Georgia political leaders react to President Joe Biden exiting the presidential race

Caption

President Joe Biden, seen here speaking at a campaign stop in Atlanta after a June 27 debate, announced he was dropping his reelection bid July 21 after weeks of criticism and pressure.

Credit: Sarah Kallis / GPB News

President Joe Biden announced that he will not continue his reelection campaign in a social media statement on Sunday afternoon. 

In the statement, Biden thanked the American people for supporting him, and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the next president. 

Harris said she will seek the Democratic nomination for president, and Biden's campaign has already re-registered as Harris for President with the Federal Elections Commission. 

Georgia leaders immediately reacted to the news of Biden's exit. 

Senate Minority Leader Gloria Butler, a Democrat, said she is "disappointed" that Biden will not seek reelection, but fully supports Harris' bid. 

"I think his retirement is an immense loss for our country, but he accomplished a lot as president in these last almost-four years," she said. 

Meanwhile Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch said he was not surprised by Biden's exit. He bashed Biden for dropping out after the primary elections. 

"They've totally disregarded the will of the people," he said. "Joe Biden went through a primary election this year, and the people in this country that voted Democrat voted for him."

House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration echoed similar concerns, and said that he believes Harris will have an uphill battle as a candidate. 

"Vice President Harris is going to be associated with all the failures of the Biden administration, and that can often prove very difficult when trying to provide a vision for the future as a candidate for president," he said. 

Democratic state Sen. Jason Esteves said that it is time for Democrats to unite behind Harris and praised Biden's accomplishments in office.

"I'm extremely grateful — and grateful for the fact that he is, again, putting the country ahead of his own personal interests in this situations," he said. 

Delegates from several states have already pledged their support to Harris. State Rep. Michelle Au, the chair of the Georgia Asian American Pacific Islander Caucus, said that Harris is a historic candidate.

"Our first ever Black and AAPI vice president now running for president, right?" Au said. "So I think that's going to make a big difference in swing districts like mine and in swing states like Georgia, to see her at the top of the ticket."

Georgia Legislative Black Caucus Chair Carl Gilliard said that he is supportive of Harris, and hopes that the new ticket will take Black Georgians' needs into account. 

"What I'm concerned about is that who so, whoever the ticket will be listens to the voices of Black people," he said. "Black men have not been included in a lot of the dialogue."

Delegates at the Democratic Nation Convention will officially choose the nominee in August. 

Other Georgia officials react:

Sen. Jon Ossoff:

Sen. Raphael Warnock: 

U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams:

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones:

Former gubernatiorial candidate Stacey Abrams: 

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens:

Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms:

U.S. Rep, Barry Loudermilk: 

U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath:

U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson:

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene:

U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde:

Jason Carter, grandson of former President Jimmy Carter:

The Rev. Bernice King, daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:

U.S. Rep. Mike Collins posted a baseless claim that Biden himself did not make the decision to drop out.