President Biden drops out of 2024 election, Hawaii officials react

HONOLULU (KHON2) — President Joe Biden announced Sunday morning he would no longer be participating in the 2024 president election.

Since his announcement, he has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidency.

“I was aware he would likely leave the race in the next couple of days,” said Governor Josh Green. “I respect the man, he served with dignity, and he certainly was very generous with us as a state as we dealt with the Maui wildfire crisis, I knew he was wrestling with the decision and when he made it, which he had to make on his own terms, I respected that.”

Gov. Green has been a loyal supporter of President Biden, and had plans to host a fundraiser for the President with David Letterman in Massachusetts at the end of the month, whether the show goes on Green says, will be discussed on Monday.

“Dave Letterman is a big supporter of Biden, but it’s likely all the resources under any circumstance, would have gone to the eventual nominee, whoever that was going to be,” Gov. Green said.

“People asked why hold a fundraiser at a national level? Well, because I care about this country. We spend most of our time fundraising for Maui’s recovery, but I also think the future of our country is at stake,” Green said. “And I feel like it’s important for all of us to get involved, whoever you support, get involved, vote, especially all the women out there who has to decide who is going to protect your reproductive rights and how you’re treated.”

Governor Green, Congresswoman Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI), and the Democratic Party of Hawaii, all backing President Biden’s endorsement of Vice President Harris.

“Vice President Harris is an extraordinary individual,” Green said. “She has experience and vision and she can lead our country, and will lead our country in an extraordinary way. I know her, I know she cares about our state and I know what she is capable of. I think she will rock into the nomination and woman are going to decide this election, along with some men of course, but 65-million woman who have their reproductive rights threatened by former President Trump are going to have to think very hard, even if they’re Republican, if they can support a person like that.”

The Democratic Party of Hawaii believes the VP pick will likely be from one of the battleground states.

“The great thing about where we are, as the Democratic Party of Hawaii is we have a really good deep bench. You know, there’s Gretchen Whitmer from Michigan, Senator Mark Kelly from Arizona, who’s in that crucial swing state and continues to win in Arizona, so I think he could be a really strong candidate. There’s Josh Shapiro, the governor of Pennsylvania, there’s Pete Buttigieg, who I think would be also a really strong VP candidate, Roy Cooper in North Carolina, so we have a good deep bench of strong vice presidential candidates,” Democratic Party of Hawaii chair Derek Turbin said.

Governor Josh Green said in a statement:

“President Biden and his family have made this decision, which I said all along was his and theirs to make. I have no doubt that it was a difficult decision and in this, I thank him again for his selfless leadership.”

“On behalf of the state of Hawaiʻi, especially the residents of Maui, I express our forever-gratitude to President Biden for granting wildfire disaster relief within an unprecedented six hours of our making the request in a time of our people’s deepest need.”

Governor Green and the Hawaii Delegation will be at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in a few weeks.

“Today, he [President Biden] did the selfless act of stepping down, believing that it was in the best interest of the country to not run for reelection, and put someone at the top of the ticket who he believes will lead us in 2024 and win the presidency,” Turbin added

He said he believes Harris will doing a good job debating with former president Donald Trump.

“Kamala Harris spent years as a prosecutor, you know, she’ll be very strong in prosecuting the case against Trump,” Turbin said. “Trump is a convicted felon, and having that background in prosecution, being able to prosecute that convicted felon who’s running for president, who wants to strip away women’s reproductive rights, who wants to strip away some important, important services like Medicare and other programs that are so crucial to our seniors and to our unions, I think she’ll be a very strong prosecutor in prosecuting the case against Trump at a debate.”

Congresswoman Jill Tokuda said she has nothing but respect for President Biden.

“This took a lot of courage for the president to do,” she said. “It’s real proof that for Joe Biden, it’s about putting country and Americans first.”

She said he through the full weight and force behind Maui’s recovery efforts and took the time to hold hands and listen to stories from survivors.

“I definitely think the time for us to come together is now, there’s never been a time when we have seen more threats at the door,” Rep. Tokuda said. “The Trump/Vance ticket is dangerous for our democracy, and equal rights, and rights for women to make choices with their own body, and Project 2025 is real and part of republicans agenda.”

She said she was with VP Harris just over a week ago in Philadelphia at the Asian Pacific Islander American Vote Presidential town hall.

“She was the only one at the top of the tickets to be present,” Rep. Tokuda said. “We had no representation from the Republican presidential campaign and she came full force and connected with Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander voters. She is one of us, she sees us, and she embraces us, she is going to be the one to lift us up.”

U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D) has said the following regarding the President’s latest news.

“For over 50 years, Joe Biden has been a selfless patriot and dedicated public servant who’s given everything to the country he so dearly loves. As a senator, vice president, and now president, he has spent most of his life working to make people’s lives better and the world safer. Today, yet again, he has put the country before himself, making the best choice for the American people in this uniquely consequential moment. For that, and for his lifetime of service, we should all be deeply grateful.

“It’s not an overstatement to say Joe Biden has been and is the most consequential president of our lifetimes. His legislative accomplishments speak for themselves and will endure for generations to come. He took the biggest climate action in human history. He cut the cost of prescription drugs for seniors and made our communities safer by passing long-overdue gun reform. He’s also revitalized our nation’s infrastructure and strengthened our alliances around the world.

“There’s no question Americans today are better off because of Joe Biden.”

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Mayor Rick Blangiardi also commented on the withdrawal with the following statement:

“President Biden’s decision to step down from the presidential race is a testament to his unwavering commitment to our nation’s democratic principles. His choice reflects a profound understanding of the responsibilities of leadership and a deep respect for the will of the American people.

Throughout his career, President Biden has demonstrated a steadfast dedication to public service, his legacy will be marked by his efforts to unite our nation and advance the values we hold dear.

Let us honor his patriotic decision by continuing to work together for the betterment of our country. We are grateful for his service and his enduring commitment to the ideals that make our nation strong.”

Congressman Ed Case’s statement:

“Words cannot fully express the moment.

As he has all his life, as have our greatest leaders, President Biden put his country before himself.

I am deeply grateful for his service, especially to our Hawai’i, and will continue to work fully with him and his administration throughout his term.

The path ahead is difficult and I will take some limited time to discuss with my constituents and colleagues the best way forward on a Democratic nominee.

Today is about President Biden and his legacy of service to country first.”