Opinion | With Joe Biden out of office, Democrats have a golden opportunity to start over

“I believe it is in the best interests of my party and the country that I step down,” Biden said. wrote in an open letterThe president offered his “full support and endorsement” for Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him as the nominee, saying he would address the nation “in greater detail later this week.”

Biden campaigned in 2020 as a “bridge” to the next generation of Democratic leaders. By passing the torch now — four years earlier than he had hoped — he increases his party’s chances of keeping the White House. But Democrats should proceed with caution.

Mrs. Harris is the odds-on favorite to be the party’s standard-bearer at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next month. Delegates may not want to deny the nomination of the first female vice president, which is why many potential top contenders have indicated they will not challenge her.

An open process for choosing Mr. Biden’s replacement as the Democratic nominee, as well as his running mate, could be messy. It could highlight Democratic divisions on issues that divide Democrats, such as Mr. Biden’s Middle East policies. It already looked like the Democratic convention would become a point of contention before Biden’s departure, with the possibility of large protests outside the venue.

Still, Mr. Biden’s decision creates an opportunity for a reset, not just for his party but for American politics more broadly, through a competitive nominating process among future national leaders. Barack Obama was a stronger candidate in 2008, and perhaps even a better president, because Hillary Clinton competed so fiercely with him during a marathon primary season. While this kind of screening process isn’t replicable, it does provide time for Democrats to vet the candidates for the top of the ticket.

The logistics of a compressed nomination battle wouldn’t necessarily be difficult. France just held an early election without a hitch. All the delegates and superdelegates have already been selected and are ready to convene in Chicago. Democrats wouldn’t even have to schedule primaries: debates between the top candidates would suffice.

Polls show that Ms. Harris is the best-known of the potential Democratic nominees, but she also has a record in the Biden administration — including her confirmation of Mr. Biden’s eligibility for a second term — that people have a right to scrutinize. She failed to address the root causes of illegal immigration, a mission the president gave her, but she excelled as a messenger who pushed the Supreme Court’s decision to Roe vs. Wade.

Perhaps more importantly, she’s not the only option. Governors include Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Roy Cooper of North Carolina and Andy Beshear of Kentucky. Two Democratic governors up for election in 2022 could have bright futures on the national stage: Wes Moore of Maryland and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania. There are talented secretaries, notably Gina Raimondo of Commerce and Pete Buttigieg of Transportation. Senators made of presidential wood include Mark Kelly of Arizona and Michael Bennet of Colorado.

At every decision point, Democrats should champion transparency. Even if Ms. Harris wins the nomination quickly, her running mate would still have to be chosen at the convention. State delegations and superdelegates could play a crucial role in nationally televised proceedings that would grip the country and shine a spotlight on Democrats.

Even if he doesn’t seek another term, Mr. Biden can still help his party campaign against GOP nominee Donald Trump this fall. His most important task now, though, is to get the country in the best possible shape for his successor. Free from the burden of campaign hardship, Mr. Biden can help bring a long-awaited conclusion to the war in Gaza and the freeing of hostages, and guide the American economy toward the soft landing from the inflation that becomes more likely as the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates.

The United States just celebrated its 248th Fourth of July. Mr. Biden has lived nearly a third of that history. His cautious, selfless decision to step down improves his party’s prospects today and, no doubt, retrospective assessments of his presidency tomorrow.

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