‘Proud of him’: KY Gov. Beshear and others react to Biden’s decision to drop out of re-election

With Democratic President Joe Biden’s decision to not seek re-election announced on Sunday, many Kentucky politicians were quick to offer up their thoughts on the historic decision — just a month ahead of the Democratic National Convention.

Gov. Andy Beshear was among the first.

The 46-year-old governor, whose name has been floated by many as a potential vice presidential pairing alongside Harris, applauded Biden’s decision.

”While his decision today could not have been easy, it is in the best interest of our country, and our party. I want to thank him for his leadership, kindness and for a successful presidency that got big, important things done.”

A spokesperson for Beshear did not respond directly to a question on whether he’s open to participating in the process to be considered for vice president. The governor has, when asked about this previously, not denied the possibility of leaving if he felt he could “help the commonwealth even more” through another opportunity.

Biden posted his announcement on X (the site formerly known as Twitter), saying that was going to “focus all (his) energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”

“My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President,” Biden wrote. “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.”

Many Kentucky politicians took to social media to send a set of mixed reactions.

In Sunday’s statement, Beshear praised Biden’s record of showing up in the wake of disasters that pummeled Kentucky during his term, as well as the president’s support for massive infrastructure undertakings such as the Brent Spence Bridge project linking Northern Kentucky to Cincinnati.

“President Biden will be remembered as a consequential president,” Beshear said.

Just eight days after former President Donald Trump survived a near-assassination in a Pennsylvania public rally, Beshear ended his statement with a call for greater civility in American politics. “Now, it is a time for our nation to come together. We need to dial down the anger, rancor and noise.”

Social media reactions and statements

Mike Ward, a former Democratic congressman from Louisville, was one of several previous members of Congress who called on Biden to make this decision.

“This must have been the hardest decision of his life. I’m proud of him for being a class act from start to finish,” Ward said.

Senate Leader Mitch McConnell said that throughout Biden’s tenure, Americans faced historic inflation at home, chaos at the border, and “weak leadership on the world stage.”

He said the nation is less prosperous and less secure than it was in January, 2021 and that the country couldn’t afford four more years.

“Unfortunately, the Democratic Party has been busy in recent weeks trying to upend the expressed will of the American people in primary elections across the country,” McConnell said. “Washington Democrats have not proven themselves any more capable than the President of delivering the secure borders, safe streets, and stable prices that working families deserve. They are selling open borders, higher prices, climate radicalism, and soft-on-crime policies, and the American people are not buying.”

U.S. Republican Senator Rand Paul said, “the inevitable is now a reality.”

U.S. Congressman Hal Rogers took the news as a way to double down on the decision to vote for Republican candidate, former President Donald Trump.

“As Democrats scramble to decide the next steps with this historic change of leadership, the Republican Party firmly stands with President Trump and his ability to rescue our country from the failed policies of the Biden Administration,” Roger said in a statement. “Our nation has deeply suffered from crisis after crisis with Biden and Harris at the helm of the destructive Democratic Party. It’s time for a clean sweep, starting at the White House.”

Former Republican state Senator Whitney Westerfield reposted Biden’s letter, shared on X, and wrote: “So shines a good deed in a weary world.”

Secretary of State Michael Adams took the moment to clarify that Biden had not been officially determined as the Democratic nominee.

“Joe Biden is not the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party — no one is a presidential nominee until formally nominated pursuant to party rules — and thus will not appear on Kentucky ballots,” Adams said. “Whomever the Democratic Party ultimately nominates will.

Longtime congressman, Andy Barr, said Biden’s decline has been evident, and the Democratic Party “has been concealing the truth.”

“It’s clear that if President Biden is unfit to seek re-election, he is equally unfit to continue serving as our Commander in Chief for the balance of his term,” Barr said. “The American people deserve and desperately need leadership that is strong, transparent and capable of running the country. It’s time for a change that prioritizes the well-being and security of our nation.”

Democrats and donors praise Biden, recall successes

Kentucky House Democratic Caucus leaders praised Biden’s work in a statement, saying he served with distinction as senator, vice president and president that will have a positive and lasting impact for generations.

“We commend him for his dedication to always put our country first, a selfless value that undoubtedly drove today’s decision,” Kentucky House Democratic Caucus Leaders Derrick Graham and Cherlynn Stevenson and Rachel Roberts said. “His administration has overseen strong economic growth, a return of respect on the world stage, and a commitment to building an America that seeks to unite rather than divide. Our presidential nominee may change, but furthering those goals never will.”

Kentucky’s former treasurer Johnathan Miller made a simple statement in a post on X, “Harris/Beshear has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”

In a six-paragraph statement from the Kentucky Democratic Party, they said while Biden’s decision was not an easy one, they “respect at times it is necessary.” Their statement also touted the decision as “admirable” — making way for future Democratic leaders.

“President Biden did more than just show up — he got the job done. While Donald Trump and his extremist friends may claim otherwise, one thing is certain: America is a better place because Joe Biden met the moment and never lost sight of who he served,” Chair Colmon Elridge said.

“This is a man who served as vice president to our nation’s first Black president, defending him against unprecedented attacks, and who, as the Democratic nominee just four years ago, selected Kamala Harris to both break the glass ceiling and color barrier of the vice presidency.”

Randy Cravens, Democratic party nominee for United States Congress in Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District, called Biden’s announcement “selfless.”

Regardless of anyone’s personal feelings about President Biden, Cravens said, what “cannot be disputed is Biden’s long and faithful service to our nation.”

“Sadly, we remain divided as a nation,” Cravens said in a statement. “Perhaps November will now allow us a new opportunity to choose a better and more united path forward. ... “I believe in us, and I believe in our Commonwealth. I believe in an incredible future for our children and our future generations beyond. I look forward to ensuring the story of that future is told as we move forward to November.”

Donors Christy Brown and U.S. Ambassador Tod Sedgwick said the Democratic Party and Biden’s leadership were “exceptionally fine,” but called for unification within the party. They quoted former President Barack Obama in their statement.

“As President Obama has said, ‘’We will still be navigating uncharted waters in the days ahead. But I have extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges.’”