President Biden announced Sunday that he is dropping out of the presidential race, following a growing number of elected Democrats calling on him to give up the 2024 ticket. Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him as the Democratic presidential nominee.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek re-election, 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 the remainder of my term,” Biden wrote in a letter posted on social media.
Biden, 81, thanked Harris, 59, “for being an extraordinary partner” and endorsed her in a subsequent post.
“My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best decision I’ve made. Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this,” Biden wrote.
Harris, in her own statement, said she was “honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination.”
Some House Republicans called for Biden’s resignation after he ended his re-election campaign, claiming he wasn’t fit to serve. Trump reportedly told CBS News that he was running against the Biden administration’s record, regardless of who was on the ticket.
Biden’s decision comes less than a month before Democrats are scheduled to hold their convention in Chicago on Aug. 19, and just 15 weeks before Election Day.
Calls for Biden to leave the race grew after last month’s disastrous debate against Trump, where he spoke in a raspy voice and often fumbled his answers. The performance led many in Boyle Heights to question whether there was a viable candidate on the November ticket.
After Boyle Heights resident Ana Maza watched the debate, she told the Beat that both candidates left her disillusioned and in shock. “It’s ridiculous. Neither one of them is competent,” Maza said.
Following Biden’s Sunday announcement, reactions from politicians — including Eastside leaders — quickly began pouring in.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote in a post on X 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.” Hours later, Newsom endorsed Harris for president.
Rep. Jimmy Gomez, whose 34th congressional district includes Boyle Heights, shared a statement on X.
“As he has done throughout his public service career, President Biden is once again prioritizing the American people and doing all possible to secure the strongest, brightest and most stable future for our nation,” the statement read.
Assemblymember Wendy Carillo, who represents parts of the Eastside in the 52nd State Assembly district, said she would “support whomever our nominee will be.”
“Thank you President @JoeBiden for your service and dedication to our country. I know the challenges have been tough and no decisions are ever easy,” she wrote on X.
In a subsequent post, she expressed her support for Harris, saying, “I’m with her now. There’s too much at stake.”
In a statement, Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis hailed Biden’s “service to [the] country, especially empowering working-class families.”
“President Biden’s legacy is dominated by equity and equality — from his commitment to delivering affordable healthcare, fighting for social justice, strengthening environmental protection, and protecting women’s reproductive rights, to curbing the public-health scourge of gun violence, investing in America’s future, addressing income inequality and combatting climate change — for every American of every race, gender, sexual orientation, and immigration status,” Solis wrote.
L.A. City Councilmember Kevin de León, who represents Boyle Heights, wrote in a statement, that Biden’s decision to step down reflected his “dedication and humility,” and praised him for guiding America “during one of our nation’s darkest periods.”
He also threw his support behind Harris, saying she “embodies the spirit of unity and strength that our country desperately needs… Her commitment to fighting for marginalized communities, her fearless stance against injustice, and her vision for a more inclusive future for all Americans make her the leader we need in these challenging times.”
This story has been updated with reaction from De León and to reflect Newsom endorsed Harris.
