U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Flint) said in a written statement that Vice President Kamala Harris has what it takes to defeat Donald Trump this November, following President Joe Biden’s announcement Sunday afternoon that he was dropping out of the race for the White House.
“Kamala Harris has already been elected and earned the trust of the American people, and she has served honorably as Vice President,” Kildee said. “She is uniquely qualified to serve as President of the United States.”
Kildee went on to say that the Democratic Party must come together around Harris and that she represents that next generation of leadership for the country.
I strongly support and endorse @KamalaHarris to be our Democratic nominee for President of the United States.
— Dan Kildee (@dankildee) July 21, 2024
She has already been elected and earned the trust of the American people, and she has served honorably as Vice President. She is uniquely qualified to serve. pic.twitter.com/26g4lMf4F5
Kildee was not among the growing chorus of high-profile donors and congressional leaders who were calling on Biden to step down in the weeks following his disastrous debate performance against Trump last month.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President,” Biden said in a written statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “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.”
Shortly after announcing he was dropping out of the race, Biden endorsed Harris to be the Democratic Party’s nominee for the presidency.
According to Kildee, Biden will go down in history as one of country’s most “effective presidents.” Bringing the country out of the COVID-19 pandemic, re-energizing the NATO alliance, rebuilding the nation's infrastructure and passing historic climate legislation are among the accomplishments Kildee said made Biden an extraordinary leader.
“All Americans owe President Biden a debt a gratitude for his decades of service to the American people,” Kildee said.
The latest NPR/PBS/Marist poll shows a hypothetical match-up between Trump and Harris in a virtual tie, with Kamala Harris receiving 50% of the vote and Trump at 49%.
Democrats from across the country will flock to Chicago for the Democratic National Convention beginning August 19 to officially nominate their candidate to take on Trump.
"I am honored to have the President's endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination," Harris said on X.
