St. Johns County Republican and Democratic leaders react to Biden's withdrawal

One could easily describe the summer of 2024 as historic for America’s political landscape.

Barely a week after a brazen assassination attempt on former President Donald J. Trump, and three days after Trump formally accepted the Republican nomination for president, naming the youngest vice presidential pick in U.S. history — Ohio Senator J.D. Vance — President Joe Biden Biden ended is reelection bid.

Biden made the announcement Sunday in a letter noting, "...it is in the best interest of my party and the country to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as president for the remainder of my term."

Democrats had been walking a tightrope after a disastrous performance by the incumbent president on June 27.

Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee in a separate statement on X. Harris accepted the president’s endorsement with an "intention to earn and win this nomination." But questions swirl within the deepest crevices of the Democratic Party: I s America ready for President Kamala Harris?

The St. Augustine Record reached out the local leaders of the Democratic and Republican parties, both located in St. Augustine. Here's what they had to say.

Denver Cook, chairman of the St. Johns County Republican Party

Denver Cook, chairman of the St. Johns County Republican Party and a candidate for Clerk of Court issued the following statement.

"Americans have watched President Biden become more and more frail over the last three years and worried as his administration weakened America. Stepping down from his campaign could not have been an easy decision and I hope he is treated with greater respect and dignity than we have witnessed.

"Unfortunately, his stepping down from the campaign brings obvious follow-up questions. If he cannot run for office, how can he DO the current job? And it is unclear how Kamala Harris would perform as President given the absence of a substantial record in her position as Vice President. What has she been doing for the last three years?

"Why has it taken elites in Washington D.C. this long to act and fail to use the 25th amendment to protect America? Our nation faces incredible challenges and uncertainty, and Americans deserve competent, coherent leadership, now and for the next four years. It is clear we cannot expect the Democratic elites to select competent leadership nor honor their own election process.

"Many Americans saw what I did at the Republican National Convention: a new party united with a bigger umbrella than ever before. Republicans will win with bold policies and initiatives to protect our Constitutional Republic, secure our borders, navigate global instability, create energy independence, and restore our economy.

"As Americans, we stand strong and unified behind President Trump, and ready to Make America Great Once Again!"

Robin Dion, chairwoman of the Democratic Party of St. Johns County

Robin Dion, chairwoman of the Democratic Party of St. Johns County, offered this perspective:

"The St. Johns Democratic Party is deeply grateful to President Biden for his work and for all the sacrifices he has made in service to our country . He has been one of the greatest presidents in American history, and his legacy will never be forgotten. As a leader, President Biden guided us out of the COVID-19 pandemic, turned our economy around, rebuilt our crumbling infrastructure and restored America’s place on the world stage. Democrats will now secure the future of that legacy — because the race may have changed, but our focus has not. This is the most consequential election of our lifetime, and Democrats will stand united to defeat Donald Trump and J.D. Vance in November.

"Our focus is firmly on the damage a second Trump presidency would create, thanks to Project 2025 — an extreme takeover plan that should scare every American. Written for Trump, by those closest to him, it guts checks and balances to consolidate power in the Oval Office and undermines our democracy by giving Trump power like no president has ever had. The plan rolls back Americans’ rights and freedoms, hurts the middle class, shutters agencies like the Department of Education, bans abortion nationwide, and raises taxes on the middle class while giving handouts to billionaire donors. Trump’s conservative Supreme Court has already given him a blank check to do virtually whatever he wants with no regard for the rule of law. If he wins, there is no question Trump will use it to pass his Project 2025 agenda.

"We call on all voters in St. Johns County who stand for democracy to contact the local Democratic Party to volunteer, support, and work with us to win the future we all deserve."

This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: St. Johns County Republican and Democratic leaders react to Biden's withdrawal