President Joe Biden made his way to a polling place near his Delaware home to cast an early ballot in the 2024 general election. This moment was significant for Biden, who had decided not to run for reelection due to health concerns and worries among Democrats about his chances of defeating former President Donald Trump.
The voting site was bustling with activity, with voters lined up down the street to cast their ballots. Biden patiently waited in line for about 40 minutes, chatting with fellow voters and even assisting an older woman in a wheelchair. When it was his turn, he handed his identification to the election worker and signed a form before casting his ballot behind a black drape.
As some first-time voters were announced in the room, cheers erupted, creating a sense of excitement and civic engagement. Outside the polling place, Biden expressed his optimism about the Democratic candidates, including Vice President Kamala Harris, who was aiming to make history as the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent to serve as president.
In addition to Harris, there were other Democratic candidates on the Delaware ballot seeking to break new ground. State Sen. Sarah McBride was running to become the first openly transgender member of the U.S. House, while Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester was hoping to become Delaware’s first Black woman to serve in the U.S. Senate.
Biden had a personal connection to both candidates, having known the Blunt Rochester family for decades and campaigning with Sarah McBride in the past. He had breakfast with Blunt Rochester before the election, showing his support for her campaign.
The Democratic stronghold of Delaware saw early voting begin on Saturday, giving voters the opportunity to participate in the electoral process ahead of the official election day. Despite not being on the ballot himself this time, Biden remained actively involved in supporting and endorsing candidates who he believed could carry on the Democratic legacy in the state.
As the election season unfolded, it became clear that Biden’s political journey was taking a new direction, with a focus on nurturing and promoting the next generation of Democratic leaders. The decision to not seek reelection allowed him to shift his attention to supporting candidates like Harris, McBride, and Blunt Rochester, who were poised to make history in their own right.
With the 2024 general election underway, the political landscape in Delaware was vibrant and full of promise, reflecting the ongoing evolution of the state’s Democratic leadership. As voters turned out to cast their ballots, the spirit of democracy and civic engagement was alive and well in the state that Biden called home.
