President Biden announced on Sunday afternoon (July 21) that he will not seek re-election and will fully support Vice President Kamala Harris in her presidential campaign. The 81-year-old Biden stated that he will serve until the end of his term on January 20, 2025, and urged unity.
Here are the reactions of New York’s public representatives and political leaders to Biden’s decision to not run for re-election:
Senate Majority Leader and U.S. Senator from New York, Chuck Schumer, praised President Biden as a “true patriot.” He said, “Joe Biden is not just a great president and legislative leader, but an incredible person. His decision was certainly not easy, but he once again put his country, his party, and our future first.”
Schumer, along with House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, told Biden in separate meetings that many Democratic lawmakers doubted his ability to defeat Trump.
According to ABC News, a source familiar with conveying information to the president said that Schumer met with Biden at his beachfront villa in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware on July 20 and told him that most Democratic senators believe he cannot win re-election. Schumer’s spokesperson stated last week that he “directly conveyed the perspective of his core group to President Biden.”
House Minority Leader and U.S. Representative from New York, Hakeem Jeffries, said, “America is a better place today because President Joe Biden has led us with wisdom, grace, and dignity. We are forever grateful.”
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand thanked President Biden for his years of public service. She said, “It has been an honor to stand alongside you in the fight.”
Governor Hochul of New York said, “Joe Biden is an American hero, a true statesman who will go down in history as one of the greatest champions of working families our country has ever known.”
Mayor Eric Adams of New York City stated, “America owes a debt of gratitude to President Joe Biden for his decades of service. He and his team led us out of the pandemic, stabilized the nation, and restored the soul of our nation. President Biden is once again serving the American people, passing the torch at a critical moment when the nation needs a new generation of strong leadership.”
Congresswoman Grace Meng stated that throughout President Biden’s public service career, he always put the country first. Under his leadership, healthcare coverage expanded, prescription drug costs decreased, gun violence issues were addressed, millions of jobs were created, the economy was rebuilt after the COVID-19 pandemic, and she will always be grateful for his signing important legislation she championed into law, such as combating hate crimes, increasing internet access for schools and libraries, and proposing the construction of the first national museum of Asian Pacific American history and culture.
Democratic Party leader for District 25 and founder of the Kaisenna Democratic Club, Du Peter, expressed in an interview that if Biden did not withdraw from the race now, people would start focusing on his health, and the Democratic Party would not be able to focus on the elections. Completing his term, retiring, and enjoying the benefits of ex-Presidency would be a good closure to his political career. The focus for the Democratic Party now is to secure majority seats in both chambers of Congress. If both chambers fall into Republican hands next year, the nation may face imbalance and possible impacts. Biden stepping down can at least secure the majority in one house for the Democratic Party.
Du Peter believes that Biden has done what he could for the country over the past three years, but his burden is heavy, especially with the influence of the left on him, making it difficult for him to proceed as he wishes in many aspects.
Democratic leader for District 65, Yu Jinshan, stated that Biden’s withdrawal from the election immediately stops all speculations and discussions about his decision-making abilities, bringing back the focus on the nation’s election prospects. Too much discussion about Biden’s age over the past six months has overshadowed his nearly four years of accomplishments and the Democratic Party’s planning for the nation’s future. With Biden’s withdrawal, the opposition party loses its biggest reason to attack the Democratic Party – the president’s age and judgment – and it will fall to the Republicans to respond to the public’s doubts.
Y Jinshan’s evaluation of Biden’s three-plus year tenure is that President Biden took over a America in disarray post-pandemic, and his gradual revival efforts cannot be overlooked. By making the decision to retire decisively, Biden will leave a lasting legacy and be remembered forever.
Writer and Taiwan Overseas Network commentator Wu Bentian stated that political donations have been given to Biden and Harris, and these “commitments” cannot be changed. Therefore, Biden passing the baton to Harris is a predetermined move, as the legal procedures for transferring to another person would be complex and possibly time-consuming. With just over three weeks until the Democratic National Convention on August 19, there remains the possibility of someone other than Harris entering the race, and there are expected to be daily developments leading up to that day. The Republican strategy is to call for Biden’s resignation, suggesting that the president should not continue his term, but this scenario is unlikely to happen unless Biden’s health deteriorates.
Wu Bentian predicts that the turnout of Democratic voters in the upcoming election will decrease; some may not vote for Trump but lack confidence in the Democratic candidate, leading them to abstain from voting. However, the Republican Party will make a concerted effort to get voters to the polls, and they have learned from the lessons of four years ago, so their monitoring of the voting booths will be stringent this year.