When Joe Biden announced yesterday that he had decided not to run for a second term, political leaders who represent the great state of Georgia had a mixed reaction to the 46th president’s decision.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of the party and the country for me to stand down to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” Biden said in his official statement.
The announcement came after calls from fellow Democrats asking him to drop out after his dubious performance during last month’s presidential debate held here in Atlanta.
“In the midst of all the discussions the past few weeks, President Biden took time to call me a couple of days ago to tell me that he loved and appreciated me and to thank me for all I have done for him,” said former mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said in a statement.
Georgian politicians from both parties have made public statements since finding out about Biden’s decision.
“While President Biden’s decision marks a significant turn in the political landscape, it opens opportunities for new leadership and fresh ideas,” said Governor Brian Kemp.
He added the importance of focusing on local and state-level elections to ensure the Peach State’s continued growth and prosperity.
Locally, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens reacted to Biden’s decision to endorse his running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris, as the next Democratic nominee in a post on X, formally Twitter with a picture of the two that captioned “let’s go.”
“I’ve been proud to work alongside [Biden] and our very able Vice President Kamala Harris,” Georgia Senator Raphael Warknock said in a statement endorsing Harris as the next nominee.
Senator Jon Ossoff endorsed Harris in a post: “Vice President Harris is now absolutely the right candidate to defeat Donald Trump and unite our country.”
U.S. Congresswoman District Five Nikema Williams decided to emphasize Biden’s accomplishments during his time as President.
“President Biden is one of the most accomplished Presidents of all time,” Williams said. “He implemented $16B in funding for HBCUs and saved Americans an average of $800 on their health insurance with the Inflation Reduction Act.”
District 14 Representative Majorie Taylor Greene vocalized the harm Biden has caused to the country, posting, “He’s been running against the destruction of America brought by Democrats and their policies.”
Other Republicans, like District 10 Representative Mike Collins, decided to react with a post saying, “It’s official. They Kneecapped Joe Biden,” and posting a meme referencing his performance at the debate last month.
Democrats will select its new presidential candidate during the Democratic National Convention next month.
Not a single one of us has voted for Kamala Harris. No one. As if she’s done anything in her role? And do you remember her bizarre time as a Senator?
This is another DNC game with people like Obama and Pelosi deciding who gets what. It’s shameful and certainly does not reflect American or democratic values. No, thank you. The Democratic Party has become the Socialist Party.