President Joe Biden says in a social media post that he is withdrawing from his reelection bid against Donald Trump. The announcement Sunday upends the dynamics of the presidential election after a debate performance that prompted many rank-and-file lawmakers to urge him to withdraw from the race. He endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor. The president said he will address the American people later this week “in more detail about my decision.”
Here’s how Illinois lawmakers are responding to the news:
“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.”