After weeks of speculation, President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race on Sunday.
In a letter posted on X, Biden explained his decision.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And 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 the remainder of my term,” he stated.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024
Shortly after Biden’s announcement, he endorsed his vice president, Kamala Harris, as the Democratic nominee. Many Democrats followed suit, except for a few.
Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett was the first congressional Democrat to call on Biden to withdraw from the presidential race.
After Biden’s announcement on Sunday, Doggett did not endorse Harris. Instead, he called for an open primary to replace Biden.
“Now we must move forward to offer a nominee, who can win over disaffected voters and energize Democrats. I continue to urge a fair, open, and democratic process to select the nominee best able to convince battleground voters to reject Trump’s dark, retribution-fueled plans,” he said in a statement posted to X.
“While, with President Biden’s endorsement, Vice President Harris is clearly the leading candidate, we should be open to all talented individuals, who wish to be considered,” he added.
I continue to urge a fair, open, and democratic process to select the nominee best able to convince battleground voters to reject Trump’s dark, retribution-fueled plans. (2/5)
— Rep. Lloyd Doggett (@LloydDoggettTX) July 21, 2024
While, with President Biden’s endorsement, Vice President Harris is clearly the leading candidate, we should be open to all talented individuals, who wish to be considered. (3/5)
— Rep. Lloyd Doggett (@LloydDoggettTX) July 21, 2024
Other, more prominent members of the Democratic Party, like Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have not pledged their support for Harris. According to two sources who spoke to CNN, this is because they are trying to “avoid the appearance that they are forcing her candidacy onto the voters too quickly.”
Ohio Democrat Rep. Greg Landsman did not endorse Harris in his statement on Sunday.
“The President is putting the country and our democracy first, as he has done for decades,” he wrote on X. “His decision is truly a patriotic one. This is quintessential Joe Biden.”
The President is putting the country and our democracy first, as he has done for decades.
— Greg Landsman (@GregLandsman) July 21, 2024
His decision is truly a patriotic one. This is quintessential Joe Biden. 🙏🏻💙 https://t.co/fGVuHXy7Ef
As Townhall covered, former President Barack Obama did not endorse Harris after Biden dropped out of the race.
“We will be navigating uncharted waters in the days ahead. But I have extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges,” he said, with no mention of Harris.
