Joe Biden
2021 - Present
2025
2
Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. (b. November 20, 1942, in Scranton, Pennsylvania) is the 46th president of the United States. He was inaugurated on January 20, 2021.
Biden is running in the 2024 Democratic presidential primary. He declared his candidacy on April 25, 2023.[1] Click here to read more about his campaign.
During his presidency, Biden has issued nine vetoes. To read more about these vetoes, click here.
He won the 2020 presidential election on November 3, 2020, with 306 electoral votes. Biden launched his campaign for president of the United States on April 25, 2019.[2] He announced U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (D) as his running mate on August 11, 2020.[3][4]
Biden was the 47th vice president of the United States, serving under President Barack Obama (D) from January 20, 2009, to January 20, 2017.[5]
He previously served as a U.S. senator from Delaware from 1973 to 2009.[6]
On January 12, 2017, Obama awarded Biden the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his lifetime of public service, marking the final time Obama would present the nation's highest civilian honor. Biden received the award with distinction, an additional honor given only to Pope John Paul II, former President Ronald Reagan, and retired Gen. Colin Powell in the previous three administrations.[7]
Biography
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.[8]
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.[9]
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.[9]
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.[9] Then-candidate Barack Obama announced Biden was his choice for running mate in August 2008, and the pair won the general election.[10] Biden served as vice president from 2009 to 2017.
Career
Below is an abbreviated outline of Biden's academic, professional, and political career:[11][6]
- 2021-Present: President of the United States
- 2019-2020: Democratic presidential candidate
- 2017-2019: Launched and developed Biden Foundation with Jill Biden
- 2009-2017: Vice president of the United States during the Obama administration
- 1973-2009: U.S. senator from Delaware
- 1970-1972: New Castle County Council member
- 1968-1970: Defense attorney in Wilmington, Delaware
- 1968: Graduated from Syracuse University Law School with J.D.
- 1965: Graduated from University of Delaware with a degree in history and political science
Elections
2024
Biden announced his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election on April 25, 2023. Click the links below to read more about the 2024 presidential election:
- Joe Biden presidential campaign, 2024
- Presidential candidates, 2024
- Democratic presidential nomination, 2024
- Republican presidential nomination, 2024
Biden in the news
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.
- December 20, 2023: Biden delivered remarks to the Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[12]
- December 11, 2023: Biden campaigned in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[13]
- December 9, 2023: Biden attended a campaign fundraiser in Los Angeles, California.[14]
- December 8, 2023: Biden delivered remarks in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he announced an $8 billion investment in the high-speed rail line from Las Vegas to Los Angeles, California. Biden also attended a campaign fundraiser in Los Angeles.[15][16]
- December 5, 2023: Biden attended three fundraisers for his campaign and the Democratic Party in Boston, Massachusetts.[17]
2020
Presidency
- See also: Presidential candidates, 2020
Former Vice President Joe Biden (D) won the presidential election on November 3, 2020. Biden received 306 electoral votes and President Donald Trump (R) received 232 electoral votes. In the national popular vote, Biden received 81.2 million votes and Trump received 74.2 million votes.
Click here for Joe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign overview.
2016
Presidency
Although Biden hinted that he was considering running for president in the 2016 election in several interviews, he announced that he would not make a bid on October 21, 2015.[18] Referring to the death of his son, Beau Biden, Joe Biden said, "As my family and I have worked through the grieving process. I’ve said all along that it may very well be that that process, by the time we get through it, closes the window on mounting a realistic campaign for president. I’ve concluded it has closed."[19]
2012
Vice Presidency
With a majority of the popular and Electoral College vote, Biden won re-election in 2012 as vice president of the United States on the Democratic ticket with President Barack Obama.[20]
| U.S. presidential election, 2012 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Electoral votes | |
| Democratic |  Barack Obama/Joe Biden Incumbent |
51.3% | 65,899,660 | 332 | |
| Republican | Mitt Romney/Paul Ryan | 47.4% | 60,932,152 | 206 | |
| Libertarian | Gary Johnson/Jim Gray | 1% | 1,275,804 | 0 | |
| Green | Jill Stein/Cheri Honkala | 0.4% | 469,501 | 0 | |
| Total Votes | 128,577,117 | 538 | |||
| Election results via: FEC official election results | |||||
Other candidates that appeared on the ballot received less than 0.1% of the vote. Those candidates included: Roseanne Barr, Rocky Anderson, Thomas Hoefling, Jerry Litzel, Jeff Boss, Merlin Miller, Randall Terry, Jill Reed, Richard Duncan, Andre Barnett, Chuck Baldwin, Barbara Washer, Tom Stevens, Virgil Goode, Will Christensen, Stewart Alexander, James Harris, Jim Carlson, Sheila Tittle, Peta Lindsay, Gloria La Riva, Jerry White, Dean Morstad and Jack Fellure.[21]
2008
Vice Presidency
With a majority of the popular and Electoral College vote, Biden won election as vice president of the United States on the Democratic ticket with Barack Obama.[22]
| U.S. presidential election, 2008 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Electoral votes | |
| Democratic | Barack Obama/Joe Biden |
53% | 69,498,516 | 365 | |
| Republican | John McCain/Sarah Palin | 45.7% | 59,948,323 | 173 | |
| Peace and Freedom | Ralph Nader/Matt Gonzalez | 0.6% | 739,034 | 0 | |
| Libertarian | Bob Barr/Wayne Allyn Root | 0.4% | 523,715 | 0 | |
| Constitution | Chuck Baldwin/Darrell Castle | 0.2% | 199,750 | 0 | |
| Green | Cynthia McKinney/Rosa Clemente | 0.1% | 161,797 | 0 | |
| Total Votes | 131,071,135 | 538 | |||
| Election results via: Archives.gov official election results | |||||
Other candidates that appeared on the ballot received less than 0.1% of the vote. Those candidates included: Alan Keyes, Ron Paul, Gloria La Riva, Brian Moore, Roger Calero, Richard Duncan, James Harris, Charles Jay, John Joseph Polachek, Frank Edward McEnulty, Jeffrey J. Wamboldt, Thomas Robert Stevens, Gene C. Amondson, Jeffrey Jeff Boss, George Phillies, Ted Weill, Jonathan E. Allen and Bradford Lyttle.[23]
Full history
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2008 Biden also won re-election to his seat in the U.S. Senate in 2008, which he was forced to resign from on January 15, 2009 in order to take the office of U.S. vice president.[6] On November 4, 2008, Joe Biden won re-election to the United States Senate. He defeated Christine O'Donnell (R) in the general election.[24]
2002 On November 5, 2002, Joe Biden won re-election to the United States Senate. He defeated Raymond J. Clatworthy (R), Raymond T. Buranello (L), Maurice Barros (Independent Party of Delaware) and Robert E. Mattson (Natural Law) in the general election.[25]
1996 On November 5, 1996, Joe Biden won re-election to the United States Senate. He defeated Raymond J. Clatworthy (R), Mark Jones (L) and Jacqueline Kossoff (Natural Law) in the general election.[26]
1990 On November 6, 1990, Joe Biden won re-election to the United States Senate. He defeated M. Jane Brady (R) and Lee Rosenbaum (L) in the general election.[27]
1984 On November 6, 1984, Joe Biden won re-election to the United States Senate. He defeated John M. Burris (R) in the general election.[28]
1978 On November 7, 1978, Joe Biden won re-election to the United States Senate. He defeated James H. Baxter, Jr. (R) and Donald G. Gies (American Independent) in the general election.[29]
1972 On November 7, 1972, Joe Biden won election to the United States Senate. He defeated J. Caleb Boggs (R), Henry Majka (American) and Herbert B. Wood (Prohibition) in the general election.[30]
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Analysis
Net worth
While running for president of the United States in 2020, Biden released financial disclosures and tax returns from 2016 to 2020. Click on the following links to view these disclosures:
- OGE Form 278e (2020)
- OGE Form 278e (2019)
- 2016 Delaware
- 2016 Federal
- 2017 Delaware
- 2017 Federal
- 2018 Delaware
- 2018 Federal
- 2019 Delaware, Virginia, Federal
2016 Democratic National Convention
- Delegate to the 2016 DNC (click to expand)
- See also: Democratic National Convention, 2016
Joe Biden Democratic National Convention, 2016 Status: Superdelegate State: Delaware Supporting: Hillary Clinton Delegates to the DNC 2016 Calendar and delegate rules overview • Types of delegates • State election law and delegates • Superdelegates by state Biden was one of ten superdelegates to the 2016 Democratic National Convention from Delaware.[31] Superdelegates to the 2016 Democratic National Convention were not bound by the results of their state’s primary or caucus to support a specific presidential candidate. Biden supported Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination.[32] Clinton formally won the Democratic nomination for president on July 26, 2016.[33]
What is a superdelegate?
Superdelegates in 2016 were automatic delegates to the Democratic National Convention, meaning that, unlike regular delegates, they were not elected to this position. Also unlike regular delegates, they were not required to pledge their support to any presidential candidate, and they were not bound by the results of their state's presidential primary election or caucus. In 2016, superdelegates included members of the Democratic National Committee, Democratic members of Congress, Democratic governors, and distinguished party leaders, including former presidents and vice presidents. All superdelegates were free to support any presidential candidate of their choosing at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.[34]
Delaware primary results
Hillary Clinton defeated Bernie Sanders in Delaware's Democratic primary on April 26, 2016, by approximately 21 percentage points.[35]
Delaware Democratic Primary, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Delegates Hillary Clinton 59.8% 55,954 12 Bernie Sanders 39.2% 36,662 9 Roque De La Fuente 1.1% 1,024 0 Totals 93,640 21 Source: The New York Times and Delaware Secretary of State Delegate allocation
Delaware had 32 delegates at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Of this total, 21 were pledged delegates. National party rules stipulated how Democratic delegates in all states were allocated. Pledged delegates were allocated to a candidate in proportion to the votes he or she received in a state's primary or caucus. A candidate was eligible to receive a share of the state's pledged delegates if he or she won at least 15 percent of the votes cast in the primary or caucus. There were three types of pledged Democratic delegates: congressional district delegates, at-large delegates, and party leaders and elected officials (PLEOs). Congressional district delegates were allocated proportionally based on the primary or caucus results in a given district. At-large and PLEO delegates were allocated proportionally based on statewide primary results.[36][37]
Eleven party leaders and elected officials served as unpledged delegates. These delegates were not required to adhere to the results of a state's primary or caucus.[36][38]
Ballot measure activity
The following table details Biden's ballot measure stances available on Ballotpedia:
| Ballot measure support and opposition for Joe Biden | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballot measure | Year | Position | Status |
| California Proposition 15, Tax on Commercial and Industrial Properties for Education and Local Government Funding Initiative | 2020 | Supported[39] |  Defeated
|
| California Proposition 22, App-Based Drivers as Contractors and Labor Policies Initiative | 2020 | Opposed[40] |  / Approved
|
| Milwaukee Public Schools, Wisconsin, Revenue Limit Increase Measure | 2020 | Supported[41] | Approved
|
Noteworthy events
Impeachment inquiry (2023)
- See also: Impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden, 2023
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) announced on September 12, 2023, that the House of Representatives would pursue an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden (D).[42] The inquiry focused on allegations that Biden used his influence as vice president from 2009 to 2017 to improperly profit from his son Hunter Biden's business dealings.[43]
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), McCarthy's successor, scheduled a vote for December 7 to formally approve the ongoing impeachment inquiry.[44] The resolution was approved 221-212, and directed the Oversight, Ways and Means, and Judiciary committees to continue their investigations and set forth additional authorities for the committees related to inquiry proceedings.[45]
In a September 13 briefing, White House Press Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Republicans in Congress "have spent all year investigating the President. That’s what they’ve spent all year doing, and have turned up with no evidence — none — that he did anything wrong. [...] That is what we’ve heard over and over again from their almost year-long investigation. And that’s because the President didn’t do anything wrong."[46]
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| Coronavirus pandemic |
| Select a topic from the dropdown below to learn more.
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On July 21, 2022, the White House announced Biden tested positive for COVID-19.[47] On July 30, 2022, the president's physician reported he tested positive again for COVID-19.[48]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Biden married Neilia Hunter in 1966. They had three children together: Beau, Hunter, and Naomi. In December 1972, Neilia and Naomi were killed in a car accident that also critically injured Biden's two sons.[11] Biden was sworn into his first term in office by his sons' hospital beds in January 1973. In 1977, he remarried to Jill Jacobs, with whom he has one daughter, Ashley.[11]
Biden's elder son, Beau, served as the attorney general of Delaware from 2007 to 2015. On May 30, 2015, Beau died from brain cancer at the age of 46.[49]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Joe Biden. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Elections
- Joe Biden presidential campaign, 2020
- Presidential election, 2020
- Barack Obama
- Presidential election, 2016
External links
- Vice President Joe Biden
- Joe Biden on Facebook
- Joe Biden on Twitter
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Profile on OpenSecrets.org
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Donald Trump (R) |
President of the United States 2021-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Vice President of the United States 2009-2017 |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
U.S. Senate Delaware 1973-2009 |
Succeeded by - |
Footnotes
- ↑ YouTube, "Joe Biden Launches His Campaign For President: Let's Finish the Job," April 25, 2023
- ↑ CNN, "Joe Biden announces he is running for president in 2020," April 25, 2019
- ↑ Twitter, "Joe Biden," August 11, 2020
- ↑ CNBC, "Joe Biden picks Sen. Kamala Harris to be his vice presidential running mate, making her the first black woman on a major ticket," August 11, 2020
- ↑ The Telegraph, "Barack Obama inauguration: Joe Biden sworn in as vice-president," January 20, 2009
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 CNN, "Joe Biden Fast Facts," January 22, 2013
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Obama surprises Joe Biden with the Presidential Medal of Freedom," January 12, 2017
- ↑ Joe Biden, "Joe's Story," accessed July 9, 2019
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 HowStuffWorks, "Political Career of Joe Biden," accessed July 9, 2019
- ↑ The New York Times, "Obama Chooses Biden as Running Mate," August 23, 2008
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedbiobio - ↑ Associated Press, "Biden tackles Trump and touts economic progress in Milwaukee visit," December 20, 2023
- ↑ 6ABC, "President Biden announces new resources for Philadelphia Fire Department," December 11, 2023
- ↑ NBC Los Angeles, "What to know about the Bidens' LA visit: Schedule, traffic and protests," December 8, 2023
- ↑ NBC Los Angeles, "What to know about the Bidens' LA visit: Schedule, traffic and protests," December 8, 2023
- ↑ Associated Press, "Biden dings Trump on infrastructure, while he showcases $8.2B for 10 major rail projects," December 8, 2023
- ↑ CBS News, "President Joe Biden fundraising in Mass. on Tuesday, including appearance with James Taylor," December 5, 2023
- ↑ USA Today, "Joe Biden says no to 2016 presidential race," accessed October 21, 2015
- ↑ The Guardian, "Joe Biden announces he will not run for president in 2016," accessed October 21, 2015
- ↑ The Cincinnati Herald, "Obama re-elected to historic second term," November 10, 2012
- ↑ FEC, "2012 Presidential Election Results," accessed June 24, 2013
- ↑ CNN, "Obama: This is your victory," November 5, 2008
- ↑ FEC, "2008 Presidential Popular Vote Summary," accessed June 24, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 2008," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 2002," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 1996," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 1990," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 1984," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 1978," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 1972," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ Ballotpedia's list of superdelegates to the 2016 Democratic National Convention is based on our own research and lists provided by the Democratic National Committee to Vox.com in February 2016 and May 2016. If you think we made an error in identifying superdelegates, please send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.
- ↑ The Huffington Post, "Joe Biden Endorses Hillary Clinton For President," June 9, 2016
- ↑ To find out which candidate a superdelegate supported, Ballotpedia sought out public statements from the superdelegate in other media outlets and on social media. If we were unable to find a public statement that clearly articulated which candidate the superdelegate supported at the national convention, we listed that superdelegate as "unknown." If you believe we made an error in identifying which candidate a superdelegate supported, please email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.
- ↑ Congressional Research Service, "The Presidential Nominating Process and the National Party Conventions, 2016: Frequently Asked Questions," December 30, 2015
- ↑ The New York Times, "Delaware Primary Results," June 10, 2016
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 Democratic National Committee, "2016 Democratic National Convention Delegate/Alternate Allocation," updated February 19, 2016
- ↑ The Green Papers, "2016 Democratic Convention," accessed May 7, 2021
- ↑ Democratic National Committee's Office of Party Affairs and Delegate Selection, "Unpledged Delegates -- By State," May 27, 2016
- ↑ Twitter: Joe Biden, "9:28 AM - 8 Nov 2019 Tweet," accessed December 2, 2019
- ↑ Twitter, "Joe Biden," May 26, 2020
- ↑ Journal Sentinel, "Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden endorses Milwaukee, Racine school referendums in a highly unusual move," March 31, 2020
- ↑ Associated Press, "Speaker McCarthy directs the House to open an impeachment inquiry into President Biden," September 12, 2023
- ↑ Reuters, "What’s the basis of the Republicans’ Joe Biden impeachment inquiry?" December 13, 2023
- ↑ Politico, "Johnson almost certainly has votes to formalize Biden impeachment inquiry," December 12, 2023
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.Res.918 - Directing certain committees to continue their ongoing investigations as part of the existing House of Representatives inquiry into whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its Constitutional power to impeach Joseph Biden, President of the United States of America, and for other purposes." accessed December 13, 2023
- ↑ White House, "Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers Jared Bernstein, and NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby," September 13, 2023
- ↑ Yahoo! News, "Biden tests positive for COVID-19," July 21, 2022
- ↑ CNN, "President Joe Biden tests positive for Covid-19 again," July 30, 2022
- ↑ The New York Times, "Beau Biden, Vice President Joe Biden’s Son, Dies at 46," May 30, 2015
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