Source: Jimmie Kaska | Civic Media
3rd Congressional District candidates react to Biden’s announcement to end campaign
Democratic candidates touted Biden's achievements, while Republican incumbent Derrick Van Orden is calling for Biden to also exit the presidency.
Jul 22, 2024, 3:00 PM CST
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LA CROSSE, Wis. (WLCX) – The four candidates for Congress in Wisconsin’s third district had swift reactions to the news that President Joe Biden was ending his bid for president in the 2024 election.
The three Democratic candidates, Rebecca Cooke, Katrina Shankland and Eric Wilson, all touted Biden’s achievements in statements released on Sunday.
Cooke said she was grateful for Biden’s time in office.
“Today, we usher in our next generation of leaders,” Cooke said.
Shankland said that Biden’s service was ‘extraordinary’ and that democracy was on the line in the fall election.
“The president’s decision to step aside is a deeply patriotic act,” Shankland said in a statement. “Now, we must all come together to defeat the radical MAGA agenda this November.”
Wilson called Biden ‘The most progressive President in American history,’ listing a number of Biden’s accomplishments in office.
“Democrats are unified in a vision of progress, one for a brighter future, that carries forward Joe Biden’s progressive legacy,” Wilson said in a statement.
None of the three Democratic candidates in the race posted an endorsement for Vice President Kamala Harris on their social media pages.
The incumbent in the seat, Republican Derrick Van Orden, has made several posts since Biden’s announcement, including a prediction that Biden wouldn’t survive his term as president.
Van Orden also sent a letter to Harris asking her to invoke the 25th Amendment to take over as president, citing a lack of faith in Biden’s ability to serve in the position.
Other Wisconsin Republicans have been steadfast in opposing Biden’s policies, raising skepticism about Harris, and supporting former president Donald Trump’s candidacy since Sunday’s announcement.
Brian Schimming, Wisconsin Republican Party Chairman, called Harris the “worst vice president of the modern age.”
“The real question: Not who will be Kamala Harris’ VP pick, but who would want to be her pick?” Schimming posted on X on Sunday.
Meanwhile, most of the Wisconsin delegates for the Democratic National Convention have pledged to support Harris. Ben Wikler, chairman of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, said that over 90% of the state’s delegates support the Vice President.
“We’re united, fired up, and ready to deliver Wisconsin for Kamala Harris,” Wikler wrote on X.
Gov. Tony Evers also said he was endorsing Harris, joining Sen. Tammy Baldwin and other Wisconsin Democrats in supporting the vice president.
Wisconsin’s August 13 primary will determine which of the three Democrats running in the 3rd Congressional District will face Van Orden in the November general election.
You can register to vote, check on your voting status, and see sample ballots when they are available at MyVote Wisconsin. For a list of statewide candidates and other election information, you can visit the Wisconsin Elections Commission website.
The WEC notes that July 24 is the deadline for online registration for the primary election.
Jimmie is Civic Media’s Sports Director who also works in digital content, sports, news, and talk programming. Email him at jimmie.kaska@civicmedia.us.
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