Texas, Tarrant County elected officials react to Biden’s exit from presidential race

Within minutes of President Joe Biden’s Sunday announcement that he’s withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race, Texas elected officials responded to the news. Democrats praised President Biden’s years of service while some Republicans called on him to resign from the White House.

“We are a better and stronger nation as a result of his selfless public service,” State Rep. Chris Turner, an Arlington Democrat, said on X, formerly called Twitter. “His many accomplishments will benefit America for decades to come. Thank you, Mr. President.”

U.S. Rep. Mark Veasey, a Fort Worth Democrat, credited Biden with “tireless work” for the country. Veasey on Friday called on Biden to resign from the race.

“Our nation would not be where it is today without the tireless work of President Biden,” Veasey said on X. “He deserves an enormous amount of credit for his service to the American people, and I have been incredibly proud to work alongside him.

Veasey added, “Thank you, President Biden, for once again putting our great nation above all else.”

U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, a Dallas Democrat challenging Sen. Ted Cruz to represent Texas in the Senate, shared a similar sentiment, thanking Biden for “his service and his willingness to put country before self.”

“It’s something we need more of in our politics,” Allred said in a post on X. “My sincere hope is that this moment brings our nation one step closer to healing, uniting and fixing our broken politics.”

Biden made the announcement that he wouldn’t seek reelection in a Sunday statement. Biden’s decision follows amid amplifying calls within his own party for his exit from the race following a debate performance that raised questions about the president’s age, fitness and electability.

“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President,” Biden said. “And 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 focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”

He has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for president 2024.

“Let’s go!” Turner said in a post on X, responding to Biden’s endorsement and later endorsing Harris himself.

State Rep. Ramon Romero Jr. said “President Biden has tremendous shoes to fill in an American climate where it’s all about blaming the other side rather than putting people of the United States first,” in a series of posts on X.

“I have no doubt that Vice President Kamala Harris will fill the role well and will work to mend our country back together,” he said.

The pick wasn’t welcomed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and other Texas Republicans.

“Joe Biden has now endorsed and fully supports his ‘Borders Czar’ Kamala Harris to be the Democrat candidate for president,” Abbott said on X. “I think I will need to triple the border wall, razor wire barriers and National Guard on the border.”

Some Republicans also called on Biden to resign as president, including Abbott, state Rep. Nate Schatzline, a Fort Worth Republican and U.S. Rep. Beth Van Duyne, an Irving Republican.

Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, who represents Texas, criticized Harris as the potential nominee while also calling on Biden to step down.

“If she can’t fix the border, how is she going to run the country?” Cornyn said on X. “Kamala Harris is even more radical, more extreme and less competent than Joe Biden. And if Pres. Biden is not competent to run for reelection, he should step down from the presidency.”

Schatzline, criticized Biden, Democrats and his possible replacements as the party’s 2024 presidential nominee.

“The Democrats have abandoned and sold out the American people, and the perceived choices to replace Biden as nominee are worse,” Schatzline said in a statement. “We are watching the left’s kingdom of lies crumble around them and Donald Trump is the wrecking ball of Truth. There is quite literally only one option: Trump 2024.”

Many House Democrat have said in recent days that Biden should withdraw to allow for the nomination of another member of the party.

“We believe the most responsible and patriotic thing you can do in this moment is to step aside as our nominee while continuing to lead our party from the White House,” Veasey, the Fort Worth congressman, said in a July 19 joint statement from himself and three other House Democrats.

But opinions on whether Biden should stay in the race haven’t been harmonious within the party, including among those representing Texas. While Veasey and Austin Rep. Lloyd Doggett are among those that believe it’s time for Biden to step aside, others like U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas have supported Biden remaining in the race.

“Listen, when it comes down to it, we have a democratic process, and he was duly elected as our nominee. He has said that he’s not stepping down, and at the end of the day, he has a record to run on,” Crockett told PBS on July 9.

Crockett said she would only work to get Harris elected, following Biden’s announcement.

“Well I hope the geniuses that pushed the most consequential President of our lifetime out, have a plan,” Crockett said on X. Later adding, Joe wasn’t the problem… dems were.

“I know one thing, I will only work for (Harris)! If it’s anyone OTHER than her, enjoy campaign season… I hope all of my disenchanted colleagues are able to find some walking shoes and get to work because I WILL NOT!”

Doggett said he’d like to see “a fair, open, and democratic process to select the nominee best able to convince battleground voters to reject Trump’s dark, retribution-fueled plans.”

“While, with President Biden’s endorsement, Vice President Harris is clearly the leading candidate, we should be open to all talented individuals, who wish to be considered,” he said on X.

A poll from the University of Houston and Texas Southern University found that 55% of likely Texas voters have an unfavorable opinion of Biden. Vice President Kamala Harris, who 56% percent of those polled found unfavorable.

The poll was conducted between June 20 and July 1, with about two-thirds of its field work done before the June 27 presidential debate between Biden and Trump.

But despite scrambling within Democratic Party and speculation over whether he’d withdraw, Biden and his campaign had insisted the president would stay in the race.

“You have heard from the president directly time and again: He is in this race to win, and he is our nominee, and he’s going to be our President for a second term,” Biden’s Campaign Chair Jen O’Malley Dillon said in a Friday interview on “Morning Joe.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.