Biden exit: Western NC Democrats back Harris and Gov. Cooper or Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly

Many Western North Carolina Democratic officials did not immediately comment on the stunning decision of President Joe Biden not to run again.

But of those who spoke out, they said they would have supported Biden in the race, but also supported his decision to step aside. They agreed with the one-term Democratic president's tapping of Vice President Kamala Harris as his replacement. As a preferred second-in-command some named North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly.

• Caleb Rudow , a N.C. state House member and candidate for WNC's 11th Congressional District: Rudow praised the president's legacy, saying his "selfless record of public service, his legislative accomplishments, and his decision to step down for his country are what leadership and this country should be about," The Biden administration, he said, "pulled our economy and country back from the brink after the pandemic and have pushed for historic investments in healthcare, infrastructure, and climate change and the impact of his work will be felt for generations. It is great to see the Democratic process working and leaders making way for new generations. I'm grateful for Biden for his service to this country and for the future of America and support his endorsement of Kamala Harris. She is tough, smart and the candidate we need at this moment." Rudow did not name a preferred vice presidential candidate.

• N.C. state Sen. Julie Mayfield of Asheville (49th District, new version will cover central Buncombe County including Asheville): Mayfield , a delegate to the party's national convention currently pledged to vote for Biden said she supported Biden's decision. The key decision was "can he win" Mayfield said. "And if he can't win, then what's our strongest ticket going forward?" To replace the ticket, she named Harris and Cooper, a two-term governor who is blocked by term limits from running again for that office. "The most important thing is for us to defeat Donald Trump in November, and it will take party unity to do that," Mayfield said, though she added, "if Biden and the party determine that there is another ticket that could better unify and solidify the party, then I will be supportive of that."

• Leslie Carey, chair of the Henderson County Democratic Party, said there are some people in the ranks feeling torn by Biden’s decision.

“Some people are feeling sad and angry while others feel energized and motivated. I think, in general, Democrats will unite and support the top of the ticket,” Carey told the Citizen-Times July 21. “I think Kamala Harris is perfect. I had the opportunity to listen to her and Biden earlier in the year (at a talk in Raleigh on Medicaid expansion). I think her track record is commendable. She is a strong leader. I would absolutely would be proud to support her.

It’s important to remember it’s not just a person we’re voting for, it’s an administration and policy and the direction of the country that we want to see move forward."

• N.C. state House member Eric Ager of Fairview (114th District, new version will cover South and East Buncombe): Ager said Biden had "an incredible record to run on" and believed he was capable of handling another four-year term. But following his dropping out, Ager said he would like to see Harris accompanied by Cooper or Kelly, a Navy pilot, former astronaut and husband of former Arizona Sen. Gabby Giffords who changed from Republican to Democrat in 2000 and gave up her office after being shot in the head during a 2011 assassination attempt. "Vice President Harris has experience and will have immediate access to the necessary campaign funds while Mark Kelly is an American hero who understands how to win elections in a closely contested battleground state," Ager, a 25-year Navy veteran, said. Cooper, he said, would be "just as great as Kelly."

N.C. Rep. Lindsey Prather, who is facing a newly competitive race after her District 115 was redrawn to favor a Republican and includes western and northern Buncombe, did not respond to email.

11th District Democratic Chair Beth Hampton Jones also did not respond, while Buncombe party Chair Kathy Kline declined to comment, referring questions to the Biden-Harris campaign.

Meanwhile, Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards, who is defending his 11th District against Rudow, said the choice of Harris would not change things.

"Joe Biden hasn't really been in this presidential race since Donald Trump announced, and I'm not surprised to now hear him make it official," Edwards said in a statement to the Citizen Times. "Americans are suffering under the inflation Biden has created, his open border policies and his overreaching regulatory schemes. Kamala Harris owns those failures, so I predict a decisive victory in November for Donald Trump."

This breaking story will be updated.

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Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Got a tip? Contact Burgess at jburgess@citizentimes.com, 828-713-1095 or on Twitter @AVLreporter. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

Sarah Honosky is the city government reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. News Tips? Email shonosky@citizentimes.com or message on Twitter at @slhonosky. Please support local, daily journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times .

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Biden exit: Western NC Democrats back Harris and Gov. Cooper or Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly