President Joe Biden announced Sunday that he would end his re-election campaign, despite his campaign chairman’s insistence that he would remain in the race. The announcement surprised citizens and politicians as well, sparking mixed reactions among Texas officials and lawmakers, with some praising the decision, and others saying Biden should not have stepped down. Here are some of these reactions.
First, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, praised the president’s decision. He was the first congressman to publicly call for Biden’s withdrawal from the race, and that call surely led others to do the same
“Once again President Biden comes through for America, putting country over ego in a way that Donald Trump never could,” he wrote.
In another statement, Biden announced his endorsement for Vice President Kamala Harris. Though Doggett didn’t mention Harris, he said that “Now we must move forward to offer a nominee, who can win over disaffected voters and energize Democrats.”
U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, also praised Biden’s decision.
“I thank President Joe Biden for his service and his willingness to put country before self. It’s something we need more of in our politics,” he wrote on X/twitter. “My sincere hope is that this moment brings our nation one step closer to healing, uniting and fixing our broken politics.”
After Biden’s disastrous debate against Donald Trump, numerous Democrats began calling for Biden’s withdrawal, but Allred was one of the few who didn’t comment at all.
Allred is trying to unseat Ted Cruz in the Senate race, and some experts have said it’s better for him to distance himself from Biden if he wants to win. Now, with the president’s decision, Allred could move more freely and focus on Cruz.
However, other Democrats said the party had turned its back on Biden.
“Some folks really treated Joe Biden, the President of the United States, like dirt & turned on him after all he and the Vice President did,” State Rep. Armando Walle, D-Houston, wrote in a post on Twitter/X. “Stabilizing economy. Record jobs. Of course we still have issues to tackle but the record of accomplishment is uncontested. May Jesus Christ bless you, Mr. President.”
Republicans, meanwhile, saw Biden’s decision as a victory for Trump.
“It looks more and more like that very early debate was a set up to force Biden to step aside,” Gov. Greg Abbott wrote. “Today’s announcement may not have happened without that disastrous debate.”
Despite some criticism, the overall reaction in Texas to Biden’s withdrawal from the race is that it was “a stunning act of patriotism.” But what do you think? Did President Biden make the right decision?
