(The Center Square) – Illinois political leaders are reacting to President Joe Biden announcing he won’t run for president and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic party’s nominee.
Biden made the announcement Sunday afternoon, saying the move is in the “best interest of my party and the country.”
"It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President," Biden said. "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."
Biden’s announcement throws the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next month into uncertainty, though he endorsed Harris to get the nomination.
"My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President," he said in a second statement. "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."
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who had supported Biden’s nomination, praised Biden’s long political career, but neglected to mention Harris in his initial statement.
“Perhaps most consequentially, President Biden restored dignity to the Oval Office, bringing the statesmanship and honor that have been the hallmarks of his years of service, back to the White House,” Pritzker said.
Illinois Republican Party Chair Kathy Salvi said Biden’s announcement is the “culmination of years of lies from the Biden White House and Democrats shaming anyone who questioned the fitness of President Biden.”
“Democrats are divided, torn apart by their own duplicity trying to pass off President Biden's inability to fulfill his role, while Republicans stand united behind President Trump and an agenda of freedom, prosperity, and safety,” Salvi said. “Democrats have become the party of self-service while Republicans have become the voice of this nation."
Members of Illinois’ congressional delegations also chimed in on Biden’s announcement.
“From the bottom of my heart, I thank him for his effective and successful leadership and for, once again, putting our country before himself,” said Illinois U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Naperville. “This difficult decision ensures that Democrats can focus on the goal that unites each and every one of us: defeating Donald Trump and preventing another four years of his destructive chaos and corruption."
Illinois U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Hindsboro, criticized Harris in her statement.
“Kamala Harris led the Democrats’ cover-up of Joe Biden’s severe cognitive decline. Their donors only forced Biden out once they got 'caught,’” Miller said in a statement. “'Border Czar' Kamala Harris must answer for the deadly invasion of our southern border and her cover-up of Biden's cognitive decline. The American people deserve to know who is actually running the country right now since the Democrats are finally admitting it is not Joe Biden.”
Democrats will meet in Chicago for the DNC, where an official nomination for president will be made. The convention begins Aug. 19.
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