The Democrats have already maneuvered Joe Biden out of the presidential race, and it’s not hard to see why. His reelection campaign was shaping up to be a recipe for disaster, threatening to hand the party a crushing defeat in November. The situation had become so bleak that Kamala Harris, of all people, started to seem like the better option. So, the decision to effectively yank Biden off the stage was likely the smartest move they could make.
However, there remains the question of whether the Democrats might go even further and invoke the 25th Amendment to officially remove President Biden from office. Douglas MacKinnon, a contributor at The Hill, has floated this possibility, suggesting that while it’s an option, it might not even be necessary.
According to MacKinnon, this election has already taken on the feel of the most surreal in recent history. He had predicted multiple times over the past two years that Biden wouldn’t end up as the nominee, and with Biden stepping aside, that prediction seems to have come true. MacKinnon also speculates that as the election approaches, Donald Trump will likely pull ahead of Harris.
The potential for panic within the Democratic ranks looms large. Harris, after all, can’t distance herself from the economic turmoil that has marked her time in office. Unlike most challengers, Trump can point to his record in the White House, where, before COVID, things were relatively stable. Inflation was low, prices were manageable, and gas in places like the Susitna Valley was about $2 a gallon in late 2020—now it’s nearing $4. Heating oil has seen similar spikes, and grocery prices have soared. MacKinnon highlights the increasing concerns over Biden’s cognitive decline and whether he’s genuinely capable of fulfilling his presidential duties. This raises the broader question of whether he’s even the one making the decisions.
Given the unpredictable nature of this election cycle, it’s not unreasonable to consider whether the Democrats might find it politically advantageous to elevate Harris to the presidency via the 25th Amendment, just to get through the campaign.
There are serious and growing concerns about Biden’s ability to do the job, and the Democrats may soon be forced to ask whether he is fit to continue. If they decide he isn’t, the 25th Amendment could be on the table.
However, any benefits for Kamala Harris in this scenario seem limited. Even if the 25th Amendment were invoked, it would likely be too late to make any substantial difference before the Democrats finalize their ticket at the convention. Moreover, Harris already has a record tied to what many consider one of the most disastrous administrations in recent memory. So, while the possibility of invoking the 25th Amendment remains, it seems unlikely that the Democrats will pursue it at this stage of the game.
