After spending two years as President Joe Biden’s top aide, Ron Klain is expected to step down from his position as the White House chief of staff in the coming weeks. Klain plans to assist the administration and onboard his replacement upon his departure.
Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, White House Senior Adviser Anita Bunn and Secretary Tom Vilsack are among those considered potential replacements for Klain. However, reports indicate President Biden will appoint Jeffrey D. Zients as Klain’s replacement. Zients formally served as a coronavirus response coordinator to the president, before stepping down last spring.
“He’s got a lot of the same sort of skills and talent that made Ron Klain so successful,” Senator Chris Coons said on Sunday.
The announcement of his pending resignation comes directly on the heels of President Biden’s speculated reelection run in 2024. Biden has not officially declared his intent to run, but those familiar with his future plans have indicated that he plans to meet with several key donors in the coming weeks.
“We have been told to expect fundraising to ramp up in the March and April time frame,” one donor said about Biden’s potential plans.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has indicated that he will not run for President, but Senator Bernie Sanders has suggested that he would consider running in 2024 if Biden does not move forward with his campaign. Meanwhile, the Republican race will include former President Donald Trump and potential participation from Senator Tim Scott and Governor Ron DeSantis.
