President Joe Biden ended his reelection campaign July 21 and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party's nominee to replace him in the 2024 presidential race.
Since the June 27 presidential debate, Mr. Biden has faced concerns over his ability to defeat former President Donald Trump in the upcoming election, and pressure from Democratic leaders to drop out had been mounting. He is the first sitting president eligible for reelection to step aside since 1968, when President Lyndon Johnson announced he would not seek a second term.
"While it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term," Mr. Biden wrote in a letter posted on X.
Ms. Harris has emerged as the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, securing endorsements from Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and dozens of others.
Here is a look at where Ms. Harris stands on healthcare policy issues.
1. Reproductive health rights are likely to be a cornerstone of Ms. Harris' campaign if delegates officially nominate her as the candidate at the Democratic National Convention next month. The Republican party has reduced its attention on the topic, with minimal mention at the recent convention.
Surveys suggest Ms. Harris would have a polling advantage when it comes to women's health and abortion. In April, a Pew Research Center poll showed 63% of adults said abortion should be legal in all or most cases. A separate Gallup poll in May found 32% of voters said they would vote only for a candidate for a major office who shares their views on the topic, a view that nearly twice as many voters who support abortion hold, relative to those who do not support it.
As vice president, Ms. Harris has taken a more visible and vocal role in supporting reproductive rights than President Biden, according to KFF Health News. Both leaders have voiced support in restoring federal protections under Roe v. Wade, though Ms. Harris proposed even stronger protections during her 2019 presidential election campaign, according to Politico. The proposal would mandate that states seek clearance from the department before implementing any abortion restrictions to ensure their constitutionality.
2. While serving as California's attorney general from 2011 to 2017, Ms. Harris strongly opposed healthcare consolidation and prosecuted numerous industry players for alleged fraud or antitrust violations, according to The New York Times. She was among the first state attorneys general to oppose Boise, Idaho-based St. Luke's Health System's acquisition of Saltzer Medical Group and joined a federal lawsuit blocking Anthem and Cigna's merger in 2017. Ms. Harris' position aligns with the Federal Trade Commission's strict antitrust enforcement under the Biden administration.
3. In 2017, Ms. Harris became one of the first prominent Democrats to back Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders' "Medicare-for-all" bill. As a presidential candidate in 2019, Ms. Harris proposed her own "Medicare for All" plan. In a departure from Mr. Sanders, the proposal called for a 10-year phase-in period and would allow private insurers to compete with a government-led system.
4. Ms. Harris has advocated for student loan debt forgiveness during her time as California attorney general and as vice president, particularly for those working in public service sectors such as education, law enforcement and healthcare. In 2022, she led the Biden administration's decision to cancel all remaining loan debt for students who attended Corinthian Colleges, a for-profit chain that she prosecuted as attorney general. Under the Biden administration, the Education Department has forgiven $165.5 billion in student debt for nearly 5 million Americans.
5. Ms. Harris has advocated for investments to address the nation's maternal health crisis and reduce health inequities. In 2022, she unveiled the administration's Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis.
6. In April, Ms. Harris announced two final rules that set minimum staffing requirements for long-term care facilities and at-home services, and require facilities to have a registered nurse on site 24/7.