Former president Donald Trump and President Joe Biden have officially clinched their respective parties’ presidential nominations, setting up a rematch in November.
The rematch, which the majority of Americans profess not to want, was long in the making: Despite concerns about Biden’s age, no viable challenger emerged to take on the incumbent president while Trump, despite his myriad legal issues, also cruised to the nomination after dominant performances in the early primary states. Trump’s last remaining challenger, former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley, dropped out of the race last week after losing 14 out of 15 Super Tuesday contests.
Biden captured the Democratic nomination after winning Georgia Tuesday night while Trump stamped his ticket to the November contest with wins in Georgia, Mississippi, and Washington State. He also won the Hawaii caucuses, with results coming in early Wednesday morning.
With just under eight months to go before Election Day, this is set to be one of the longest general-election campaigns in modern history and the country’s first presidential rematch in 70 years.
“Four years ago, I ran for president because I believed we were in a battle for the soul of this nation,” Biden said in a statement following his victory in Georgia. “Because of the American people, we won that battle, and now I am honored that the broad coalition of voters representing the rich diversity of the Democratic Party across the country have put their faith in me once again to lead our party — and our country — in a moment when the threat Trump poses is greater than ever.”
The president continued criticizing his chief opponent, saying Trump represents a threat to freedom and democracy as he runs a “campaign of resentment, revenge, and retribution.” In contrast, Biden painted himself as a leader who listens to voters’ concerns and touted his own economic policies.
Vice President Kamala Harris also bashed Trump while celebrating Biden’s clinching of the nomination.
“From the start, President Biden and I have never taken this re-nomination process for granted,” Harris wrote on X. “Now, the general election begins in earnest, and the contrast could not be clearer: Trump is a threat to our democracy and our fundamental freedoms.”
Looking ahead to a November rematch with Biden, Trump celebrated his victory after clinching the nomination.
“We now have to go on to victory because our country’s in serious trouble,” Trump said in a video to supporters, pointing to the border and economy as issues that voters are concerned about.
“For this evening and for last week and for all the weeks before, for the tremendous success we’ve had in this primary, I want to thank everybody,” he added. “But much more importantly, we have to get to work to beat Joe Biden, the worst administration, the worst president in the history of our country.”
Biden’s and Trump’s victories come a week after both presidential front-runners swept 14 out of 15 states, defeating their party rivals’ chances.
Biden and Trump will be officially nominated at their parties’ national conventions this summer.