona and often courted controversy with his views. |
| But his quixotic bid for the White House faces one major obstacle: he was born in Turkey, which makes him ineligible under the Constitution to run for the office. | But his quixotic bid for the White House faces one major obstacle: he was born in Turkey, which makes him ineligible under the Constitution to run for the office. |
| Mr Uygur plans legal action to challenge wording that he says renders naturalised US citizens like him "second-class citizens". | Mr Uygur plans legal action to challenge wording that he says renders naturalised US citizens like him "second-class citizens". |
| Already though, election officials in two early voting states - New Hampshire and Nevada - have said he will not appear on primary ballots. | Already though, election officials in two early voting states - New Hampshire and Nevada - have said he will not appear on primary ballots. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Democratic Party | Democratic Party |
| US politics | US politics |
| United States | United States |
| Joe Biden | Joe Biden |