San Diego Democrats endorse Harris as Biden drops out of presidential race
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President Biden speaks at the White House on July 14. Photo: Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
Multiple San Diego Democrats are backing Vice President Kamala Harris as the party's next presidential nominee after President Biden announced Sunday he is dropping out of the race.
Why it matters: The president's decision introduces a seismic and historic shift in the 2024 race just weeks before the Democratic National Convention, which is set to start Aug. 19, Axios' Erin Doherty writes.
Driving the news: After his announcement in a letter on X, Biden quickly endorsed Harris, saying she has his "full support" as the Democratic presidential nominee.
- Harris said in a statement Sunday that her "intention is to earn and win" the nomination.
Zoom in: Democratic political leaders representing San Diego praised Biden's presidency and his exit Sunday, while following him in endorsing Harris.
- "President Biden's decision is incredibly patriotic and the right thing to do. He put country first," U.S. Rep. Mike Levin said in a statement on X.
- "Vice President Harris is the right person to lead our nation forward and defeat Donald Trump and his extremist policies," he wrote.
Flashback: Levin was one of several California Democratic congressional lawmakers who publicly urged Biden to drop out of the race following his poor debate performance last month.
What they're saying: U.S. Rep. Sara Jacobs called Biden the "most effective president" of her lifetime and said she's "all in" for Harris in posts on X.
- Mayor Todd Gloria, also in posts on X, thanked Biden for his service and support of San Diego and said Harris is "ready to lead our country as our next president," calling on people to unite around her to defeat former President Trump.
- County Board of Supervisors chair Nora Vargas said she "will work tirelessly to help get [Harris] elected to the White House in November," City News Service reported.
U.S. Rep. Scott Peters, who called on Biden to withdraw, said in a statement that history will remember him for "making this heroic decision to put country over self" but stopped short of endorsing Harris.
- Peters said he has "full confidence in [Biden's] ability to continue leading our country" despite the calls of top congressional Republicans for the president to resign amidst allegations he is unfit to serve the rest of his term.
- U.S. Rep. Juan Vargas said in a statement on X that he respects Biden's choice and will fully support the new Democratic nominee — without naming Harris.
- State Sens. Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) and Steve Padilla (D-San Diego) also expressed gratitude for Biden's service — without endorsing Harris.
The intrigue: Gov. Gavin Newsom, in a statement on X, said Biden "will go down in history as one of the most impactful and selfless presidents."
- Newsom has been floated as a potential presidential candidate, but he has previously said he wouldn't challenge Harris for the nomination if Biden stepped down.
- He supported Harris in a separate statement on X Sunday: "Tough. Fearless. Tenacious. With our democracy at stake and our future on the line, no one is better to prosecute the case against Donald Trump's dark vision and guide our country in a healthier direction than [Harris]."
What we're watching: Democratic National Committee chair Jaime Harrison said in a statement Sunday that the party will "undertake a transparent and orderly process" to select a candidate "who can defeat" former President Trump.
Editor's note: This is a developing story.