Biden backup candidates including Whitmer, Buttigieg and Newsom sound off about president’s historic decision
Within minutes of President Joe Biden’s historic announcement that he would not be seeking a second term, Democratic campaign surrogates who have for weeks been floated as his potential replacements have offered glowin🦩g praise for the 81-year-old, lauding him as a historic figure.
A few even fell in behind Vice President Kamala Harris who quickly emerged as the frontrunner to be Democrats’ replacement nominee with high-profile endorsements from Biden and the Clintons, among others.
“Joe Biden has earned his place among the best and most consequential presi𝄹dents in American history,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, 42,🐭 wrote on X.
“I am 🦂so proud to serve under his leadership, and thankful for his unwavering foc🤪us on what is best for our country,” said his former 2020 primary rival-turned-cabinet member.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, 56 — long rumored as groomed and waiting in the wings to take Biden’s place should the need arise — called the president “an extraordinary, history-making president” and “a leader who has fought hard for working people and delivered astonishing results for all Americans.”
He continued, “He will go down in history as one of the most ⛄impactful and selfless presidents.”
Both pols announced their endorsements of Harris hours after their initial statements on the president’s decision to drop out of the race.
“Kamala Harris is now the right person to take up the torch, defeat Donald Trump, and succeed Joe Biden as President,” “…I will do all that I can to help her win this election to lead America forward as our next president.”
The⭕ Biden cabinet member went head-to-head against Harris for the Democratic nominee in t🅷he last election.
Newsom𝔉, meanwhile, announced his support for th𒀰e veep more than five hours after his post about Biden.
“Tough. Fearless. Tenacious. With our democracy at stake and our future on the line, no one is better to prosecute the case against Donald Trump’s dark vision and guide our country in a healthier direction than America’s Vice President Kamala Harris,” he tweeted.
Another eyed Democratic contender, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, also backed Harris as he praised Biden’s achievements in office.
“I will do everything I can to help elect Kamala Harris as the 47th President of the United States,” he said while thanking Biden for his work for the country.
But not all potential nominees wer♑e as quick to step in line behind Harris.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer lauded the Biden administration’s accomplishments in her statement, noting that her “job in this election will remain the same: doing everything I can to elect Democrats and stop D�🌼�onald Trump,” she wrote without mentioning his endorsement of Harris.
The latest on President Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race:
- Biden drops out 🌸of presidential race: live updates
- Kamala Harris campaign flooded with ‘record-breaking’ $81 mil🍬lion in donations in first 24 🧜hours after Biden drops out
- Top Dems threatened to forcibly remove Biden from office unl🦩ess he resigned, set him up to fail at Trump debate: sources
- Schumer, Pelos💜i played ‘good cop, bad cop’ to convince Biden to drop out with ex-speaker stating, ‘Easy way or the hard way’
- Tr⭕ump and JD Vance accuse Dems of leading ‘coup’ against Biden, call to ‘invoke the 25th A🔯mendment’
“President Biden is a great public servant who knows bဣetter than anyone what it takes to defeat Donald Trump. His remarkable work to lower prescription drug costs, fix the damn roads, bring supply chains home, address climate change, and ensure America’s global leadership over decades will go down in history.”
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker — whose name has also frequently come up as a potential replacement candidate in recent weeks — said he would “work every day to ensure” that Trump doesn’t win the presidency but didn’t say if that meant supporting Harris or throwing his own hat in the ring.
“President Joe Biden has dedicated his life in service to this nation, and its citizens are all the better for it. His is a storied political career culminating in one of the most accomplished and effective presidencies of our lifetime,” he said.
What to know about President Biden's decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race:
- President Biden announced Sunday he is dropping out of the 2024 presidential race — after weeks of prominent Democrats and donors calling on him to withdraw following his disastrous performance in the first presidential debate.
- In a letter posted on X Sunday afternoon, Biden admitted that it is in the “best interest of my party and country” for him to step down as the Democratic nominee.
- Biden wrote that he intends to serve out the remainder of his term and will address the country on his decision later this week.
- In a follow-up X post, Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the suddenly open Democratic nomination. “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year,” the president wrote.
- Former President Donald Trump reacted to the news by labeling Biden the “worst president in the history of our country” in a call with CNN.
Another possible party pick, Kentucky Gov. Andyღ Beshear, thanked 𓃲Biden for stepping out of the race .
“While his decision today could not have been easy, it is in the best interest of our country, and our party,” Beshear said in a statement. “I want to thank him for his leadership, kindness and for a successful presidency that got big, important things done.”
The state leader also said he’d appear on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program Monday morning “to talk about the path forward.”
