Here's how Missouri candidates reacted after Biden ended presidential campaign

President Joe Biden on Sunday ended his reelection bid for President, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of the Democratic Party's convention in Chicago.

Missouri's Democratic Party delegates already committed to Biden likely will change their vote to Harris during the convention Aug. 19-22, said Russ Carnahan, chair of the Missouri Democratic Party, later Sunday evening.

Many candidates for statewide office reacted to Biden's announcement on social media. Here's what they said.

Missouri House candidates

Boone County

Boone County has five districts in the Missouri House: 44, 45, 46, 47 and 50. Candidates in Districts 44, 45, 46 and 50 posted comments online.

"... Who will 'the party of democracy' force on their voters who voted for Biden in the primaries," asked Bryce Beal, Republican candidate for District 44 on X, formerly Twitter, quote posting Biden's announcement. "Democrats continue to play games with elections and wonder why people are concerned about election integrity."

He is facing Republican John Martin in the primary, who as of Monday morning had not made any comments online regarding Biden stepping aside from his campaign. Democratic candidate Dave Raithel also had not yet commented online.

House District 45 Democratic candidate Kathy Steinhoff who is running unopposed in August and November reposted other X accounts sharing Harris' 2020 presidential primary campaign advertisement against former President Donald Trump.

House District 46 Democratic candidate David Tyson Smith, also facing no challengers, compared Biden stepping aside to "giving up the ring in (Lord of the Rings)," on X.

"President Biden’s decision represents deep commitment to our country and tremendous self sacrifice. He has served our country with honor and distinction. He is a true patriot," he wrote.

Republican Joshua Ray Blakeman will face off against whoever wins the Democratic primary for House District 50, either Jeff Basinger or Gregg Bush. Comments from Blakeman or Bush were not found online. Basinger wrote on Facebook that Biden's decision was a historic, selfless act.

"We support Kamala! I’m proud of the Democratic Party for handling this. Despite the label, the people of the Fightin’ 50th are actually mostly a pretty friendly, pragmatic group. I talked with good people this weekend and gave out some signs," he wrote.

Greene County

Greene County has candidates in 11 House districts, 129-139. Comments from candidates in Districts 130, 135, 136 and 139 were found.

Democratic Candidate Leslie Jones in House District 130 commented online about Biden's decision. She expressed her gratitude to Biden on X.

"Let us come together and continue to work for positive change no matter who the nominee ends up being. Missouri won’t change by who is elected president but by the Missourians we elect to represent us here at home. We can make a change if we support and elect the right people who are here ready to get to work," she wrote.

Democrat Betsy Fogle for District 135 thanked Biden for his "life of public service, difficult decisions and investments in people and communities like mine" on X.

Republican Jim Robinette for District 136 on Facebook noted "I would hope we can work together to move the country forward after this election," while also reposting former Republican primary candidate Vivek Ramaswamy's comment that the party is "not running against a candidate. We're running against a system," and a meme from right-wing political commentator Gunther Eagleman.

He is running against Democrat Stephanie Hein who said that Biden's action took "immense courage and patriotism to prioritize the country over personal interests," on Facebook.

"I am grateful for President Biden's leadership and the investments he has made in both our country and our state. Together, we can and will move our nation forward," she wrote.

Democratic House District Candidate Mark Gray for District 139 urged Missouri Democrats and Independents to put the support they are putting behind Harris toward down ballot candidate.

"They need your help too," he wrote.

Missouri Senate candidates

Boone County

Democrat Stephen Webber faces off against Republican James Coyne in November. There were no comments online from Coyne, but Webber noted "It’s Kamala. There is no choice but Kamala. All in for her. Let’s Gooooo! [sic]" on X in the minutes after Biden made his announcement. He later followed that up with comparisons between the last four presidential candidates for Republican and Democratic parties and a thread about the rapidity with which the Democratic Party united behind Harris.

Greene County

Comments were not found online from Senate District Republican primary candidates Mike Moon and Susan Haralson or from Democrat Ron Monnig.

Governor

Republicans

Republican candidates for Missouri governor also weighed in on Biden's decision. Jeremy Gundel wrote that Biden made the right decision on X, also referencing Trump.

"We deserve a President that has a sound mind from both parties," he wrote. He then shared multiple political memes, a video from the National Republican Party about Harris and videos from conspiracy theorist Alex Jones that allege the "deep state" will attempt another Trump assassination and that it also will try to install Hillary Clinton as the Democratic candidate for president.

Bill Eigel called Harris a "left wing nut job who would be even more destructive to America than Joe Biden," on his social media accounts.

"Biden was a puppet and a vehicle for the left’s radical ideas. Kamala drove the train, cackling all the way. She actually believes all of their crazy nonsense. She’s a radical’s radical, San Fran through and through. President Trump will beat her like a drum," he wrote.

Jay Ashcroft urged Biden to go further and resign as president "immediately if he is so impaired," he wrote on social media. That would mean Harris would be elevated to President if Biden also resigned the presidency.

"No matter who the Democrats pick, Donald J. Trump will be the 47th President of the United States," he wrote.

Mike Kehoe also called on Biden's immediate resignation as president, also predicting a Trump landslide in November in his statement on social media.

"Biden dropping out (eight) days after Trump’s failed assassination attempt will look very weird in history," wrote Chris Wright on X, who also wrote "Breaking: Democratic Party" on Facebook with a laughing crying emoji.

Democrats

Democrat Mike Hamra as of Monday was the only candidate who had posted on social media about Biden's decision.

"I'm grateful for the work President Biden has done to improve the lives of Missourians, including capping insulin prices and investing in critical infrastructure. I respect him for making the decision that he thinks is best for the country," he wrote on Facebook.

Lt. Governor

Republicans

Like others in the Republican party before her, Holly Rehder on Facebook called on Biden to go further than just ending his campaign, but to resign as president.

"America having a president that is not mentally capable to lead is a national security issue," she wrote.

David Wasinger on X quote posted Elon Musk when commenting on Biden's decision.

"Biden could not with stand a 1/100th of what President Trump has put up for 8 years…establishment/power brokers ratchet it up…there is no bottom to where they will go to retain power," he wrote.

Paul Berry III sharing a post from a personal Facebook page to his campaign page wrote that the Democratic party is going to have a "come to Jesus" moment "when they find out Democrat establishment don’t like (Kamala) Harris as a presidential candidate at all," he wrote.

Democrats

Richard Brown rather than sharing a statement, shared a photo of himself with Biden, likely from 2019 based on the T-shirt Biden is wearing in the photo. There was not a comment available from Anastasia Syes.

Attorney General

Will Scharf surmised Democrats coalescing behind Harris has less to do with party unity, but finances.

"The financial logistics of standing up a new candidate are insurmountable. They know she’s an irretrievably damaged candidate, but they don’t have another option," he wrote on X.

Like others, Andrew Bailey has called on Biden to more than just end his campaign, but resign the presidency.

"Leading a nation requires strength and competence, qualities clearly lacking in his tenure," he wrote on X.

Democrat Elad Gross had not posted a comment about Biden's Decision as of Monday.

Secretary of State

Among the most combative candidates out there is Republican Valentina Gomez. In a short video posted to X she said Harris "slept her way to the top ... (She is) just another (diversity, equity, inclusion) hire and President Trump is going to eat her alive."

Republican Shane Schoeller, who currently is Greene County Clerk, commended Biden's decision on Facebook.

"Prayers for him and his family during this difficult time. I'm especially praying for our country as we look towards the November election. Our enemies are watching, and it is time we show strength," he wrote.

Republican Adam J. Schwadron wrote Democrats came to terms with what others already knew and now Democratic voters should have a chance to decide their candidate.

"Anything less is a violation of everything we’ve heard that Democrats stand for," he wrote, quote posting Blue Missouri Executive Director Jess Piper on X.

Dean Plocher called Biden's decision predictable on Facebook.

"They have once again demonstrated their willingness to do anything to keep power. Nothing has changed in Biden’s condition the last 2 years. They could and should have done this before the primaries ended," the Republican wrote. "Now they’ll have a new candiate and 10 million illegals bused into the US ready to vote. As Secretary of State, I’ll support President Trump’s plan to detain and deport illegal aliens."

Republican Mary Elizabeth Coleman referenced conspiracy theorists on X when she posted "tin foil hat wearers are batting 1000," at about the time Biden's announcement hit, later sharing a screen shot from Trump's Truth Social account, and writing "We will Make America Great Again!!" with three U.S. Flag emojis.

Democrats Monique Williams, Barbara Phifer, Haley Jacobson did not have comments posted online.

Treasurer

Republican Cody Smith like many others now is pushing for Biden to resign the presidency, not just the campaign.

Fellow Republican Lori Rook noted Biden's decision as another "'conspiracy theory' come true" on Facebook.

"Only those that continue to allow CNN and other woke networks to indoctrinate them are surprised by this," she wrote.

Republican incumbent Vivek Malek called any candidate put forward by Democrats irrelevant because "they all support the same failed policies," he wrote on X.

"The American people realize that President Trump's policies are the ones that benefit regular Americans," he continued.

Democrat Mark Osmack celebrated Biden's "service above self," on Facebook, referencing Trump doing the opposite.

"One man demonstrates it, the other denigrates it to cheers. President Biden emboldens it. The other can’t imagine it," he wrote, later writing what happened Sunday is a "jolt of possibility."

"Down ballot, we can invigorate Jeff City but ousting the old, and sending in the new, a combat vet, and commitment to the greater good," Osmack wrote sharing a donation link for Act Blue.

Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on X, formerly Twitter. Subscribe to support vital local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri candidates react to President Biden ending reelection campaign