Harris plans to ‘win this nomination’ after Biden steps aside and endorses her: Live

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who ran in the 2020 primary against both Biden and Harris, said in a statement that “Joe Biden has earned his place among the best and most consequential presidents in our history.”

“Americans are much better off because of his leadership and accomplishments,” he added. “He always puts our country first, as he demonstrated today, and I know he will continue to do so for the rest of his term.”

“Kamala Harris is now the right person to take up the torch, defeat Donald Trump, and succeed Joe Biden as President,” Buttigieg said. “I have seen her extraordinary leadership firsthand, working closely with her during the 2020 campaign and then in the historically effective Biden-Harris administration. I will do all that I can to help her win this election to lead America forward as our next President.”

After Senators Bob Casey and Brian Schatz of Pennsylvania and Hawaii respectively announced their endorsements of Harris, a majority of Senate Democrats have now announced that they’re supporting her.

Twenty-six out of 51 members have now endorsed Harris. Fellow vulnerable incumbents, including Ohio’s Sherrod Brown and Nevada’s Jacky Rosen, have also backed Harris.

CNN commentator Van Jones cried live on television following Joe Biden’s announcement to withdraw from the 2024 presidential election race.

Biden announced his decision to step down in a social media post on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday (21 July) and publicly endorsed his vice president Kamala Harris.

A visibly emotional Jones said: “You just cry, because this is someone that you love, this is somebody that you care about.

“This is somebody that was there for you. You wouldn’t be here without him.”

Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement on Sunday night that “From the beginning of his tenure, President Biden has made clear in both word and deed that he stands for the rule of law and for the Justice Department’s critical mission to protect the safety and the civil rights of everyone in our country.”

“I am grateful for his leadership and for the enormous respect he has shown for the 115,000 public servants of the Justice Department over the past three and a half years,” he added. “As President Biden has noted, there is critical governing work to be done in the months ahead, and the Justice Department will continue to work tirelessly to uphold the rule of law, keep our country safe, and protect civil rights on behalf of the American people.”

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries praised President Joe Biden during an appearance on MSNBC on Sunday.

“Joe Biden has been one of the most consequential presidents in American history,” he said. “He rescued the country from a once-in-a-century pandemic, saved the economy from the possibility of recession, and also, of course, was able to preserve our democracy by defeating the former president, the insurrectionist in chief and someone who wants to turn back the clock on the United States of America.”

He added: “He has put people over politics and patriotism over personal position. And this is another heroic act in a long-running series of heroic acts by Joe Biden on behalf of the American people from the moment he was first elected back in 1972 to the United States Senate.”

A number of possible Democratic presidential candidates are waiting to see how strongly the party coalesces around Vice President Kamala Harris, according to CNN’s Jake Tapper.

Senator Joe Manchin, who called for Joe Biden to step down just hours before the president made his decision, may be considering a bid for the Democratic nomination, CNN reports.

The West Virginia senator was a Democrat for several years before declaring himself an Independent this year. The unnamed sources told CNN he would switch back to throw his name in the ring.

The American Federation of Teachers, a nationwide labor union, has endorsed Kamala Harris’ bid for the 2024 presidency.

“The @aftunion Exec. Council just voted to endorse @KamalaHarris for president, subject to ratification by delegates to the 2024 AFT convention,” AFT President Randi Weingarten wrote on X. “Harris is fighting to restore Roe, fighting for families, for student debt relief and is a powerful advocate for workers.”

Governor Josh Shapiro, who is rumored to be one of Kamala Harris’ options for her running mate, endorsed the vice president’s bid for the Democratic candidacy.

“The best path forward for the Democratic Party is to quickly unite behind Vice President Harris and refocus on winning the presidency,” Shapiro said.