San Diego County Politicians React to Biden Dropping Out of Presidential Race

San Diego County elected leaders were weighing in Sunday on President Joe Biden’s announcement that he’s withdrawing from the 2024 presidential campaign.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria called Biden a “leader, patriot and true public servant who has always put the good of the country first.”

“His record of accomplishment means history will surely count him as one of America’s most effective presidents,” Gloria — a Democrat — wrote on X. “His decision today reinforces all of these facts. I must also express my gratitude to the president for his support of San Diego. He has delivered for our city and its people time and time again.”

Chairwoman Nora Vargas offered praise for Biden after he announced he would not be running for re-election, saying that he fought for equality and to uplift all Americans.

Vargas also announced that she was proud to support Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for President, citing her work to protect women’s reproductive health, the freedom to live safely from gun violence, the freedom to vote, and the freedom to drink clean water and breathe clean air.

“I’ve had the great opportunity to work with Kamala Harris on issues affecting California and our country. I believe that she’s a fierce, smart, compassionate leader who won’t back down until the job is done and everyone has a true chance to build a better life for themselves and their families,” Vargas added.

Biden had repeatedly rejected calls from Democrats in Congress to drop out of the race, brushing off concerns about his age and fitness to withstand the rigors of a national campaign against Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump.

However, reports surfaced in recent days that the president might be reconsidering his stance as he remained secluded in Delaware after testing positive for COVID-19 earlier this week.

He abruptly reversed course Sunday.

“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,” the president said in a statement released shortly after 10:30 a.m. Pacific time.

“I will speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision,” he added.

Biden’s initial message did not express his preference for who should take his place at the top of the ticket, but he posted another statement about 30 minutes later endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris.

“My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” the statement said. “My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best decision I’ve made. Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”

Harris is a Brentwood resident and former California attorney general and senator.

The Democratic Party is now faced with a possible rift between those backing Harris and others who favor an open competition before the Democratic National Convention, which will be held in Chicago from Aug. 19-22.

Trump wasted little time in weighing in on the withdrawal of the man who beat him in the 2020 election.

“Crooked Joe Biden was not fit to run for President, and is certainly not fit to serve – And never was!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “He only attained the position of President by lies, Fake News, and not leaving his Basement. All those around him, including his Doctor and the Media, knew that he wasn’t capable of being President, and he wasn’t – And now, look what he’s done to our Country, with millions of people coming across our Border, totally unchecked and unvetted, many from prisons, mental institutions, and record numbers of terrorists. We will suffer greatly because of his presidency, but we will remedy the damage he has done very quickly. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Rep. Mike Levin applauded Biden’s decision, saying it was “incredibly patriotic” and “the right thing to do,” and thanked Biden for his work during the duration of his political career and presidency. Levin also followed Biden’s lead in endorsing Kamala Harris as a presidential nominee.

“Now, we must come together to prevail against the incalculable threat Donald Trump poses to the American institutions of freedom and democracy.” Levin said. “Trump seeks to overthrow the values and principles that have guided us towards justice and prosperity for nearly two and a half centuries. We cannot let him do that.

Encinitas Mayor Tony Kranz told City News Service that Biden’s decision to end his campaign “was the right thing to do.”

“I know it was through prayer that he made the choice he did, because he’s a man of great faith,” Kranz said. “It had become quite clear to most people that to continue his campaign was increasing the likelihood that the leader of the Republican Party, who’s crazy as a loon, would be elected to serve as president again. This would be terrible for our city, county, state and country — in fact the world would be in great peril by another term with Trump as president. Now we can focus on electing someone younger and more fit to represent our nation.”

But Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Escondido, was quick to criticize Biden’s time in the White House.

“We’ve had four years of Democratic chaos — at the border, in business, overseas, in our schools and on our streets. Joe Biden, Kamala Harris led all of it,” he said.

— City News Service contributed to this article