President Joe Biden announced Sunday he is dropping out of the 2024 presidential race.
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Politicians around Washington State and Idaho are reacting to Biden’s decision.
U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) said in part she knows “Kamala Harris can win”. Her full statement:
“America owes a deep debt of gratitude to Joe Biden for his historic leadership—a true patriot who loves this country. In 2020, he saved American democracy by beating Donald Trump, and he has led one of the most successful Presidential administrations in history: building our economy back up after a devasting pandemic, delivering on historic legislative triumphs, uniting the world against dictators like Putin, and restoring decency and integrity to the White House. I am so proud to call Joe my President, and I have such a profound respect for his willingness to pass the torch. “We must beat Donald Trump—and I know Kamala Harris can win. I am behind Vice President Harris one-hundred percent—she is exactly the woman we need to prosecute the case against Donald Trump, save American democracy, lead the fight to restore abortion rights, and build an economy that puts working people—not billionaires—first. I will do everything I can to help elect Kamala Harris as our next President.”
Attorney General Bob Ferguson, Democratic Party candidate for Governor of Washington said he is grateful that President Biden has decided to suspend his campaign.
“Like many Washingtonians, I am grateful that President Joe Biden has decided to suspend his campaign for re-election. After many weeks of discussion and speculation, Democrats can now return to focusing on the imperative of defeating the Donald Trump / JD Vance Republican ticket. I know President Biden feels this way as well, and while the decision was clearly difficult for him and his family, it was the right decision to make– for America, and for his legacy as an outstanding President. I am excited that Democrats can now rally behind Vice President Kamala Harris, who can unify our party and country. Vice President Harris was Attorney General of California when I was first elected Washington’s Attorney General. She is smart, hardworking, and tough. She’ll never back down to powerful interests – and she genuinely cares about people. She is a prosecutor who has put away criminals. She’s exactly the fighter we need to take on a convicted felon in November and win, and I am proud to offer her my endorsement and support. In his first four years, Donald Trump did real damage to our country and values. A second term, backed by a Supreme Court taking unprecedented steps to empower him, will be even worse. This is why I am determined to do whatever is in my power to defeat him, to protect our freedoms and defend our democracy. We owe President Biden, a good man and patriot, our deepest thanks for defeating Trump in 2020. He has been a strong and principled leader, ushering America through the challenge of pandemic recovery, enacting transformational investments in American manufacturing and infrastructure jobs, and leaving us in a stronger position domestically and on the world stage. He preserved and protected our democracy at a critical moment in our nation’s history and restored civility to the White House.The stakes for our country are extraordinarily high. We have a lot of work to do, but I am confident we will prevail in November because a majority of Washingtonians and Americans of all political stripes are ready to cast their ballots – in record numbers – to defend our democracy and protect our freedoms.”
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) issued the following statement Sunday in response to Biden’s announcement:
“The Democratic Party needs a standard bearer who can deliver our economic message — continuing the historic accomplishment of building more economic opportunities for working class people and a focus on lowering costs,” Sen. Cantwell said. “President Biden led our nation to accomplish these historic victories. Just like our party’s victories on Social Security, Medicare, and family leave, Biden’s policies on infrastructure, manufacturing, and lowering drug costs will be tremendous legacies.”
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