Joe Biden ends his campaign for President
Source: Brady Coulthard / Civic Media
July 21, 2024 1:06 PM CDT
By: Savanna Tomei-Olson & Jimmie Kaska
WASHINGTON, D.C. — After pressure from within his own party, President Joe Biden is dropping out of the presidential race.
He posted a statement to his account on X Sunday afternoon.
“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 my term,” it read.
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Biden says he is endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to be president.
Harris released a statement on Sunday afternoon thanking Biden for his service and said she plans on pursuing the presidential nomination.
“With this selfless and patriotic act, President Biden is doing what he has done throughout his life of service: putting the American people and our country above everything else,” Harris said. “I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination. “
Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin issued a statement thanking Biden for his service as president.
“It has been an honor to work with Joe Biden to deliver real, meaningful change for working Wisconsinites across our state,” Baldwin said. “Throughout all of that work, I’ve been inspired by his decency, integrity, and dedication to service, and I am deeply grateful for that. Thank you, President Biden.”
Baldwin later endorsed Harris for president, according to a statement from Baldwin’s office.
“Today I’m proud to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for President of the United States,” Baldwin said. “I look forward to her candidacy as a new beginning for our party and our country and I am excited to work with her to lower costs for Wisconsin families, grow our Made in America economy, and restore our fundamental rights and freedoms.”
Biden’s decision comes after Democratic party chairs in several states, including Wisconsin, urged him to stay in the race.
“We understand the anxiety. But the best antidote to political anxiety is taking action,” the letter from party chairs in seven swing states reads. “The task for Democrats is to bring the nation’s attention to the choice between these two visions. As leaders of state parties, that’s how we dedicate our time: to the work that will have the biggest impact on winning.”
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Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Party in Wisconsin, said that Biden “will go down as one of the greatest presidents in history.”
“It has been an honor for all of us at the Democratic Party of Wisconsin to work alongside him and his team for these past three and a half years,” Wikler said. “As we prepare for the next chapter in the fight to defeat MAGA extremism and win the battle for the soul of America, we feel profound gratitude for the patriotism and leadership of President Biden.”
Others in the Democratic party, including Wisconsin Rep. Marc Pocan, have been calling for Biden to step down.
Republican reactions have mostly been simultaneously critical of Biden’s presidency, skeptical of potential replacements atop the Democratic presidential ticket, and supportive of former president Donald Trump.
Harris is scheduled to appear in Milwaukee on Tuesday for a campaign stop, which was announced before Biden’s decision.
Biden’s full statement is below.
