Democratic leaders in Congress unanimously praised President Biden for abandoning his 2024 reelection campaign, but stopped short of endorsing his running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris, as his party leader to succeed Biden.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and House Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) had been pressuring the 81-year-old Biden to withdraw in the weeks since his disastrous June 27 debate with former President Donald Trump, citing dire polling numbers and public concerns about his mental state.
Along with former President Barack Obama, they congratulated Obama on his decision to announce he was suspending his campaign on Sunday, but did not immediately endorse Harris as his successor.
“Joe Biden is not only a great president and a great legislative leader, he is a truly incredible human being,” Schumer said in a statement on Wednesday. “His decision was of course not an easy one, but he has once again put our country, our party and our future first. Joe, today you proved you are a true patriot and a great American.”
“In less than one term, he’s rescued the country from a once-in-a-century pandemic, surged the economy back from the brink of recession, enacted critical legislation for ordinary Americans, and defeated an insurrectionist chieftain to save our democracy,” Jeffries added via X. “We are forever grateful.”
“God has blessed America with the greatness and goodness of Joe Biden,” Pelosi also raved about X. “His vision, values and legacy of leadership make him one of the most significant presidents in American history.”
Among senior Democrats, only Rep. Jim Clyburn was quick to follow Biden’s lead and endorse Harris.
“One of President Biden’s first decisions as a candidate was to select a running mate who he believed had the values and vision necessary to continue our work as a ‘More Perfect Union,'” Sen. Clyburn (D-South Carolina) said in a statement.
“I share his good judgment in selecting Vice President Harris to lead the country with him, and I am proud to follow his lead in endorsing her candidacy to succeed him as the Democratic presidential nominee in 2024,” he added.
Even before the president left office, there had been growing calls in Congress to remove Biden from the running, a move that some Democrats have lamented.
“I hope the geniuses who ousted the most influential president of our lifetime have a plan,” Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) lamented on X.
“The problem is not Joe, it’s the Democrats,” she said, blaming her fellow lawmakers.
“One thing I know: I only work for @KamalaHarris. Everyone else but her, enjoy your election season… I hope all of my disappointed colleagues can find their walking shoes and get to work, because I won’t! Full version [stop]”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), one of the last Democrats from the Squad to vocally defend Biden’s candidacy, had not issued a statement until more than three hours after the president’s announcement.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania), another strong defender of Biden, Semaphore responds with statement Biden’s resignation is in stark contrast to the decision of Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), who was convicted last week on federal bribery charges, to remain in Congress.
“The people have pushed aside a respected man, a loving father and a great president for an utter despicable man like Menendez. Congratulations,” Fetterman said.
Some who have publicly called for Biden to step down have not explicitly supported Harris.
“I am confident that we can defeat Donald Trump,” said Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vermont. “We have a lot of capable, proven leaders in our party, starting with Vice President Harris, who can carry on Biden’s legacy and inspire the voters we need to deliver the White House.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), a close ally of Ocasio-Cortez in Congress, thanked Biden for “serving our country with honor and dignity” and being “the most pro-working class president in modern American history,” but did not publicly endorse Harris.
Biden’s endorsement of Harris came minutes after she announced she was dropping out of the race against Trump and shortly after she posted to X that she was “honored” to receive a vote of confidence from Harris and that “I am going to win this nomination and I am going to win it.”
The Democratic National Committee plans to hold a virtual vote on the presidential nomination in early August to meet Ohio’s August 7 deadline.
But if lawmakers oppose Harris’ candidacy, voting could resume at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago from August 19-22.
White House press secretary Andrew Bates later said in a statement that Biden “looks forward to completing his term and delivering even more historic accomplishments for the American people,” responding to Republican attacks about his fitness to hold public office.
Santiago Mayer, executive director of Voters of Tomorrow, a Gen Z-led voter turnout group, told The Washington Post that younger voters will expect more from Harris given her age and energy.
Mayer said Gen Z voters praised Harris for her work on the economy and abortion rights, and that she brings a level of “passion and energy” to the slate of candidates that rivals Trump.
Specifically, Harris could push for a “ceasefire” in Gaza and could get that message across to younger voters better than Biden.
She is “definitely a younger, much more energetic candidate,” he said.
“I think we’ve seen it in the last few weeks with the coconut tree videos.”
