Idaho officials react to President Joe Biden dropping out of 2024 presidential race

This story originally published July 20 at Idaho Capital Sun.

Idaho officials have started to release statements about President Joe Biden’s decision to not seek the Democratic Party’s nomination for the 2024 presidential election.

On Sunday, Biden posted a letter addressed to the American people to his social media accounts stating he would “stand down” from the race. In another post, he said he endorses Vice President Kamala Harris for the top of the party’s ticket.

“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,” Biden wrote in the one-page letter.

“My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President,” Biden wrote in another post on X. “And it’s been the best decision I’ve made. Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”

Biden won Idaho’s May 23 Democratic caucus handily by pulling in 95% of the votes cast in the six-candidate race. The Idaho Democratic Party reported there were 2,412 votes cast, an exceedingly low turnout, in a caucus held in an election cycle where Biden had already secured enough delegates to clinch the Democratic Party’s nomination for president.

Here’s what Idaho officials are saying in reaction to Biden’s announcement:

• Boise Mayor Lauren McLean, on X: “President Biden (@POTUS), thank you for all you have done for our country throughout your career and especially for all you’ve done for and with Boise the past four years. From passing the most transformational climate package our country has seen, to CHIPS, charging stations, housing, childcare and so much more, you have shown how deeply you care about investing in people. I know this decision must have been terribly difficult. I wish you and your family the best and look forward to working with your administration as you complete your time in the White House. Thank you for your service and leadership.”

• Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea, in an emailed statement: “On behalf of the Idaho Democratic Party, I want to thank President Biden for his unwavering leadership and dedication to our nation. Under his administration, we’ve seen historic economic recovery, once-in-a-generation investments in infrastructure, and the revitalization of American manufacturing, including the largest private investment in Idaho’s history, thanks to the CHIPS and Science Act. As we look toward November, the stakes have never been higher. We must elect Democrats at every level to continue building on these achievements, to protect our freedoms, and to safeguard our democracy.”

This story was originally published July 21, 2024 at 7:47 PM.