Knoxville mayor says she is undecided on who she will support as DNC delegate

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon spoke to reporters on Sunday following the news that President Joe Biden would not seek reelection . She declined to say who she would support as a delegate at the Democratic National Convention.

Kincannon will travel to Chicago next month where she will serve as a delegate for the first time. She was set to be a Biden delegate, but can now support whomever she prefers now that he will not accept the nomination.

While Biden has since endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his preferred nominee , Kincannon said Sunday she has not yet determined who she will support.

“I’m not willing to say that because I don’t know,” Kincannon said. “I have had the opportunity to meet and spend time with Vice President Harris. She is a very impressive woman. She has obviously been a part of President Biden’s success. She has a great track record on all kinds of things in her role as a senator and before in her role as a prosecutor being tough on crime in California. I think Democrats are going to be united in nominating someone who can win in November. That’s the bottom line and that’s the person I’m going to be supporting.”

Following Kincannon’s statement, the Tennessee Democratic Party announced that their delegation to the 2024 Democratic National Convention had voted to support Harris. A request for comment from Kincannon’s office has not yet been returned.

Kincannon praised Biden’s leadership and cited the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, capping the price of insulin, as well as his actions on gun violence and climate change among his biggest achievements.

Knoxville has been awarded over $100 million in federal grants for affordable housing , reducing gun violence , safer streets , and planting trees since Biden took office.

“We need to solve our problems at the ballot box, not with bullets. I’m horrified by what happened with the assassination attempt on Donald Trump,” she said. “Nobody thinks that’s good for our country. We need to find people who can unite us. I think there are many potential nominees in the Democratic Party who can do that.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.