Michigan Democrats endorse Kamala Harris hours after Biden drops out of race

Democrats in Michigan have been falling behind Vice President Kamala Harris in the hours since Vice President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he would withdraw his candidacy for re-election.

“Vice President Harris is an extraordinary leader. She has the knowledge, experience and commitment to be an outstanding president for Michigan and the country. Importantly, she is committed to protecting our reproductive freedoms and our democracy,” U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, a Democrat from Michigan, said in a statement.

“She has helped move our country forward: expanding manufacturing, bringing jobs domestically, and lowering the cost of prescription drugs – to name just a few of her accomplishments.”

Stabenow said she was “tough, smart and ready.”

Biden, 81, endorsed Harris – the 59-year-old former senator and attorney general of California – as his successor shortly after telling the nation on July 21 that he had decided to step down in the “best interests of my party and the country.”

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A growing number of politicians within his own party have been calling on Biden to withdraw his bid for a second term since his disastrous and halting performance at the US debate in June convinced many that he could neither beat former President Donald Trump nor lead the country for another four years.

“I am honored by the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination,” Harris said in a statement, thanking Biden for his “extraordinary leadership.”

Democratic U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee of Flint Township was one of the first to endorse Harris on Sunday. “Democrats must immediately rally around Kamala Harris to defeat Donald Trump,” he said in a statement.

Many Democrats praised Biden for his long record of service and achievements on jobs, climate resilience and manufacturing, as well as what U.S. Senator Gary Peters called his “sacrifice” with which he ended his campaign.

“I’ve seen (Kamala Harris) fight for the American people every day when we sat together in the Senate,” Peters said on X. “And I know she will be a wonderful president. She is an exemplary leader, knows what it takes to deliver when it matters most, and has my full support.”

Democratic U.S. Representative Haley Stevens of Birmingham said in a statement that Biden had “led our country with grace, dignity and care for his fellow Americans.”

“I will now focus on supporting Vice President Kamala Harris as our Democratic nominee, as Mr. Biden has asked us to do. I look forward to making her the first female president of our great nation.”

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Trump’s campaign team, meanwhile, called Biden “weak” and “incompetent.” In a statement, the campaign team criticized Biden for the economy, inflation and decisions that Trump said led to crises in Afghanistan, Ukraine and Israel.

“And throughout this entire term, Kamala Harris – like every other Democrat in Washington – has sat idly by. They are all as complicit as Biden in the destruction of our once great nation, and they must all be removed from office,” the statement said.

Harris will be “worse” for the country than Biden, the campaign team claims.

Pete Hoekstra, chairman of the Michigan Republican Party, said in a statement: “President Trump is winning Michigan in November not because of Joe Biden, but because of the chaos that Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and the policies of the radical left have created. The people of Michigan need a president who will get inflation under control and lower the cost of living, protect our manufacturing jobs and secure our southern border. That is Donald Trump.”

RELATED: First Lady Jill Biden cancels campaign stop in Ann Arbor as speculation mounts

If there is agreement between the parties, there is a lot at stake.

“Let’s unite as a country behind Vice President Kamala Harris and defeat extremism in November. There has never been a more important election than this one for women’s reproductive rights, for democracy, and for our future,” said a post on X by Democratic U.S. Representative Hillary Scholten of Grand Rapids.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell of Ann Arbor said in a statement that Biden’s announcement moved her to tears. She called Biden a public servant and “dear friend” who helped her through challenges and praised his work to reduce everyday costs, expand access to health care and rebuild infrastructure.

Later, she became more pragmatic. “Kamala Harris is an incredible leader who will unite our country and win in November. She has my full support. Now let’s get to work,” Dingell said on X.

Joe Tate, Democrat of Detroit and speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, said it is “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 waste his sacrifice on division and posturing,” he said on X.

The Democratic National Committee on Sunday acknowledged the unprecedented work it faces now that it has marked nearly 60 years since a likely presidential nominee withdrew.

“In the coming days, the party will begin a transparent and orderly process to move forward as a united Democratic Party with a candidate who can defeat Donald Trump in November,” Chairman Jaime Harrison said in a statement.

The Democrats will hold their convention in Chicago from August 19 to 22. What was planned as Biden’s coronation will become an open contest, and nearly 4,700 delegates, including the 115 he won in Michigan, will be responsible for choosing Trump’s new challenger.

Beyond the nomination, it’s unclear whether Harris can win Michigan, a crucial swing state, in November’s general election. She’s doing slightly better than Biden in national polls, but not by much, according to NBC News.

In the most recent NBC News poll, conducted before Trump’s assassination attempt on July 13, she and Biden were each two percentage points behind Trump.