US Vice President Kamala Harris has accepted Joe Biden’s endorsement and pledged to “defeat Donald Trump”.
Ms Harris said she was “honoured” to receive Mr Biden’s endorsement for the November presidential election after stepping down.
“My intention is to earn and win this nomination,” she said on X.
“I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party—and unite our nation—to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda.”
Project 2025 is an initiative organized by the Heritage Foundation to promote a series of right-wing policies such as Christian nationalism and restricting "woke propaganda".
Former US President Donald Trump has publicly distanced himself from Project 2025, although campaign officials have acknowledged the similarities between it and the Republican campaign.
She thanked President Biden “for his extraordinary leadership as President of the United States and for his decades of service to our country”.
The Democratic candidate will be chosen at the party’s National Convention in Chicago at the end of August.
A nominee requires 300 signatures from delegates, with no more than 50 from one state, to run in November.
Kamala Harris speaking at Manchester, New Hampshire. Image: Keiko Hiromi/AFLO/Alamy Live NewsIf selected, Ms Harris would be the first Black woman and Asian American to lead a major political party ticket.
She previously campaigned to be the 2020 Democratic nominee but withdrew citing a lack of funds.
Many Democrats already solidified around Ms Harris becoming the new nominee in recent weeks.
Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus Ted Lieu became the first member of the House Democratic leadership to endorse Ms Harris this evening.
Influential Democratic congressman Jim Clyburn has also thrown his support behind Ms Harris.
Other Democrats tipped as potential nominees are Californian governor Gavin Newsom and Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer.
Kamala Harris' presidential bid
In recent weeks, Ms Harris has become viral online after a video resurfaced of her telling a story of her mother saying, “You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?”
Mr Biden announced that he is stepping aside from the presidential race earlier today.
He said it has been “the greatest honour” to serve as president.
"And 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,” he said.
Mr Biden said he would "address the nation" about his decision in more detail later this week.
Endorsing Ms Harris, Mr Biden said appointing her as vice president was "the best decision I've made".
In his letter announcing his plans to step down from the race, Mr Biden thanked Ms Harris "for being an extraordinary partner" in the White House.
