Arizona Democrats praise Biden decision, some embrace Harris

Arizona Democrats greeted the news of Joe Biden leaving the presidential race Sunday with thanks and praise for the president. They also showed some excitement about the possibility that Vice President Kamala Harris will replace him as the party’s nominee.

“President Biden is the embodiment of a public servant,” Gov. Katie Hobbs said. “Throughout this career, he has led with integrity, selflessness, and unparalleled empathy. His decision today is a clear reflection of these qualities and his commitment to putting the American people first.”

U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva of Tucson, who was one of the first two congressmen to publicly call for Biden to step aside, said in a statement Sunday, “Joe Biden will be remembered as one of the most consequential presidents in our history.”

Tucson Mayor Regina Romero said, “I am excited to support Kamala Harris to be the next Democratic president of the United States. She is ready to step up and lead. I’m ready to jump in and do all I can to help elect Kamala Harris to the White House.”

Republicans were predictably less enthusiastic.

Kari Lake, Republican U.S. Senate candidate, said, “Joe Biden enablers like Kamala Harris and Ruben Gallego caused this mess by supporting a man in clear mental decline and by voting 100% of the time for his dead-end agenda.”

The Maricopa County Republican Committee sniffed, “Next, after ‘standing down,’ Joe Biden endorses unconstitutional candidate for president and commander-in-chief of the United States of America.”

The main contenders for U.S. House in southeastern Arizona, incumbent Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani and Democratic challenger Kirsten Engel, focused on Biden in their responses to the big news. In a tweet, Ciscomani seemed to wish Biden were still in the race.

“Make no mistake: In #AZ06, Joe Biden and his policies are on the ballot in the form of @EngelforArizona. From our border to your pocketbooks, we can’t let Biden-Engel win.”

Engel said via Twitter/X: “President Biden has been an incredible leader with an undeniable record of bringing down costs for Americans, protecting our environment, and defending our democracy. I look forward to working with our party’s presidential candidate to defeat Donald Trump’s extremism.”

Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, were effusive in their praise for Biden Sunday, and Kelly went on to endorse Harris for president. But they didn’t touch on one big question that is looming in the political sphere: Could Kelly be on the ticket?

“Joe Biden has been one of the most consequential presidents in history,” Kelly said in a statement. “He led us out of the pandemic, took historic steps to bring back microchip and clean energy manufacturing and rebuild our infrastructure, and he has strengthened our alliances and made our country safer.”

Giffords said, “I will be forever grateful to President Biden for his compassion and personal friendship to me as I was recovering (after being shot). He held my hand and gave me his ‘word as a Biden’ that he and Jill would always be there for me — and they were.”

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Kelly went on to endorse Harris.

“I couldn’t be more confident that Vice President Kamala Harris is the right person to defeat Donald Trump and lead our country into the future. She has my support for the nomination, and Gabby and I will do everything we can to elect her President of the United States.”

While Kelly’s endorsement ends speculation that he might be the Democrats’ nominee, neither he nor Giffords commented on another frequent rumor: That he could be Harris’ vice-presidential running mate.

Meghan McCain tweeted, “Senator Mark Kelly is very dangerous for Republicans. He and his wife @gabbygiffords are Arizona icons and both American hero’s (sic).”

State Rep. Alma Hernandez of Tucson, who has been defending Biden’s candidacy for days, tweeted: “Harris/Kelly 2024. Let’s go, I’m ready. AZ is ready.”

U.S. Rep. (and Senate candidate) Ruben Gallego said, “President Biden has consistently worked to make life better for hardworking Americans. He again put our country first today, as he has throughout his tenure as a public servant.”

Dave Smith, chair of the Pima County Republican Party, said he was surprised by the Biden news and said the next choice is the Democrats’ to make. But he added that Democrats, who have repeatedly said Trump threatens our democracy, ought to adhere to their claimed support for democracy in their process of selecting a new nominee. “If you’re going to say democracy, democracy, democracy, you’ve got to live by that,” he said.

Joshua Polacheck, one of Arizona’s delegates to the Democratic National Convention, said Harris has the legitimate claim to the nomination.

“If we want to be a big D as well as a small D Democratic party, we need to look at what the will of the voters has been over the last four years,” said Polacheck, who is also running for Arizona Corporation Commission. “Twice, in the general election in 2020 and in the primary process this year, Vice President Harris has been entrusted to represent the Democratic vision and carry the Democratic mantle. At this point I consider her the presumptive nominee.”

Republican Congressman Paul Gosar weighed in: “By rigging their own election and forcing Joe Biden to quit, billionaire Democrat donors, Hollywood leftists and Democrat party elitists just gave the middle finger to the 14 million Democrats who selected Biden to be their nominee. The Democrat coup is complete.”

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes mirrored many Democratic officials’ reactions, saying Biden’s “lifetime of public service — and especially his presidency — will have a deep and lasting impact on our country and our planet. Thank you for everything you have done for the American people, Mr. President.”