Joe Biden is out of the race. Who do Idaho’s delegates want to be president?
Idaho Democratic leaders quickly fell in line with Democrats across the country and backed Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s presidential nominee after President Joe Biden’s sudden exit from the race Sunday.
The president’s historic decision — this is the latest a president has dropped out of a race — casts the party into uncharted waters, giving Democrats little time to select a new nominee to face former President Donald Trump ahead of the Democratic National Convention in August.
But while party strategists and commentators have floated holding a competitive nomination process, or even a repeat primary in miniature, Harris appeared to all but clinch the nomination within hours of Biden’s announcement and endorsement of her. Democrats in Idaho were quick to back her, too.
The state party’s group of more than two dozen delegates to the DNC unanimously endorsed Harris on Tuesday, according to a news release. Idaho’s delegates join others around the country who have backed the vice president and likely assured her nomination at the convention, according to a tally from the Associated Press.
Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea told the Idaho Statesman on Monday that she would back Harris.
“She has all the credentials and experience we could want in a candidate,” Necochea said, adding that Biden’s departure was “bittersweet” for her but was “in keeping with his character because he’s always prioritized Americans and done what is best for the country.”
Boise Mayor Lauren McLean, another delegate to the national convention, endorsed Harris on Monday morning, along with 250 other mayors, according to a news release. Earlier this month, amid panic in the party over Biden’s candidacy following a disastrous debate performance in late June, McLean exhibited support for Biden in a post on social media.
House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel, D-Boise, who is also a delegate, told the Statesman on Monday that she would back Harris and said the possibility of a competitive process at such a late date was far-fetched.
“It seems that there’s been a strong coalescing in the last 48 — it hasn’t even been 48 hours — 36 hours,” Rubel said by phone.
“Maybe in a different world, if we had more time, it would have been good to have a more open convention process,” she said. “I don’t think we have the luxury of time to have a fully open primary process jammed into three weeks.”
That time frame may be even shorter. While the convention in Chicago is scheduled to begin Aug. 19, Democrats had planned to hold a delegate roll call vote in early August. Rubel said she expects that roll call vote, if it’s held, to be the binding vote for the nomination.
“I think Harris is our gal, and I’m happy with that,” she added.
Idaho will have 27 delegates at the national convention, most of whom were selected at the state convention in June. Idaho delegates typically cast their votes to reflect the preferences of the state’s Democratic voters at the presidential caucus in May. Those votes overwhelmingly went to Biden. Marianne Williamson secured 3% of votes.
Some Democrats hesitate before supporting Harris
Former President Barack Obama suggested he wanted something other than a coronation of Harris in his reaction Sunday.
“I have extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges,” he said in a blog post after Biden’s endorsement of Harris.
And Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the former House speaker, had indicated earlier this month that she would support a competitive nomination process, according to reporting in the New York Times. But she endorsed Harris on Monday.
Party heavyweights like Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries, both New York Democrats, did not back Harris on Monday, but announced their endorsement Tuesday.
The Biden campaign’s war chest and staff members were redirected to Harris on Sunday, and she swiftly took in endorsements from other party leaders. As of Monday morning, most of the prominent Democrats floated as contenders for the nomination had already voiced support for her.
Harris has a massive fundraising advantage over any potential challengers, who would have to stand up a presidential campaign from scratch. The Harris campaign raised $81 million in the day after Biden’s announcement, according to her campaign.
Idaho Democrats sweat after Biden debate
While concerns about the 81-year-old’s age have lingered for years, Biden faced no serious challengers in the primaries and won more than 95% of Democratic votes in the state caucus in May.
That shifted after Biden’s debate performance in late June, which Rubel called a “sea change” for Democrats.
“To say it went poorly would be a gross understatement,” she told the Statesman. “It really shook people up and got people concerned about Democrats’ chances in what is a staggeringly important election.”
Already trailing in many polls, Biden appeared to slump even further in head-to-head polls against Trump.
Rubel said Biden’s decision was an “ultimate act of self-sacrifice” that would rejuvenate the party.
“I think there is a much stronger feeling of optimism now,” she said.
In the hours since Biden’s announcement, Republicans have attempted to paint Biden’s withdrawal as a subversion of the will of primary voters. State GOP Chair Dorothy Moon in a statement said Biden’s decision disregarded the will of voters.
“MAGA Republicans are panicking because they see the groundswell of support around the Democratic ticket,” Necochea said in response to criticism from Republicans. “And they are stuck with a candidate who refuses to step down even though he’s been found guilty of 34 felonies, found guilty of rape by a jury, and incited an insurrection to overturn the last election.”
This story was originally published July 22, 2024 at 12:58 PM.
