US Elections

Clinton Says Biden's 2024 Reelection Bid Was a 'Terrible Mistake'

The statement adds a prominent Democratic voice to the ongoing intraparty debate over candidate selection processes and whether a competitive 2024 primary would have altered the general election...

The Congressional Times · June 16, 2026

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a newly published interview that President Biden's decision to seek reelection in 2024 was a 'terrible mistake,' arguing that an open Democratic primary would have produced a stronger general election candidate. The remarks were reported by The New York Times on June 16, 2026, citing a direct interview with Clinton.

Clinton said that had Biden 'passed the torch' and allowed a competitive Democratic primary process in 2024, the nominee who emerged 'would have beaten Donald Trump,' according to the Times report. Biden withdrew from the 2024 race on July 21, 2024, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, who subsequently secured the Democratic nomination without a contested primary. Harris lost the November 2024 general election to Donald Trump, who received 312 electoral votes to Harris's 226, according to the National Archives certified Electoral College results.

Clinton's assessment echoes critiques that have circulated within Democratic Party circles since the November 2024 result. A competitive primary, proponents argue, would have tested candidates' messaging, fundraising infrastructure, and voter coalitions before the general election. Opponents of that view have previously contended that a prolonged primary contest could have depleted resources and deepened internal divisions. Neither position is quantifiable through currently available public data on counterfactual electoral outcomes.

Clinton herself ran in the 2016 Democratic primary, defeating then-Senator Bernie Sanders before losing the general election to Trump. In 2024, she was not a declared candidate. Her current institutional role, political affiliations, and any related financial disclosures are on file with the FEC and the New York State Board of Elections, though no active campaign committee was identified in connection with this statement.

What remains unknown is the full context of Clinton's interview, including whether she specified which potential 2024 Democratic primary candidates she believed would have performed better against Trump. The complete interview text, if published by The New York Times, would be the public record that answers that question. Additionally, internal Democratic National Committee deliberations regarding the 2024 primary calendar and candidate vetting processes have not been fully disclosed; DNC meeting minutes and any related committee reports would be the documents to consult for that record.

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