President Joe Biden Sunday ended his 2024 presidential bid , a decision that came after escalating pressure from Biden’s Democratic allies to step aside.
The president announced his decision in a letter posted on his official social media accounts. Biden also endorsed Vice President Harris as the 2024 Democratic nominee for President.
The reaction was immediate and intense in Connecticut. While admiration poured from Democrats, questions about what’s next also arose.
U.S. Rep Joe Courtney, D-2, said “President Biden’s decision today—like all his public service for many decades—was motivated by his patriotism and deep love for America and its democracy.
“When the focus shifts from politics of the day on to his many historic achievements, the country will have an opportunity to reflect on the benefits of his Presidency for veterans, seniors, young Americans, and the renaissance of America’s industrial base and infrastructure,” Courtney said.
“During the last three and a half years, he’s had a great partner in Vice President Kamala Harris who I strongly support to lead the Democratic Party to build on their record of success with a new agenda focused on our future.”
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Biden wrote, It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President.”
“And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”
U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn, on sunday called Biden “one of the greatest, most consequential presidents in American history.
“He was the compassionate, courageous leader our country desperately needed during a time of crisis. Over the last four years, he has overseen the passage of immensely impactful laws that will benefit generations of Americans,” Blumenthal said. “Joe is a smart, strategic fighter who always – always – looks out for the little guy. I am incredibly grateful for his lifetime of service and his unwavering, steadfast commitment to the future of our nation.”
U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, also D-Conn., said Biden “will go down in history as one of the most effective, consequential presidents in our nation’s history.
“He led us out of a pandemic and rebuilt our economy, creating more jobs than any first term president. He restored our place on the world stage, heroically leading the global response to Russia’s war in Ukraine and strengthening NATO,” Murphy said. “He helped pass legislation to transform our infrastructure, cut prescription drug prices, lower energy costs, and tackle climate change. And of course, because of Joe Biden, we passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the first gun safety legislation in 30 years.
“Joe Biden has always put his country first. He knows the risk Donald Trump poses to our democracy, mandating that our number one priority must be defeating Trump this fall. I know this decision was agonizing for him, but once again, his love of country shines through. A nation turns its grateful eyes to Joe Biden for his world changing service and his constant selflessness.”
State senator and Deputy Majority Leader MattLesser tweeted Sunday, “Nothing but gratitude for @potus.”
Full text of President Biden’s letter announcing that he won’t run for reelection
Connecticut Republican congressional candidate George Logan, who is running against incumbent U.S. Rep, Jahana Hayes, D-5, tweeted on his @GSLoganCT account that he believes “Americans are left with more questions than answers.
“While President Biden may have made a political decision to step aside from the election, I remain deeply concerned about his health and ability to execute the enormous responsibility of being President of the United States of America,” Logan wrote.
“For those in his Cabinet, and his rubber stamps in Congress, how could you put the Country in jeopardy, and how can you defend him remaining in office? As we see Iran, Russia and China continue to provoke allies and make advances against the United States, the decline of the President and the willingness of Democrats to cover it up continues to weaken our country and threaten our national security,” he wrote. “This is bigger than campaign politics. These questions need answers.”
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said America learned from Biden.
“I remember watching Senator Biden in an interview on 60 Minutes during the 1988 campaign. I was 15 years old. I remember being in awe of his strength, his confidence, and even his swagger – and that’s when I started to think I want to be like Joe,” said Tong.
“Now more than 35 years later, I know that all of us could stand to be lot more like Joe – strong, confident, and dedicated to the peace, prosperity, and security of our fellow Americans. I am grateful for his leadership of our country, and as Attorney General, for his partnership in all that we have done together during his incredible Presidency,” Tong said. “When I stood with him in the White House as he signed the law to protect Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders from hate and discrimination, he demonstrated that he is a President for all of us. And that is who he will always be.”
Gov. Ned Lamont and Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz were among the earliest supporters of Democrat Joe Biden in 2019 when Biden was being challenged by multiple opponents in a race that saw him lose in the key states of Iowa and New Hampshire before making a major comeback in the South Carolina primary.
Lamont held a key fundraiser at his Greenwich home in October 2019 that was among the highest-dollar fundraisers at the time during the campaign and provided a boost for Biden.
Both Lamont and Bysiewicz said that Biden had delivered major accomplishments during his tenure and was making the right decision Sunday.
“He leaves a legacy of accomplishments including saving millions of lives during the pandemic, making historic investments in infrastructure, creating millions of jobs, and lowering the unemployment rate to the lowest in 50 years, appointing the first Black women to serve on the nation’s highest court, passing the most significant gun violence prevention legislation in nearly 30 years, and lowering the cost of prescription drugs,” Bysiewicz said. “While we remain incredibly proud of that legacy, the focus of the campaign has shifted away from what’s at stake to the President’s fitness to serve another term. We believe his decision to step aside is the right one. It’s time for new leadership.”
Looking ahead, Bysiewicz told The Courant in a telephone interview Sunday that Harris is the best choice to be the next president.
“There is no one more qualified or more prepared to become our next president than Kamala Harris,” Bysiewicz said. “She has been a fierce defender of civil rights, voting rights, LGBTQ+ rights and reproductive rights at a time when legislatures and courts across the country are looking to roll back the clock.”
This story is breaking and we will provide updates as they are available.
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