I know America. I know we're good and decent people. I know we're still a country that believes in honesty and respect, and treating each other with dignity. That we're a nation where we give hate no safe harbor. We believe that everyone is equal, that everyone should be given a fair shot to succeed in this country. Every generation of Americans have faced a moment when they have to defend democracy. Stand up for our personal freedom. Stand up for the right to vote and our civil rights. And this is our moment.[1]

Joe Biden (D) is the 46th president of the United States. He announced his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election on April 25, 2023.[3] Biden became the presumptive Democratic nominee on March 12, 2024, after reaching the estimated majority delegate threshold.

He won the 2020 presidential election on November 3, 2020, with 306 electoral votes. Biden ran with U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (D) as his running mate.[4][5]

Biden's campaign has highlighted the work of his administration, including the creation of new jobs, the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 and the United States Chips and Science Act, and the provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 that addressed climate change and allowed Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices.[6] Click here to read more about the Biden administration.

A Biden campaign ad outlined his policy priorities for a second term, saying he'd work to make childcare and elder care more accessible, protect Social Security and Medicare, enact a minimum tax for billionaires, codify the right to abortion, ban assault weapons, and support voting rights.[6] He criticized the Republican Party, saying, "MAGA extremists are [...] cutting Social Security that you paid for your entire life while cutting taxes for the very wealthy, dictating what healthcare decisions women can make, banning books, and telling people who they can love. All while making it more difficult for you to be able to vote."[7]

Biden represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate from 1973 to 2009 before serving as vice president under President Barack Obama (D) from 2009 to 2017.[8] Click here to read more about Biden's biography.

This section features up to five recent news stories about Biden and his presidential campaign. For a complete timeline of Biden's campaign activity, click here.

Biden was born in 1942 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. When he was 10 years old, his family moved to Claymont, Delaware. He graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in history and political science and received his law degree from the Syracuse University Law School. Biden practiced law and worked as a public defender before seeking public office.[13]

From 1970 to 1972, Biden served on the New Castle County Council. He was elected to represent Delaware in the U.S. Senate at the age of 29, receiving 58% of the vote to defeat incumbent Sen. James Caleb Boggs (R). Two weeks after the election, his wife and daughter were killed in a car accident, which his two sons survived.[14]

Biden served in the Senate from 1973 to 2009. During his Senate career, he chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Committee on Foreign Relations for several years.[14]

Biden launched his first presidential bid in 1987 but withdrew from the race. He launched a second presidential campaign in 2007, dropping out of the race following the 2008 Iowa caucuses, where he placed fifth.[14] Then-candidate Barack Obama announced Biden was his choice for running mate in August 2008, and the pair won the general election.[15] Biden served as the 47th vice president of the United States from 2009 to 2017.

The following chart displays noteworthy general election presidential candidates' overall fundraising over time through the June 2024 campaign finance reports. Note that the chart only displays data for principal campaign committees, not candidate-affiliated PACs or joint fundraising committees. Hover over each line for more specific figures.

The following chart displays noteworthy general election presidential candidates' overall spending over time through the June 2024 campaign finance reports. Note that the chart only displays data for principal campaign committees, not candidate-affiliated PACs or joint fundraising committees. Hover over each line for more specific figures.

The following chart displays cash on hand—a measurement of how much money a campaign has currently available in its campaign accounts—for noteworthy general election presidential candidates as of each reporting deadline during the 2024 campaign cycle. Note that the chart only displays data for principal campaign committees, not candidate-affiliated PACs or joint fundraising committees.

See below for a summary of Biden's highlights from the first general election debate on June 27, 2024, with a focus on policy. The following paraphrased statements were compiled from debate transcripts. A candidate's opponents are generally not mentioned in his or her summary unless there was a significant exchange between them.

Joe Biden discussed the economy, abortion, immigration, foreign policy, policies for Black Americans, climate change, Social Security, childcare, his age, and the 2020 election results. Biden said he created a record number of jobs after the coronavirus pandemic, brought down the price of prescription drugs, and said he would reduce the price of housing. He said Trump’s tax cuts only helped the wealthy, and Trump raised the deficit more than any other president. Biden said billionaires should pay more in taxes, and he would use the revenue to eliminate the deficit and invest in childcare, eldercare, and healthcare. Biden said he would codify Roe v. Wade, and that Trump would ban abortion between six and ten weeks. On immigration, Biden said he stopped family separation and highlighted his support for the bipartisan bill that would have added asylum and border patrol officers. Biden said Putin will continue invading other countries and draw the U.S. into war if Putin is not stopped in Ukraine. Biden highlighted his ceasefire and hostage release proposal to end the Israel-Hamas war, and said the U.S. was the biggest supporter of Israel in the world, but certain weapons should not be used in population centers. Biden said Trump encouraged protesters to breach the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, and that Trump’s pending legal cases were a problem. Biden said his administration saw record Black-owned businesses, record low Black unemployment, addressed housing segregation, and improved the Public Loan Service Forgiveness program. Biden said Trump caused inflation due to his malfeasance in the pandemic response. Biden said he signed the most extensive climate change legislation in history, started the Climate Corps, and would cut pollution in half by 2035. Biden said he would tax individuals making more than $400,000 and use the funds to make Social Security solvent. Biden said he would implement a child tax credit, and help single parents go back to work. Biden said Trump’s tariff proposals would increase prices. In response to a question about his age, Biden said to look at his record and highlighted the creation of new manufacturing jobs. Biden said Trump’s claims about fraud in the 2020 election were lies.

The following table provides an overview of the date, location, and host in each scheduled 2024 general election debate.

The following section provides lists of general election endorsements made by current or former presidents and vice presidents, members of Congress, governors, attorneys general, and secretaries of state. This list may also include endorsements from current and former party leaders, other state executives, mayors of large cities, and state legislative majority and minority leaders issued before March 12, 2024, when Biden became the presumptive Democratic nominee. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please email us.

This section includes a selection of up to three campaign advertisements supporting this candidate and up to three campaign advertisements opposing this candidate, as well as links to other ads. If you know of additional links that should be included, please email us.

The following policy positions were compiled from the candidate's official campaign website, editorials, speeches, and debates.

In a campaign speech Biden said, "On my first day in office as President, I introduced a comprehensive plan to fix our immigration system, secure our border, provide a pathway for citizenship for DREAMers and their families — farmworkers, essential workers who helped us through the pandemic and are part of the fabric of our community." [source]

In a campaign speech Biden said, "Look at what we’ve been able to get done: 14 million new jobs — more jobs than any president has created in a four-year term; record economic growth — over 5 percent just the last quarter; unemployment under 4 percent for 20 months in a row, another record; the lowest inflation rate of any major economy on Earth; and we have more work to do." [source]

In an op-ed Biden wrote, "I have already taken more meaningful executive action to reduce gun violence than any other president, and I will continue to pursue every legal and effective action. But my power is not absolute. Congress must act, including by banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, requiring gun owners to securely store their firearms, requiring background checks for all gun sales, and repealing gun manufacturers’ immunity from liability. We also need more governors and state legislators to take these steps." [source]

In an op-ed Biden wrote, "The United States is the essential nation. We rally allies and partners to stand up to aggressors and make progress toward a brighter, more peaceful future. The world looks to us to solve the problems of our time. That is the duty of leadership, and America will lead. For if we walk away from the challenges of today, the risk of conflict could spread, and the costs to address them will only rise. We will not let that happen." [source]

In a campaign speech Biden said, "If I have anything to do with it, I’m going to end up signing a law reinstating Roe v. Wade." [source]

In a campaign speech Biden said, "We vaccinated the vast bulk of America. We got through that pandemic with less than 2 million people being vaccinated when I came to office. Today, [270] million Americans have gotten COVID vaccine. We created a record 14 million new jobs — brand new jobs — to get the economy going strong again. And we passed the American Rescue Plan, which put $1,400 checks in people’s pockets at a time of enormous need. And on top of that, $300 checks per child per month in hardworking families in America and thousands of dollars for people’s pockets through a real crisis." [source]

In a campaign speech Biden said, "We passed [...] the biggest investment of rebuilding America’s infrastructure since his President Eisenhower’s Interstate Highway System. And, you know, roads, bridges, clean water, high-speed Internet, all — and cheap for people, available to people." [source]

Click on any of the following links to read more policy positions from the 2024 presidential candidates.

Administrative state

Coronavirus response

Criminal justice

Economy

Education

Election policy

Energy and environmental issues

Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG)

Federalism

Foreign policy

Government ethics

Gun regulation

Healthcare

Sex and gender issues

Immigration

Impeachment

Infrastructure

Opioids and drug issues

Trade

Veterans

The table below displays this candidate's campaign logo and slogan. Click here to view more campaign logos and slogans in the 2024 presidential race.

The table below shows a partial list of national campaign staff members, including the campaign manager, senior advisors, political directors, communications directors, field directors, and the national press secretary. They are presented alongside their positions in the campaign, their most recent positions prior to the campaign, and their Twitter handles. To recommend additions, please email us at [email protected].

The following section provides a timeline of Biden's campaign activity beginning in April 2023. The entries are sorted by month in reverse chronological order.

Communications: Alison Graves • Carley Allensworth • Abigail Campbell • Sarah Groat • Dillon Redmond • Erica Shumaker External Relations: Andrew Heath • Moira Delaney • Hannah Nelson • Michelle Robinson Operations: Meghann Olshefski • Amanda Herbert • Mandy Morris • Caroline Presnell • Kelly Rindfleisch Policy: Molly Byrne • Jon Dunn • Jacob Hupp • Jimmy McAllister • Annelise Reinwald Content Strategy: Josh Altic Tech: Matt Latourelle • Ryan Burch • Kirsten Corrao • Beth Dellea • Travis Eden • Tate Kamish • Margaret Kearney • Eric Lotto • Trevor Pollo • Joseph Sanchez