Michigan Democrats thank Biden and say they must unite to defeat Trump
Biden’s resignation as candidate opens door for “chaotic situation” at DNC
Biden has withdrawn as a candidate, and USA TODAY’s Susan Page reviews the Democrats’ next steps ahead of what could be a “chaotic” convention.
Democrats in Michigan overwhelmingly said that President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the presidential race does not change their goal for this fall: defeating former President Donald Trump.
But the messages of a united front against Trump belie the uncertainty that lies ahead for a party that has been in turmoil since a disastrous debate performance sparked calls for the 81-year-old Biden to resign.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer – a popular name being bandied about by those speculating about Biden’s possible successors – praised Biden’s accomplishments and vowed to continue to support her party’s cause.
“President Biden is a great public servant who knows better than anyone what it will take to defeat Donald Trump. His remarkable work to lower prescription drug costs, fix the damn roads, bring supply chains home, address climate change, and ensure America’s global leadership for decades to come will go down in history,” Whitmer said in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday afternoon.
“My mission in this election will remain the same: to do everything I can to elect Democrats and stop Donald Trump, a convicted felon whose agenda – raising costs for families, banning abortion nationwide and abusing the power of the White House to pay his own bills – is completely wrong for Michigan.”
Whitmer did not explicitly say Sunday that she would not seek her party’s nomination, nor did she endorse any other candidate. But ahead of Biden’s decision, she repeatedly denied any immediate White House interest and expressed her support for the president.
More: Joe Biden withdraws from the race for the 2024 presidential nomination due to growing pressure from leading Democrats
After weeks of calls for him to step aside in favor of a younger Democratic candidate, 81-year-old Biden announced on Sunday that he would support Vice President Kamala Harris for his party’s presidential nomination.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve you as President,” Biden said in a written statement. “And while it was my intention to run for re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and my country that I step down and focus exclusively on my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”
LaVora Barnes, chairwoman of the Michigan Democratic Party, praised Biden’s longstanding service, especially to Michigan.
“President Biden has always been there for Michigan, and Michigan Democrats will always be grateful for his vision of a country that puts aside its differences and finds hope together for a better future.
“Mr. President, you have been our fearless leader, our friend and an incredible public servant – and we can never thank you enough.”
In Grand Rapids on Saturday, Trump joked that he wanted Biden to stay in the race. He and other Republicans have repeatedly suggested Biden is their best chance of winning. A Free Press poll released Sunday showed Trump leading Biden by seven percentage points in Michigan.
During the rally at Van Andel Arena, Trump conducted a tongue-in-cheek poll among the audience: Would they prefer him to run against Biden or Harris in the fall?
Judging by the roar of the crowd, they wanted Biden.
In a statement sent to his supporters on Sunday, Trump called Biden “the worst president ever” and asked for donations to defeat the Democratic Party candidate, no matter who wins the nomination.
U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly), who is considered the favorite for the Democratic nomination for the vacant U.S. Senate seat in Michigan, released a statement on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, saying, “Few public servants have given more to our country than Joe Biden. His record of success as Senator, Vice President and President of the United States is unmatched.”
“Over the past four years, I’ve been proud to work with his administration to take on the pharmaceutical industry, lower prescription drug costs, and secure the largest federal investment in Michigan’s infrastructure since the 1950s, not to mention the largest expansion of veterans’ health benefits in decades,” Slotkin continued. “Joe Biden has always put country first, and with today’s announcement, he’s doing so again. Over the next four months, everyone who cares about our fragile democracy – Democrats, independents, and Republicans alike – must work together to defend it by electing a Democratic president in November.”
Slotkin had witnessed the race for the Senate seat, previously projected to be fairly Democratic, being turned into a neck-and-neck race by the influential Cook Political Report because Biden was seen as a burden on Democratic voters across the country.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee of Flint Township, who is retiring at the end of this term, praised Biden’s lifelong service and said he had been “a remarkable and effective president with historic accomplishments.”
“Thanks to President Biden’s leadership, America has emerged from the pandemic with the strongest economy in the world. Working with a Democratic Congress, President Biden signed historic legislation to cut taxes for working families and rebuild our nation’s infrastructure. He made the largest single investment to combat climate change and passed a bill to reduce gun violence for the first time in three decades. President Biden has restored America’s reputation in the world, strengthened our alliances, expanded NATO, and helped advance democracy around the world,” Kildee said in a statement.
“Joe Biden will go down in history as one of America’s most successful presidents. Not only was he an extraordinary leader with many accomplishments, but he also showed the American people how to lead with honesty, decency and empathy. All Americans owe President Biden a debt of gratitude for his decades of service to the American people.”
Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate (Democrat of Detroit) called Biden a patriot for his decision.
“Joe Biden stands for good and decency, and his selfless decision is another example of his commitment to public service and to our great country,” Tate posted on X.
“It is now our responsibility as Democrats and Americans to unite behind Vice President Harris and lead our candidate to victory in November. President Biden’s decision is an example for all of us, and we cannot squander his sacrifice through division and posturing.”
State Senator Mallory McMorrow (Democrats, Royal Oak) also posted on social media almost immediately after Biden announced his decision on Sunday, shortly before 2 p.m., and used it as an opportunity to sharply attack former President Donald Trump, who is leading in the polls in Michigan and held a rally in Grand Rapids on Saturday evening.
“One man says, ‘I alone can do this,’ and demands that you submit or be destroyed,” McMorrow wrote, referring to Trump. “One man knows that the destiny of a nation of 330 million people is far greater than one man. This is a selfless decision that the country will recognize for the rest of our history. And I know whose side I’m on.”
Decision made after weeks of criticism
Calls for Biden’s resignation grew louder after the president faltered at a debate in late June when he verbally faltered on several remarks. After the debate, an increasingly loud chorus within his own party called for Biden to resign before the Democratic National Convention in August. One member of the Michigan delegation, Democrat Hillary Scholten of Grand Rapids, was one of nearly 20 Democratic members of Congress who said Biden should step down in favor of a new candidate.
Biden initially rejected calls to drop out of the race, including at a raucous rally in Detroit on July 12 where thousands of people chanted “Don’t quit” during his speech. But opinion polls show Trump ahead of Biden in several key swing states crucial to winning the election, including Michigan. Many of the Democrats who said Biden should drop out pointed directly to the party’s need to defeat Trump.
Biden’s age has long been a concern surrounding his campaign, even since his candidacy in 2020. A recent bout of COVID-19 that forced him off the campaign trail did not help his efforts to stay in the race.
Is it Harris?
With Biden no longer the party’s nominee, the political calculation now turns to who will replace him at the top of the Democratic ticket in November.
More: If President Joe Biden resigns, would America be ready for President Kamala Harris?
Harris is certainly one of the favorites at the DNC – since Harris’ name is already associated with the election campaign as Biden’s running mate, she can take responsibility for the election campaign, including infrastructure and financing.
But other popular Democratic figures have also been floated as possible Biden replacements – California Governor Gavin Newsom is another Biden ally who is being touted as a possible successor. He spent July 4 in Michigan, meeting with Democrats on the west side of the state.
With Harris receiving Biden’s endorsement, others will focus on her possible vice presidential candidacy. Among those speculating on possible vice presidential candidates are Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper.
The Democrats will officially nominate their party’s candidate at the Democratic Party Convention, which is scheduled to take place in Chicago in mid-August.
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