Northeast leaders react to Biden's decision to drop out of race

(The Center Square) — Political leaders from Northeast states are reacting to President Joe Biden's decision to drop his reelection bid, with most Democrats praising the decision and Republicans calling on the president to step down before the end of his term.

Biden announced his decision on Sunday following a disastrous debate with Donald Trump that raised doubts about his ability to run for another term. He endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to challenge Republican nominee Donald Trump and called on Democrats to unite behind her.

In New York, Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul praised Biden for his years of service and urged Democrats to support Harris as she seeks the party's nomination.

"Kamala is a champion of justice who will fight every single day for a woman's right to choose, for middle class families, and for the integrity of our democracy," Hochul said in a statement. "I am confident she will deliver for New Yorkers and am proud to stand beside her.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, also praised Biden in a statement for "passing the torch at a critical moment, when the country needs strong leadership from a new generation" but didn't explicitly express support for Harris to take over the nomination.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries both praised President Biden as a "true patriot" after the president announced that he would not run for reelection but didn't immediately throw their support behind Harris' bid.

New York Republicans blasted what they described as Biden's "disastrous" term in the White House and called on him to step down from office before the November elections.

"If Joe Biden can’t run for reelection, he is unable and unfit to serve as President of the United States," Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., said in a statement. "He must immediately resign."

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., echoed those sentiments in calling on Biden to throw in the towel before the end of his term in January.

"Make no mistake, whoever replaces Joe Biden on the ballot will push the same left wing Democrat agenda that is destroying our country and has led to an unprecedented illegal immigration crisis, unsafe and unaffordable cities and record high interest rates, energy costs and food prices," she said.

Rep. Anthony D'Esposito, R-N.Y., said Biden's record in office has been "chaos at our border, debilitating inflation, crises overseas. Biden and Democrats have failed the American people on all fronts."

"No matter the nominee, we must elect Republicans up and down the ballot this November," he said.

Leaders of primarily other Democratic-controlled Northeast states also weighed in on Biden's decision, with reactions predictably divided along party lines.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, said Harris has been an "outstanding VP and has what it takes to be an even better president" and urged Democrats to rally around her candidacy.

Republican Curtis Bashaw, who is running for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Bob Menendez — who was convicted on federal bribery charges last week — said Biden's fitness to lead America has "raised serious concerns" but said Harris is "not the change our country desperately needs."

"Rather, she represents more of the same failed policies that have defined the Biden-Harris Administration -- lawless open borders, skyrocketing inflation, and an anemic economy," he said in a statement.

Maine's Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, who was expected to speak at a Democratic Party rally for Harris' nomination on Monday, called her a "fighter for the people" and pledged to work to get her elected as president.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat and longtime Biden supporter, said he believes Harris will "be the front-runner" when Democrats huddle for their national convention next month.

But Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said while Harris is "at the top" of his list of Biden successors, he stopped short of formally endorsing her, stressing that the nomination process must play out.

Connecticut's GOP House Leader Vincent Candelora said Biden has been "forced from the 2024 presidential election by the same insiders and career politicos who propped him up and lied to the electorate about his fitness for office."

"In the process, millions of voters who relied on those falsehoods have been disenfranchised," Candelora said in a statement.

In New Hampshire, the state's all-Democratic congressional delegation also praised Biden and lined up behind Harris as the successor to his reelection bid. Rep. Ann Kuster, D-N.H., said Harris will "lead Democrats in this fight to defend our personal freedoms and reproductive rights, protect our democracy, and defeat Donald Trump and his extreme MAGA Republicans."

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, a Republican, posted a montage of interviews on social media from the past year where he argued that Biden won't be the Democratic Party's nominee, including a Politico interview on Thursday where he said, "no one likes an ‘I told you so’ moment as much as a politician."