Iowa Democrats react with relief and sadness as Joe Biden ends his 2024 candidacy

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Democrats in Iowa reacted with a mixture of relief and sadness when President Joe Biden announced he would end his campaign for a second term in the White House. The historic development felt both inevitable and shocking.

Bill Brauch, chairman of the Polk County Democratic Party, said Sunday he was “relieved and not surprised” by the president’s decision.

“I’m disappointed that the president’s health wasn’t good enough to serve another term, because I think he’s been the best president of my lifetime and has done a fantastic job,” Brauch said. “… I’m relieved, because I think it would have been extremely difficult for Joe Biden to win this election. And I’m also relieved, (because) I think we have a chance to defeat Trump again.”

Biden made the announcement from his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where he has been in self-isolation since testing positive for COVID-19 on Thursday night.

“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President,” Biden said in a letter to Americans. “And while it was my intention to be re-elected, I believe it is in the best interests of my party and our country to step down and focus the remainder of my term solely on my duties as President.”

There have been calls for Biden to be sidelined for weeks, since his disastrous performance in the debate against Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump on June 27.

During that debate, Biden appeared weak and confused, his speech slurred and pausing mid-sentence.

John Norris, Polk County executive who led the Iowa presidential campaigns for Jesse Jackson and John Kerry, said Biden’s performance during the debates was “painful.” He told the Des Moines Register on Sunday that he believes Biden’s decision to step aside is for the best.

“I think it’s best for Joe Biden. I think it’s best for the Democratic Party, and it’s best for the country,” Norris said. “This gives us an opportunity to really give voters an alternative to Donald Trump that doesn’t have the question marks that surrounded the president.”

Shortly after his announcement on Sunday, Biden also publicly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to take his place at the top of the list.

Biden’s performance at the July debate stood in stark contrast to Biden’s heavy campaigning for the presidential nomination during the 2020 Iowa caucuses.

That year, Biden won the support of many of Iowa’s top Democratic officials, including Sen. Pam Jochum of Dubuque, then-U.S. Reps. Cindy Axne and Abby Finkenauer, and former governors Tom Vilsack, who now serves in Biden’s Cabinet as secretary of agriculture, and Chet Culver.

None of those politicians publicly called on Biden to step aside after the debate. But some, like Jochum, offered lukewarm support.

“It’s really up to Joe Biden. The ball is in his court to make that final decision,” Jochum told the Des Moines Register, adding that the Democratic Party needs to come together and refocus its attention on the contrast between Biden’s performance and Trump’s record.

Former U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin was among the first to express serious concerns. In a later-released note to family and friends, he said the debate was “a disaster from which Biden cannot recover.” He said Biden should release his delegates before the convention so the party could choose a new nominee.

Few other elected Democrats followed Harkin.

Two Democratic congressional candidates, Christina Bohannan and Sarah Corkery, both said in statements in July that they believe Biden should resign.

Corkery, the Democratic candidate in northeastern Iowa’s 2nd Congressional district, said Sunday she admired Biden’s willingness to step aside.

“We have to be bold,” she said. “And bold leaders say the truth when they see it. Iowans know the truth. Millions of people saw what they saw and that toothpaste couldn’t go back in the tube. And I’m glad President Biden got some good advice. He’s been a great president. His legacy will live forever and he made the right choice.”

Corkery said she is motivated by Biden’s decision and proud to be a Democrat because it shows the party can adapt.

“Democrats can be nimble, we can change the plan when we know the plan isn’t working, we can unite and rally behind everyone,” she said.

In her July 11 statement calling on Biden to withdraw from the race, she said it was “time for him to pass the baton” to Vice President Kamala Harris. She praised Biden’s decision Sunday to endorse Harris for president.

“She’s the best. She’s the vice president,” Corkery said. “That’s the role, to be ready to go. President Biden said he would never have chosen her if she wasn’t ready on day one, and she was.”

Corkery said she is excited because she believes it is time for a woman to be president.

“It’s time to put a woman in charge,” she said. “So as a woman, I’m glad we have a woman at the top of the ballot.”

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.

Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief political reporter for the Des Moines Register. She also covers the 2024 presidential election for USA TODAY as the senior national campaign correspondent. Reach her at [email protected] or 515-284-8244. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR.

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