Joe Biden Political Legacy

Axios reports that at least nine former Biden administration officials now running for Congress or governor in 2026 are largely omitting Joe Biden from their campaign materials, a stark contrast to how Democrats embraced Barack Obama in 2018. In Michigan, ex‑Ukraine ambassador Bridget Brink touts service under 'five presidents' and flashes images of George W. Bush and Obama but not Biden, while former acting SBA chief Michael Roth describes being trusted by 'a president' without naming which. New Mexico gubernatorial hopeful Deb Haaland and California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra both highlight their Biden‑era posts without mentioning him by name, and one House candidate, former DOJ fellow Ryan Vetticad in Illinois, says he left Biden out because he wants to 'chart a new way forward' after Democrats’ 2024 losses. A Democratic strategist tells Axios Biden’s 'lingering unpopularity' is forcing these alumni to downplay their most high‑profile jobs to avoid alienating swing voters, even as a former Biden White House official dismisses the trend as a 'manufactured, press‑driven narrative.' The pattern underscores how toxic Biden’s brand remains in key battlegrounds and could complicate future national ambitions for figures like Pete Buttigieg and Kamala Harris who are closely tied to his administration.