Illinois politicians react to Biden's decision to drop out of 2024 presidential race
ILLINOIS - Illinois leaders spoke out after President Joe Biden announced Sunday that he will not seek reelection.
The 81-year-old commander-in-chief announced his exit in a letter posted to social media.
His decision follows a lackluster debate performance that kicked off a growing number of calls from fellow Democrats to withdraw. Biden also tested positive for COVID-19 this week.
Several Illinois politicians reacted to the president's announcement to drop out:
Governor JB Pritzker:
"President Joe Biden has dedicated his life in service to this nation, and its citizens are all the better for it. His is a storied political career culminating in one of the most accomplished and effective presidencies of our lifetime. As President of the United States he led us through a recovery from a devastating pandemic and shepherded our economy away from a recession to prosperity. He worked across the aisle to pass some of the most consequential legislation in decades to rebuild our roads and bridges while investing in the infrastructure and jobs of the 21st century. Perhaps most consequentially, President Biden restored dignity to the Oval Office, bringing the statesmanship and honor that have been the hallmarks of his years of service, back to the White House.
"As we extend our gratitude to President Biden and reflect on his many accomplishments, we must not ignore the threat posed by Donald Trump’s potential return to the White House. Donald Trump is a 34 time convicted felon, adjudicated to have committed sexual assault, a racist, homophobe and misogynist. Trump brags about taking away a woman’s right to choose, wants to rip healthcare away from tens of millions of people, proposes economic policies that will cost the middle class thousands of dollars a year, and threatens the fundamental American ideals we hold dear. I will work every day to ensure that he does not win in November."
Senator Dick Durbin:
"Throughout his public career, Joe Biden always put country first. His four years as President made it clear that he was determined to put our country back on track and restore the soul of our nation. America will be forever grateful for all he has given to this country."
RELATED: Biden exiting race sparks massive reaction among politicians, experts and celebs
Senator Tammy Duckworth:
"No one has done more for working Americans than Joe Biden—and so many of us owe him a debt of gratitude for everything he’s done to improve our country.
"Over more than 50 years in public service, he’s built an unparalleled record of accomplishments. From helping write the Violence Against Women Act in the Senate to shepherding the Affordable Care Act into law as Vice President and from helping guide our nation out of a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic to overseeing historic wage and job growth during his Presidency, Joe Biden has always put our country first and worked to change so many aspects of our lives for the better.
"From the bottom of my heart, I thank him for his effective and successful leadership and for, once again, putting our country before himself. This difficult decision ensures that Democrats can focus on the goal that unites each and every one of us: defeating Donald Trump and preventing another four years of his destructive chaos and corruption."
RELATED: Who could replace Biden? A look at Kamala Harris, other front-runners
Illinois Republican Party Chair Kathy Salvi:
"Today's announcement is the culmination of years of lies from the Biden White House and Democrats shaming anyone who questioned the fitness of President Biden. Democrats are divided, torn apart by their own duplicity trying to pass off President Biden's inability to fulfill his role, while Republicans stand united behind President Trump and an agenda of freedom, prosperity, and safety. Democrats have become the party of self-service while Republicans have become the voice of this nation. We as Illinois Republicans must continue to call attention to JB Pritzker's tax-and-spend, pro-criminal agenda that drives families away from this state to protect the rest of the nation."
Democratic Party of Illinois Chair Lisa Hernandez:
"Today, we express our deepest gratitude to President Joe Biden for his unwavering service and dedication to our nation….
"We face a critical moment in our democracy. The stakes could not be higher, and we must stand firm against the threats posed by a potential Trump-Vance presidency. Donald Trump and J.D. Vance represents a return to policies that favor the wealthy, threaten our health care, and undermine our democratic institutions. We must ensure that their regressive and divisive agenda does not prevail.
"The Democratic Party of Illinois is committed to this fight. We will mobilize, organize, and vote to ensure that the Democratic ticket prevails in November."
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson:
"President Biden united the country by defeating Donald Trump in 2020 and Chicago is grateful for his leadership and service. Today, President Biden cemented his legacy as the rare leader who puts the people above himself.
"It is vital for our entire party to come together and support Vice President Kamala Harris. I am proud to give her my full endorsement.
"Vice President Harris is the visionary leader that we need now to defeat the threat of another Trump presidency. She has now proven herself as a fearless defender of our democracy. I look forward to doing everything I can to ensure she becomes our next President."
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle:
"I am deeply grateful for President Biden's unwavering and selfless commitment and service to our country. Cook County, along with this entire nation, is better and stronger because of the power of his effective leadership and policies. President Biden's impact on our nation has been profound, far-reaching and historic.
"Your legacy is already cemented, Mr. President. Thank you, Joe Biden."
Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia:
"President Joe Biden's selfless decision to not seek re-election and prioritize our country's future deserves the highest praise. His tenure has been marked by significant achievements, making him the most impactful President since Franklin D. Roosevelt. His leadership has brought historic investments that will benefit generations.
"As we move forward, it's crucial that we unite behind Vice President Kamala Harris and continue the progress we've made. Defeating the resurgence of Trumpism is essential for the future of our democracy. Thank you, President Biden, for your unwavering dedication and service to our nation."
Rep. Sean Casten:
"President Joe Biden is among the most effective presidents in American history. Over the last four years, Congress has worked hand-in-hand with President Biden to pass the largest investment in climate action ever. Together, we passed a robust infrastructure bill to fix roads and bridges across Illinois. We passed the first gun violence prevention bill in decades. We expanded health coverage for veterans, with more than one million of them using the PACT Act to gain access to the care they need. We returned the United States to the pinnacle of global manufacturing through the CHIPS and Science Act.
"More than anything else, President Biden restored the dignity of the Oval Office and reinforced American leadership abroad. We owe him our thanks and gratitude for his five decades of public service.
"The coming election is a referendum on the future of American democracy. The stakes of this election could not be higher. Donald Trump remains a twice-impeached convicted felon and adjudicated rapist who has promised to be a dictator on day one. Vice President Kamala Harris will beat him this November, and I’m proud to endorse her for President of the United States."
Rep. Brad Schneider:
"Thank you, President Joe Biden.
"Joe Biden has selflessly served our nation with courage, heart and honor. As President, he guided our nation through and out of an unprecedented global pandemic. He passed transformative legislation that has led to our economy becoming the strongest in the world. He lowered costs for families, took on the climate crisis and made our tax code fairer. He rescued our country from a potential despot and restored international confidence in the U.S. as the world’s indispensable nation.
"He put our nation and the American people front and center. Our country is better and our future is brighter due to his leadership.
"Joe Biden has secured his legacy as one of the greatest presidents in our history. Ith as been the honor of a lifetime to service in Congress during his presidency.
"Now, we must come together, build on the legacy of the Biden administration and show voters that Democrats up and down the ballot are improving the lives of all Americans. I'm confident that, with Vice President Kamala Harris at the helm of the Democratic ticket, we can do exactly that. We will defeat Donald Trump."
Rep. Robin Kelly:
"President Biden is one of the most impactful leaders of my lifetime, and he will continue to serve the American people well. In the last four years, President Biden saved our country from a pandemic, brought back our economy better than before, and passed historic legislation for working people. He defeated an extremist in 2020, and I had full confidence that he would do it again. I am heartbroken that he felt he had to step down as the nominee, and many of my constituents feel the same way.
"However, as President Biden said, now is the time to come together. The Democratic Party must unite behind Vice President Kamala Harris as the nominee. Together, we will beat Trump."
Rep. Mike Quigley:
"President Joe Biden has been one of the most successful presidents of our lifetime. He led our nation out of the darkness of Jan. 6, oversaw our nation's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, signed into law the first gun violence prevention legislation in over 30 years, and fulfilled the promises of previous presidents by passing bipartisan infrastructure legislation. Throughout his lifetime of service, he has always put our country first.
"Today, President Biden secured his legacy by making this difficult, selfless decision. We owe him an incredible debt of gratitude."
Rep. Delia Ramirez:
"We must defeat Donald Trump. VP Kamala Harris is the proven, qualified leader ready to move our country forward. She has my endorsement. I look forward to working with her to realize a permanent ceasefire, immigration reform, and a bold agenda that centers working families.
"We must unite to defeat Project 2025 and Donald Trump’s extremist and hateful agenda. A second Trump presidency is an existential threat and we must do everything in our power to protect our democratic institutions.
"President Biden has led us through some of our darkest times. He is a statesman that has put our country and democracy first. I thank him for having the courage to do so again today."
Rep. Darin LaHood:
"For the past four years, the American people have faced record-high inflation, a border crisis impacting every community, and the effects of weak leadership on the global stage. It's been clear that President Biden cannot serve four more years, but serious concerns remain about whether he can fulfill his duty over the next four months. No matter who the Democrat Party installs in Chicago next month, Americans are not buying the open-border, soft-on-crime, and out-of-touch policies they are selling."
Rep. La Shawn K. Ford:
"As a pledged delegate for the Biden-Harris campaign, I want to express my appreciation for President Biden's steadfast commitment to public service and his legacy of prioritizing the nation over politics.
"As we now sit just three months away from the General election, our country is at a critical juncture. We must now unite and ensure that our leaders remain dedicated to unity and progress all while remaining focused on continuing to improve the lives of the American people.
"I strongly believe that the upcoming ticket will uphold these values and will lead us to a resounding victory over Donald Trump, and once again show our commitment to ensuring a brighter and more inclusive future for all Americans."
Rep. Nikki Budzinski:
"Joe Biden has been the most productive and consequential president of my lifetime. His leadership has allowed us to deliver historic investments to communities in Central and Southern Illinois that will benefit working people for generations to come. I thank him for his lifetime of public service and for putting our country first as he passes the baton to Vice President Harris. It’s time that we come together and defeat Donald Trump in November."
Rep. Lauren Underwood:
"President Joe Biden has always put the American people first. His legacy is one of extraordinary progress to lower health care costs, expand access to affordable health care coverage, tackle the maternal health crisis and lower the cost of prescription drugs. As a registered nurse and public health expert, I have been enormously proud to partner with President Biden because he has always shown an unwavering commitment to the well-being of the American people. His selfless announcement today is consistent with his lifetime of public service – he loves our country and will always do what's best to defend our democracy. Thank you, President Biden, for your determination, your resilience and your profound dedication to making America a better place for all.
"I wholeheartedly endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for President of the United States. She is an experienced and capable leader who will unite the American people and lead our nation towards a brighter future. As the daughter of immigrants and an HBCU graduate, her story is uniquely American. Vice President Harris represents the very best of us. She is my sorority sister and I remain enormously proud of our continued work together to pass the Momnibus and end America's maternal health crisis.
"Kamala Harris will be an excellent President and she has my complete support."
Chicago Federation of Labor President Bob Reiter:
"I respect President Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 Presidential Election. It has been my honor to serve two times as a Biden delegate. President Biden continues to be the most remarkable president for working people & members of the Chicago Federation of Labor and AFL-CIO. History will look back at President Biden as one of the greatest statesman of our time and the fiercest fighter for workers’ rights."