California Democratic leaders are praising President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race and are following his lead by also endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as Biden’s successor. California Republicans reacted to the news by criticizing Harris’ record in the Biden administration and while involved in state politics. Biden announced on Sunday that he is officially ending his bid for reelection and endorsed Harris to replace him.”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,” Biden said in a statement. Read below for updates on statements and reactions from California politicians on Biden’s decision to drop out and his endorsement of Harris. Gov. Gavin Newsom Shortly after Biden’s announcement to bow out this fall, California Gov. Gavin Newson thanked the President on X, calling him “one of the most impactful and selfless presidents.”Later in the day he endorsed Harris for President in a post on X. It’s not clear yet exactly what role if any he’ll have in Harris’ campaign. Newsom was scheduled to speak at the US Ninth Circuit judicial conference in Sacramento on Monday, but canceled the appearance. Neither his campaign nor his office would say why as of Sunday night.| More | What California Gov. Gavin Newsom has said about a possible presidential bidFormer House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who represented San Francisco, had not given public support for Biden to stay in the race, previously saying that it was “up to him” to decide whether to stay in. On Sunday, she said Biden “has always put our country first.” She followed up on Monday by endorsing Harris, CNN reported. “Today, it is with immense pride and limitless optimism for our country’s future that I endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for President of the United States,” Pelosi said in a statement. “My enthusiastic support for Kamala Harris for President is official, personal and political. Officially, I have seen Kamala Harris’s strength and courage as a champion for working families, notably fighting for a woman’s right to choose. Personally, I have known Kamala Harris for decades as rooted in strong values, faith and a commitment to public service. Politically, make no mistake: Kamala Harris as a woman in politics is brilliantly astute – and I have full confidence that she will lead us to victory in November.”U.S. Sen. Alex PadillaAlex Padilla replaced Kamala Harris in the U.S. Senate when she became vice president. On Sunday, Sen. Padilla, D-Calif., endorsed Harris for president. California Democratic PartyKCRA 3 spoke Sunday evening with the Rusty Hicks, the chair of California’s Democratic Party, who says he believes Harris is the strongest candidate to defeat former president Donald Trump.”She’s a prosecutor and I think she is the perfect person to prosecute the case against Donald Trump, a convicted felon,” he said. “Whether it’s on reproductive freedom or fighting climate change or job creation and support for working families, Kamala Harris is going to be able to prosecute the case against Donald Trump.”Hicks also called Sunday a historic day for a “historic administration.””I know that we have a tendency to in the moment look forward and solely look forward, and in many ways we should,” he said. “But I think we should also take a moment to really reflect upon just the historic nature, not unprecedented, but historic for a sitting president, the presumptive nominee for a major political party, to take a step back, putting service over self and democracy above it all. I think we should be grateful to President Joe Biden for all he has done for this country and for making an incredibly hard decision that puts our democracy first.” California Assembly Speaker Robert RivasCalifornia Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas also took to social media to thank Biden following his announcement. “We are forever indebted to him for beating @realDonaldTrump in 2020,” Rivas said. Congressman Kevin KileyRepublican Rep. Kevin Kiley shared his thoughts on both Biden and Harris Sunday on X. “Democrats are saying Biden will be remembered as a ‘hero’ if he steps aside. Nothing is further from the truth,” Kiley wrote on X. He followed that up with a separate post insinuating that the condition of San Francisco gives a glimpse of what a Harris presidency would look like. Congresswoman Katie Porter Democratic Rep. Katie Porter said she looks forward to seeing Harris maker her case to voters and will do whatever she can to endorse any Democratic nominee. Lt. Gov. Eleni KounalakisCalifornia Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis thanked Biden and endorsed Harris on Sunday. California GOP Chairwoman Jessica Millan PattersonCalifornia Republican Party Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson questioned whether President Joe Biden would be fit to serve the remainder of his term and called Harris “disastrous.” “It’s hard to believe it’s possible for Democrats to fall further into disarray, but here we are. Going forward, Democrats will have to grapple with two questions: if Joe Biden is unfit to serve four more years, is he fit to serve the remainder of his term? And is disastrous California Democrat Kamala Harris, who enabled a clearly declining Biden during his time as president, really the best backup option?” she said. “President Biden tasked her with solving the border crisis, and in turn, she made our country less safe, allowing millions more to flood into our country illegally. As California’s top cop, she allowed criminals to thrive, including refusing to stop Prop. 47 that still wreaks havoc on our state today. Just as she failed on behalf of the Golden State, something Californians remember all too well, Harris owns the failed Biden-Harris agenda that led to rising prices, a weakened global standing, failing schools and surging crime. Republicans are united behind President Trump and will be ready for whoever the Democrats decide is their best bad option to support.”State Senator Roger NielloSen. Roger Niello represents parts of Sacramento and Placer Counties in California’s 6th district.He said he wasn’t surprised to see President Biden drop out of the race.”Politically, I am not a big fan, but he has had a distinguished career over half a century, and to see him deteriorate like that, frankly from a human perspective, has been sad to watch,” he told KCRA 3.The state senator believes if the Democratic Party nominates Vice President Harris as its presidential nominee, it would be a win for his Republican party.”I believe that would be to the Republicans advantage,” he said. “While she does poll better than Joe Biden, there hasn’t been a campaign exposing the issues behind Kamala Harris like there has been Joe Biden because she’s not been the presidential candidate. As soon as she is, there will be lots of messaging about her history in California as well as in the state Senate, which wasn’t a particularly dramatic term for her.”Sen. Laphonza ButlerSen. Butler posted a statement on her X account endorsing Harris.”Our nation owes President Biden a debt of gratitude for his service and patriotism, especially in making such a difficult decision. Thanks to his leadership, the American people have witnessed historic investments in education, infrastructure, and so much more. The threat to all that progress remains, and we must now do everything we can to ensure Vice President Harris succeeds. There’s no one better prepared for this challenge.”Rep. Adam SchiffDemocratic Congressman Adam Schiff, who is running for the U.S. Senate, called Biden “one of the greatest presidents of our time” and endorsed Harris. Schiff had been among the lawmakers calling for Biden to step aside in his presidential campaign. | MORE | What to know about Kamala Harris’ California political career before she was VP
California Democratic leaders are praising President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race and are following his lead by also endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as Biden’s successor.
California Republicans reacted to the news by criticizing Harris’ record in the Biden administration and while involved in state politics.
Biden announced on Sunday that he is officially ending his bid for reelection and endorsed Harris to replace him.
“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,” Biden said in a statement.
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Read below for updates on statements and reactions from California politicians on Biden’s decision to drop out and his endorsement of Harris.
Gov. Gavin Newsom
Shortly after Biden’s announcement to bow out this fall, California Gov. Gavin Newson thanked the President on X, calling him “one of the most impactful and selfless presidents.”
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Later in the day he endorsed Harris for President in a post on X.
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It’s not clear yet exactly what role if any he’ll have in Harris’ campaign.
Newsom was scheduled to speak at the US Ninth Circuit judicial conference in Sacramento on Monday, but canceled the appearance. Neither his campaign nor his office would say why as of Sunday night.
| More | What California Gov. Gavin Newsom has said about a possible presidential bid
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who represented San Francisco, had not given public support for Biden to stay in the race, previously saying that it was “up to him” to decide whether to stay in. On Sunday, she said Biden “has always put our country first.”
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She followed up on Monday by endorsing Harris, CNN reported.
“Today, it is with immense pride and limitless optimism for our country’s future that I endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for President of the United States,” Pelosi said in a statement. “My enthusiastic support for Kamala Harris for President is official, personal and political. Officially, I have seen Kamala Harris’s strength and courage as a champion for working families, notably fighting for a woman’s right to choose. Personally, I have known Kamala Harris for decades as rooted in strong values, faith and a commitment to public service. Politically, make no mistake: Kamala Harris as a woman in politics is brilliantly astute – and I have full confidence that she will lead us to victory in November.”
U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla
Alex Padilla replaced Kamala Harris in the U.S. Senate when she became vice president. On Sunday, Sen. Padilla, D-Calif., endorsed Harris for president.
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California Democratic Party
KCRA 3 spoke Sunday evening with the Rusty Hicks, the chair of California’s Democratic Party, who says he believes Harris is the strongest candidate to defeat former president Donald Trump.
“She’s a prosecutor and I think she is the perfect person to prosecute the case against Donald Trump, a convicted felon,” he said. “Whether it’s on reproductive freedom or fighting climate change or job creation and support for working families, Kamala Harris is going to be able to prosecute the case against Donald Trump.”
Hicks also called Sunday a historic day for a “historic administration.”
“I know that we have a tendency to in the moment look forward and solely look forward, and in many ways we should,” he said. “But I think we should also take a moment to really reflect upon just the historic nature, not unprecedented, but historic for a sitting president, the presumptive nominee for a major political party, to take a step back, putting service over self and democracy above it all. I think we should be grateful to President Joe Biden for all he has done for this country and for making an incredibly hard decision that puts our democracy first.”
California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas
California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas also took to social media to thank Biden following his announcement.
“We are forever indebted to him for beating @realDonaldTrump in 2020,” Rivas said.
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Congressman Kevin Kiley
Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley shared his thoughts on both Biden and Harris Sunday on X.
“Democrats are saying Biden will be remembered as a ‘hero’ if he steps aside. Nothing is further from the truth,” Kiley wrote on X.
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He followed that up with a separate post insinuating that the condition of San Francisco gives a glimpse of what a Harris presidency would look like.
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Congresswoman Katie Porter
Democratic Rep. Katie Porter said she looks forward to seeing Harris maker her case to voters and will do whatever she can to endorse any Democratic nominee.
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Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis
California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis thanked Biden and endorsed Harris on Sunday.
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California GOP Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson
California Republican Party Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson questioned whether President Joe Biden would be fit to serve the remainder of his term and called Harris “disastrous.”
“It’s hard to believe it’s possible for Democrats to fall further into disarray, but here we are. Going forward, Democrats will have to grapple with two questions: if Joe Biden is unfit to serve four more years, is he fit to serve the remainder of his term? And is disastrous California Democrat Kamala Harris, who enabled a clearly declining Biden during his time as president, really the best backup option?” she said. “President Biden tasked her with solving the border crisis, and in turn, she made our country less safe, allowing millions more to flood into our country illegally. As California’s top cop, she allowed criminals to thrive, including refusing to stop Prop. 47 that still wreaks havoc on our state today. Just as she failed on behalf of the Golden State, something Californians remember all too well, Harris owns the failed Biden-Harris agenda that led to rising prices, a weakened global standing, failing schools and surging crime. Republicans are united behind President Trump and will be ready for whoever the Democrats decide is their best bad option to support.”
State Senator Roger Niello
Sen. Roger Niello represents parts of Sacramento and Placer Counties in California’s 6th district.
He said he wasn’t surprised to see President Biden drop out of the race.
“Politically, I am not a big fan, but he has had a distinguished career over half a century, and to see him deteriorate like that, frankly from a human perspective, has been sad to watch,” he told KCRA 3.
The state senator believes if the Democratic Party nominates Vice President Harris as its presidential nominee, it would be a win for his Republican party.
“I believe that would be to the Republicans advantage,” he said. “While she does poll better than Joe Biden, there hasn’t been a campaign exposing the issues behind Kamala Harris like there has been Joe Biden because she’s not been the presidential candidate. As soon as she is, there will be lots of messaging about her history in California as well as in the state Senate, which wasn’t a particularly dramatic term for her.”
Sen. Laphonza Butler
Sen. Butler posted a statement on her X account endorsing Harris.
“Our nation owes President Biden a debt of gratitude for his service and patriotism, especially in making such a difficult decision. Thanks to his leadership, the American people have witnessed historic investments in education, infrastructure, and so much more. The threat to all that progress remains, and we must now do everything we can to ensure Vice President Harris succeeds. There’s no one better prepared for this challenge.”
Rep. Adam Schiff
Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff, who is running for the U.S. Senate, called Biden “one of the greatest presidents of our time” and endorsed Harris.
Schiff had been among the lawmakers calling for Biden to step aside in his presidential campaign.
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| MORE | What to know about Kamala Harris’ California political career before she was VP
