Florida political leaders react to Biden bowing out

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida and Tampa Bay political leaders are reacting to President Joe Biden bowing out of the race for the White House.

Jennifer Griffith is the chair of the Pinellas Democratic Party.

“For me and for a lot of people who have reached out to me today, this is a tough one,” Griffith said.

Griffith admits there is still strong support for Biden locally among seniors, Black and Latino voters. She is open to hearing their concerns.

“I want to listen to those people more than what want to have anything to say to those people,” Griffith said.

Tampa Bay area Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor previously said on Friday she had concerns about President Biden at the top of the ticket. Sunday, she released a statement.

“Joe Biden is once again showing true leadership by putting the country above all else,” Castor said.

The members of Congress didn’t stop there.

“There is a lot at stake in this election and I have full confidence in Vice President Harris,” Castor said.

Tampa City Councilman Alan Clendenin is a Democratic National Committee Florida delegate.

“She has been in training for four years. She is totally qualified to assume this position. I’m excited to elect the first woman to be president of the United States,” Clendenin said.

He plans to vote in August for Vice President Kamala Harris to be the nominee.

Florida Democratic Chair Nikki Fried endorses the vice president as well.

We are also hearing from those across the aisle.

Florida Gov.Ron DeSantis is already critical of the vice president’s handling of reducing crossings at the border.

“She was also the border czar during the worst border crisis in American history,” DeSantis said.

The governor also believes Democrats are on a sinking ship.

“Democrats are just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic,” the governor said.

Tom Gaitens is with the Hillsborough County Republican Party.

“There is no question that for us, as a party, the most beneficial thing for us when it comes to electability and election results is for Biden to be the nominee,” Gaitens said.

Gaitens just got back from the RNC and believes Florida will remain red.

Republican State House Rep. Mike Beltran serves a part of Hillsborough County. He also agrees with Gaitens. But just in case of a Trump loss, he wants someone different than Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket.

“I don’t want to have the democrats run somebody who is palpably incompetent just because I think it gives us some partisan advantage,” Beltran said.

As for Griffith, she believes Democrats will still turn out to help with the push to legalize recreational marijuana and guarantee access to abortion.

I think it pretty much stays the same for us who have been watching these issues and these issues that matter to us so deeply,” Griffith said.

Sen. Rick Scott wants Biden to leave office.

Democratic Congressman Darren Soto has not announced an endorsement but thanked Biden.

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