BETHLEHEM, Pa. — As news of President Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race sent shockwaves across America Sunday, some Democratic leaders in one of the country’s most important swing states declined to support the successor he endorsed.
With its 19 electoral votes, Pennsylvania is the biggest prize among the nation’s purple states. And until Sunday, both major-party candidates had significant ties to the Keystone State — Biden was born in Scranton while Trump attended the Wharton School of Business in Philadelphia.
But with Biden out of the race and Vice President Kamala Harris his heir apparent, some Pennsylvania Democrats are taking to the news more kindly than others.
Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania’s popular first-term governor and a potential vice presidential — or even presidential — nominee, was quick to join Biden in backing Harris just hours after the president announced he would not run for re-election.
What to know about President Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race:
- President Biden announced Sunday he is dropping out of the 2024 presidential race — after weeks of prominent Democrats and donors calling on him to withdraw following his disastrous performance in the first presidential debate.
- In a letter posted on X Sunday afternoon, Biden admitted that it is in the “best interest of my party and country” for him to step down as the Democratic nominee.
- Biden wrote that he intends to serve out the remainder of his term and will address the country on his decision later this week.
- In a follow-up X post, Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the suddenly open Democratic nomination. “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year,” the president wrote.
- Former President Donald Trump reacted to the news by labeling Biden the “worst president in the history of our country” in a call with CNN.
“The contrast in this race could not be clearer and the road to victory in November runs right through Pennsylvania — where this collective work began,” Shapiro wrote along with a longer statement on Twitter. “I will do everything I can to help elect @KamalaHarris as the 47th President of the United States.”
Down-ballot, leaders like Democratic Rep. Susan Wild issued statements praising Biden’s “extraordinary accomplishments” and joining him in endorsing Harris.
“As we reflect on his extraordinary accomplishments, it is time that we come together on a steady and unified path forward — for all future generations of Americans who will be deeply affected by the outcome of November’s election,” Wild said. “That is why I am proud to join the President and many of my colleagues in supporting Kamala Harris to be our next President.”
“She is an accomplished and exceptional public servant, and I look forward to working with her,” added Wild, who represents Pennsylvania’s hyper-competitive 7th Congressional District in the Lehigh Valley region.
Sen. John Fetterman criticized the process behind Biden’s withdrawal, saying the Democrats had “pushed out an honorable man, loving father and a great president before an absolute sleazeball like [New Jersey Sen. Bob] Menendez.”
Fetterman’s reference to Menendez came just days after the Pennsylvanian was one of the few Democrats to remain silent on the latter’s corruption conviction.
Elsewhere on the left, figures like Sen. Bob Casey and congressional candidate Ashley Ehasz opted for more generic statements praising Biden while stopping short of endorsing a successor.
The latest on President Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race:
- Biden drops out of presidential race after Democratic revolt following disastrous debate: ‘Best interest of the country’
- Biden drops out of presidential race: live updates
- NY Dems are already lining up behind Kamala Harris to replace Biden — with these big exceptions
- Biden delayed dropping out partly because he doubted Harris’ chances against Trump: report
- Miranda Devine: Joe Biden is too frail to run in 2024 but he’s still our president?
“He has had an exemplary career in public service,” Casey tweeted. “He is a patriot who has always put our country first.”
“Joe Biden has spent his life in public service and is one of the best presidents our nation has ever known,” said Ehasz, who’s challenging GOP Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick in Pennsylvania’s 1st Congressional District. “I am deeply thankful for all he has done for the American people and respect his decision to not seek reelection.”
On the Republican side, several Pennsylvania leaders were quick to call out Democrats — including their opponents by name — for engaging in a “coverup” of Biden’s declining cognitive abilities.
“Joe Biden is not capable of serving as Commander-in-Chief,” GOP Senate candidate Dave McCormick tweeted.
“Bob Casey is very close to Biden — he’s known this — but in typical Casey fashion, he’s been weak in his refusal to admit to Pennsylvanians that Biden is simply not up to the job,” McCormick’s statement continued. “Keeping his head down when times get tough, that’s who Bob Casey is.”
GOP congressional candidate David Winkler called Biden’s withdrawal a “Democrat Coup to subvert the free & fair election process of the 2024 Presidential Primary process.”
“This is a true danger to our Republic, that when you don’t have a pathway, you change out the candidate after the people have spoken,” said Winkler, who is running against Rep. Madeleine Dean in Pennsylvania’s 4th Congressional District.