MI Leaders React To Biden Dropping Out Of 2024 Presidential Race

MICHIGAN — On Sunday, President Joe Biden announced he will not seek reelection at the Democratic Party's upcoming convention, and he endorsed vice President Kamala Harris to be the party's nominee.

Here is a reaction from top Democrats and Republicans in Michigan to the Biden news:

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

"President Biden is a great public servant who knows better than anyone what it takes 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 over decades will go down in history. My job in this election will remain the same: doing everything I can to elect Democrats and stop Donald Trump, a convicted felon whose agenda of raising families’ costs, banning abortion nationwide, and abusing the power of the White House to settle his own scores is completely wrong for Michigan."

Whitmer also endorsed Kamala Harris for president.

U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-MI

"President Joe Biden has done more for Michigan during his presidency than any other president in my lifetime. In the past three and a half years, we’ve fixed thousands of roads and bridges, boosted manufacturing, brought jobs home, lowered the cost of prescription drugs and seriously tackled the climate crisis. President Biden’s long career of public service has truly improved the lives of Americans in so many important ways. His decision today is another courageous action in his long history of service to our country."

U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-MI

"Joe Biden’s life has been dedicated to our nation. There is no greater dedication a leader can make than sacrifice. Today, Joe and Jill Biden put America first. Colleen and I send our gratitude and support to the President and First Lady. Michigan is better because we have delivered an unmatched track record of accomplishments together. The Biden-Harris Administration has been a model for delivering bipartisan results for the American people: from renewing our infrastructure, to lowering costs for families, to building a future where everyone can thrive. I thank him for his truly remarkable career of service to our nation."

U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, D-MI

"President Joe Biden’s decision to step aside from seeking reelection is yet another example of his extraordinary leadership and lifelong dedication to doing what he believes is right for our nation.
I want to thank President Biden for his tireless service to the American people. His legacy as President is historic - he led us out of a major economic crisis following a devastating pandemic, passed the largest ever investment in climate resilience, secured landmark legislation to protect and expand 21st century manufacturing, and fixed the infrastructure our nation relies on. He has led our country with grace, dignity, and care for his fellow Americans. While I wanted to help him secure reelection in November, I respect his decision. Thank you, Mr. President, for a lifetime of service. I will now turn my attention to supporting Vice President Kamala Harris as our Democratic nominee, as Mr. Biden has asked of us. I look forward to making her the first woman President of our great nation. Let us now come together to protect the shared vision of a democracy for all, in which every American, no matter their race, creed, or class, has a shot at the American dream and a better tomorrow."

U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain, R-MI

"Every democrat has lied, misled and covered up Biden’s cognitive decline for years now. Kamala Harris was complicit in this cover-up and would be an even more disastrous President than Biden."

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-MI

"Joe Biden is a dedicated public servant and a dear friend who has helped me through some of life's most challenging moments, and I find myself crying now. For his entire career, and throughout his presidency, he and his administration have achieved monumental successes for the American people - from lowering everyday costs and rebuilding our infrastructure to expanding access to health care for millions of veterans and delivering the most transformative climate and environmental justice agenda in history. I am proud of his legacy of service to our nation and know he remains committed to continuing his important work through the remainder of his term. His leadership has helped build a stronger and more unified America and he has changed our country for the better."

U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, R-MI

"President Biden has done nothing but endanger Americans and take more money out of their hard earned paychecks, and his wavering health has made our country weaker. Vice President Harris and the other Democrats will only continue his policies and hurt our country even more. While I am thankful President Biden finally realized he is unfit to serve another four years, the only way we can fix our country is to reverse his failures. We must work to elect President Trump this November so we can decrease inflation, protect the southern border, and expand US energy production."

U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-MI

"Few public servants have given more to our country than Joe Biden. His record of accomplishment as a Senator, Vice President, and as President of the United States is unmatched. Over the last four years I’ve been proud to partner with his administration to take on Big Pharma, bring down the cost of prescription drugs, and to secure the biggest federal investment in Michigan’s infrastructure since the 1950s, to say nothing of delivering the biggest expansion of veterans’ healthcare benefits in decades. 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 this November."