City, State politicians react after Biden drops out of presidential race

CHICAGO — President Joe Biden announced Sunday that he was dropping out of the 2024 presidential race , following pressure from Democrats to end his presidential bid after a highly criticized performance at a debate against Donald Trump in late June.

President Biden has since endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him as the Democratic nominee.

In a statement on X , President Biden said he intends to serve out the remainder of his term.

Following the announcement, several state politicians issued statements.

Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin called on Democrats to unite.

“Throughout his public career, Joe Biden always put country first. His four years as President made it clear that he was determined to put our country back on track and restore the soul of our nation. America will be forever grateful for all he has given to this country,” Durbin said. “Now the Democratic Party must unite behind a candidate who can defeat Donald Trump and keep America moving in the right direction. I will do everything in my power to help that effort.”

Illinois Secretary of State is Alexi Giannoulias (D) said in a statement on X that he was proud of Biden’s legacy.

“[Joe Biden] reminds us, at a critical moment in our nation’s history, what it means to be a true public servant: decency, honor, integrity, selflessness & love. I’m proud of his legacy & his administration. Now let’s go save our democracy & our planet from the exact opposite,” Giannoulias said.

Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D) called the president’s decision “selfless.”

“President Biden’s policy achievements have already established his place as one of the most consequential presidents in American history. Through his decision today, Joe Biden has demonstrated the true and selfless nature of a life committed to putting the country, and his fellow Americans, first,” Krishnamoorthi said.

Rep. Mike Bost (R) questioned the presidents abilities, following the announcement.

“Washington Democrats have dismissed the American people’s concerns for months regarding President Biden’s ability to serve. They have now succeeded in pressuring him out of seeking another four year term,” Bost said in a post on X .

“The question is, if the White House staff and congressional Democrats know he’s unfit to run a presidential campaign, then how is he fit to run the country?” Bost said in a follow-up , replying to his original post.

“Kamala Harris led the Democrats’ cover-up of Joe Biden’s severe cognitive decline. Their donors only forced Biden out once they got “caught.” Rep. Mary Miller (R) said on X . “Border Czar” Kamala Harris must answer for the deadly invasion of our southern border and her cover-up of Biden’s cognitive decline.

Congressman Brad Schneider, who represents Illinois’s 10th District, also called on Democrats to stand behind the new nominee.

Thank you, President Joe Biden.

Joe Biden has selflessly served our nation with courage, heart and honor. As President, he guided our nation through and out of an unprecedented global pandemic. He passed transformative legislation that has led to our economy becoming the strongest in the world. He lowered costs for families, took on the climate crisis and made our tax code fairer. He rescued our country from a potential despot and restored international confidence in the U.S. as the world’s indispensable nation.

He put our nation and the American people front and center. Our country is better and our future is brighter due to his leadership.

Joe Biden has secured his legacy as one of the greatest presidents in our history. It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve in Congress during his presidency.

Now, we must come together, build on the legacy of the Biden administration and show voters that Democrats up and down the ballot are improving the lives of all Americans. I’m confident that, with Vice President Kamala Harris at the helm of the Democratic ticket, we can do exactly that. We will defeat Donald Trump.

Rep. Brad Schneider

Rep. Delia Ramirez (D) endorsed Harris and called on Democrats to unite in the race.

We must defeat Donald Trump. Vice President Harris is the proven, qualified leader ready to move our country forward. She has my endorsement. I look forward to working with her to realize a permanent ceasefire, immigration reform, and a bold agenda that centers working families.

We must unite to defeat Project 2025 and Donald Trump’s extremist and hateful agenda. A second Trump presidency is an existential threat, and we must do everything in our power to protect our democratic institutions.

President Biden has led us through some of our darkest times. He is a statesman that has put our country and democracy first. I thank him for having the courage to do so again today.

Rep. Delia Ramirez

Congressman Darin LaHood (R) issued a statement questioning whether Biden is fit to finish out his term.

“For the past four years, the American people have faced record-high inflation, a border crisis impacting every community, and the effects of weak leadership on the global stage. It’s been clear that President Biden cannot serve four more years, but serious concerns remain about whether he can fulfill his duty over the next four months. No matter who the Democrat Party installs in Chicago next month, Americans are not buying the open-border, soft-on-crime, and out-of-touch policies they are selling,” LaHood said.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D) also issued a statement about the announcement.

“No one has done more for working Americans than Joe Biden—and so many of us owe him a debt of gratitude for everything he’s done to improve our country.

“Over more than 50 years in public service, he’s built an unparalleled record of accomplishments. From helping write the Violence Against Women Act in the Senate to shepherding the Affordable Care Act into law as Vice President and from helping guide our nation out of a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic to overseeing historic wage and job growth during his Presidency, Joe Biden has always put our country first and worked to change so many aspects of our lives for the better.

“From the bottom of my heart, I thank him for his effective and successful leadership and for, once again, putting our country before himself. This difficult decision ensures that Democrats can focus on the goal that unites each and every one of us: defeating Donald Trump and preventing another four years of his destructive chaos and corruption.”

Sen. Tammy Duckworth

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson issued a statement Sunday afternoon endorsing Vice President Harris.

President Biden united the country by defeating Donald Trump in 2020 and Chicago is grateful for his leadership and service. Today, President Biden cemented his legacy as the rare leader who puts the people above himself.

It is vital for our entire party to come together and support Vice President Kamala Harris. I am proud to give her my full endorsement.

Vice President Harris is the visionary leader that we need now to defeat the threat of another Trump presidency. She has proven herself as a fearless defender of our democracy. I look forward to doing everything I can to ensure she becomes our next President.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson

Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot issued a statement calling Biden an “American Hero.”

“[Joe Biden] is an American hero. As he has shown throughout his public service, he has always elevated service over self. He did that again today. God bless our president and his family.

Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker issued a lengthy response to the announcement.

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.

As President of the United States he led us through a recovery from a devastating pandemic and shepherded our economy away from a recession to prosperity. He worked across the aisle to pass some of the most consequential legislation in decades to rebuild our roads and bridges while investing in the infrastructure and jobs of the 21st century. Perhaps most consequentially, President Biden restored dignity to the Oval Office, bringing the statesmanship and honor that have been the hallmarks of his years of service, back to the White House.

As we extend our gratitude to President Biden and reflect on his many accomplishments, we must not ignore the threat posed by Donald Trump’s potential return to the White House. Donald Trump is a 34 time convicted felon, adjudicated to have committed sexual assault, a racist, homophobe and misogynist. Trump brags about taking away a woman’s right to choose, wants to rip healthcare away from tens of millions of people, proposes economic policies that will cost the middle class thousands of dollars a year, and threatens the fundamental American ideals we hold dear. I will work every day to ensure that he does not win in November.

Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker

Illinois Republican Party Chair Kathy Salvi issued a highly critical statement about the announcement, calling Democrats a divided party.

“Today’s announcement is the culmination of years of lies from the Biden White House and Democrats shaming anyone who questioned the fitness of President Biden. Democrats are divided, torn apart by their own duplicity trying to pass off President Biden’s inability to fulfill his role, while Republicans stand united behind President Trump and an agenda of freedom, prosperity, and safety. Democrats have become the party of self-service while Republicans have become the voice of this nation. We as Illinois Republicans must continue to call attention to JB Pritzker’s tax-and-spend, pro-criminal agenda that drives families away rom this state to protect the rest of the nation,” Salvi said.

Chair of the Democratic National Convention Minyon Moore also released a statement following the announcement.

President Biden represents the best of America. He is a public servant who has dedicated his life to delivering for the American people. For the entirety of his first term, he has gone above and beyond to bring our country back from the brink. Under his steady leadership, Democrats have delivered transformational progress: lowering costs, expanding access to health care, investing in America, and restoring dignified American leadership on the world stage.

But President Biden is not just a consequential public servant. He is one of the most honorable leaders I have had the pleasure of working with during my time in Democratic politics. He has led with moral clarity and a steadfast commitment to bipartisanship, and his goodness transcends politics. He is a husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle, who has been unwavering in his love, support, and optimism even in the face of immense hardship.

Here in Chicago, our mission remains the same. During the convention, we will have an opportunity to show the country and the world who Democrats are and what we stand for. Over the past year, we have been building the stage – literally and figuratively – for President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Democrats to tell our story to the American people. The historic progress Democrats achieved under the Biden-Harris Administration will still be central to that story, as will the story of what is at stake in this election.

We look forward to welcoming delegates and guests to Chicago from August 19-22 for the Democratic National Convention to rally behind our Democratic nominees for President and Vice President of the United States and ensure we defeat Donald Trump once again.

As President Biden has always said, there is nothing beyond our power when we come together as Americans. There is no more important moment than this year’s convention for us to come together as a party and recommit to the work ahead.

Democratic National Convention Chair Minyon Moore

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