PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — Oregon’s Democratic U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley joined a growing chorus of endorsements for Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate for the 2024 presidential election after President Joe Biden announced his exit from the race on Sunday.
Wyden and Merkley’s support for Biden began to wane after his debate with former President Donald Trump on June 27, which raised concerns about the president’s age and mental acuity. However, both senators praised Biden for his service as the 46th president of the U.S. following his decision to step aside after his first term.
“I’ve been proud to work with President Biden on a record of Democratic successes these past 3.5 years, including historic wins over Big Pharma, and major gains in the fights against wealthy tax cheats and the climate crisis,” Wyden wrote on X . “History will judge well those landmark achievements.”
Washington town with no exit roads prepared to evacuate by ferry as wildfire grows Merkley issued a statement Monday thanking Biden for his achievements as president.
“No president in my lifetime has done more than Joe Biden,” Merkley stated. “Under his leadership, we’ve had historic investments in American manufacturing, renewable energy, and infrastructure, strengthened our security, and repaired relationships around the world.”
Oregon U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s campaign, meanwhile, issued a statement questioning Biden’s ability to complete his term.
“Joe Biden’s inability to continue campaigning raises serious concerns about his capacity to serve the remainder of his term,” the statement from the camp running the re-election of Republican representing Oregon’s District 5 reads. “After weeks of dodging questions, Oregon voters deserve to know if Janelle Bynum believes President Biden is fit to serve as commander-in-chief for four more months.”
In statements, Wyden and Merkley said they are focused on selecting the Democratic party’s next presidential nominee.
“I’m all in to support Vice President Harris to build on that impressive record and defeat Donald Trump — a convicted felon who wants to yank America backward with his checkered and erratic past of right-wing extremism on women’s health care, dirty energy and more,” Wyden wrote. “Onward.”
Yee-Haw! Cowboy hats added to Clark County Sheriff’s Office uniform Merkely also named Harris as his pick for the presidential nominee.
“This election is between democracy and autocracy. And we need the strongest Democratic candidate to take on and beat Donald Trump and his MAGA agenda,” Merkley said in a statement. “That’s why I proudly endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for president. Kamala Harris shares my mission of taking on the powerful to deliver for the people. She will fight for reproductive rights, American jobs, and security abroad. She will champion housing, education, healthcare, and equal rights.”
KOIN 6 News reached out to U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-Oregon 2nd District) on Sunday for a statement regarding Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race but has not yet heard back.
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