Riverside County officials respond to Biden ending reelection bid

Riverside County elected officials issued statements on the announcement by President Joe Biden on Sunday that he was withdrawing from the 2024 presidential campaign.

Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Indio, said Biden was “an extraordinary leader. For decades, he has put the needs of America over his own personal agenda, and today’s decision is another demonstration of that. I have no doubt that history will treat him as one of America’s greatest and most effective Presidents.

“We should all take a moment to reflect on his many accomplishments,” Ruiz said.

“While we will need a few days to develop a process that ensures a fair outcome representing the will of the majority of Democratic voters, I intend to support Vice President Kamala Harris,” Ruiz added. “As Attorney General, US Senator, and Vice President, she has shown her commitment to all of these principles. And, through her partnership with President Biden, she has developed experience and knowledge unmatched by any other potential candidate. I stand with Kamala Harris and will do everything I can to help her make history, put people over politics, and protect the American Dream.”

Republicans were not so laudatory.

“Now that Biden has done the right thing for Democrats, will he do the right thing for the country?” Rep. Darrell Issa, D-Temecula, posted on X.

“Biden has dropped out. On full display is the complete unstable mess known as the democrat party that thinks it can govern the country,” state Sen. Melissa Melendez, R-Murrieta, said on X. “Biden is going to be big mad when he awakens from his nap and finds out he dropped out of the race.”

Rep. Mark Takano, D-Riverside, asked Biden to withdraw from the race earlier this month and repeated his call last week, saying the president should “pass the torch” to Vice President Kamala Harris.

On Monday, Takano said on X, “Mr. President, your leadership is inspiring and your vision for our country has made the lives of so many better. It is an honor to work with you to put people over politics.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement that Biden “has been an extraordinary, history-making president — a leader who has fought hard for working people and delivered astonishing results for all Americans. He will go down in history as one of the most impactful and selfless presidents.”

Alex Padilla, a Democrat and California’s senior U.S. senator, posted, “Today, President Biden put our country first, as he has done throughout his public service career.”

California’s junior Democratic Sen. Laphonza Butler said in a statement, “Our nation owes President Biden a debt of gratitude for his service and patriotism, especially in making such a difficult decision. Thanks to his leadership, the American people have witnessed historic investments in education, infrastructure, and so much more. The threat to all that progress remains, and we must now do everything we can to ensure Vice President Harris succeeds. There’s no one better prepared for this challenge.”

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, who is running for U.S. Senate in the November election against former LA Dodgers player Steve Garvey, endorsed Harris on Sunday.

“It’s time for all of us to unite behind Vice President Harris,” Garvey said. “I am excited to endorse her campaign for President — she has the judgment, experience, leadership, and tenacity to take on and defeat Donald Trump. I worked with her when she was our Attorney General, Senator, and Vice President, and I can’t wait to work with her as President. There is no better matchup than this superb former prosecutor against this convicted criminal, and she’ll prosecute the case against Trump every single day.”

In an earlier statement Garvey said Schiff did not do enough when the congressman called on Biden to drop out of the race.

“Biden should resign immediately for the good of the nation,” Garvey said. “Under his leadership, we are facing unprecedented international threats, including the ongoing war in Ukraine, the conflict in Israel, and increasing dangers from Iran. Our country deserves leadership that can effectively address these challenges and restore stability at home and abroad. Schiff not demanding his resignation imperils Americans at home and abroad every day.”

The Democratic Party may experience a schism between Harris supporters and those who prefer an open competition to be the presidential nominee ahead of the party’s convention, set for Aug. 19-22 in Chicago.

City News Service contributed to this report.