The cruelest cut for President Joe Biden came at the hands of California Democrats who were the driving force behind his decision to abandon his reelection bid, relentlessly applying pressure to pass the torch to someone they believe could beat former President Donald Trump in November. 

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) was widely seen as one of the grandees working behind the curtain to oust Biden, while her protege, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), was one of the most prominent Democrats to call on Biden to withdraw.