After weeks of resisting calls to leave the race, President Joe Biden reversed course Sunday afternoon with a lengthy letter to supporters saying he would decline the nomination and spend the next few months focused on his presidential duties.
A few minutes later, his campaign’s social media accounts posted Biden’s call for delegates to select Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the ticket at next month’s convention in Chicago.
This is a developing story. Be sure to subscribe to City Desk ABQ’s newsletters for the latest on how this impacts New Mexico races for Senate and US House, and how local delegates react.
Following his dreadful debate performance, Biden faced increasing pressure from Democrats concerned that he could jeopardize their chances to defeat Donald Trump and negatively impact key house and senate races on the ballot this November.
On Friday morning, New Mexico’s Martin Heinrich became the third sitting senator to call for Biden to pass the torch. By afternoon, Rep. Gabe Vasquez — himself facing a tough reelection battle against Yvette Herrell in New Mexico’s redrawn 2nd Congressional District — joined Heinrich and more than two dozen national Democratic leaders in asking Biden to step aside.
Read Biden’s full statement below.
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Here is Biden’s full statement:
My Fellow Americans,
Over the past three and a half years, we have made great progress as a Nation. Today, America has the strongest economy in the world. We’ve made historic investments in rebuilding our Nation, in lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, and in expanding affordable health care to a record number of Americans. We’ve provided critically needed care to a million veterans exposed to toxic substances. Passed the first gun safety law in 30 years. Appointed the first African American woman to the Supreme Court. And passed the most significant climate legislation in the history of the world. America has never been better positioned to lead than we are today.
I know none of this could have been done without you, the American people. Together, we overcame a once in a century pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. We’ve protected and preserved our Democracy. And we’ve revitalized and strengthened our alliances around the world.
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.
I will speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision. For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me reelected. I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris for being an extraordinary partner in all this work. And let me express my heartfelt appreciation to the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me.
I believe today what I always have: that there is nothing America can’t do – when we do it together. We just have to remember we are the United States of America.
Joe Biden.