Iowa Democrats applaud Biden after campaign exit; Republicans call for resignation

Iowa Democrats on Sunday applauded President Joe Biden’s decision to bow out of the presidential race, after weeks of pressure from allies over concerns that he would be unable to beat Donald Trump in November.

Some quickly said they support his endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee, while others, including Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart, said Biden’s endorsement of Harris “speaks volumes,” but did not immediately endorse Harris.

Hart, speaking to reporters Sunday afternoon, said there are still a lot of “process questions” and said she had not yet talked to Iowa delegates.

Leading Iowa Democrats celebrated Biden’s contributions during his presidential term and said his decision was in the best interest of the country.

Most of Iowa’s state-level Democratic leaders had not joined the growing calls for Biden to drop out of the race. Two of the four Democrats running for Congress — Christina Bohannan in the 1st District and Sarah Corkery in the 2nd District — called for his exit earlier this month.

Iowa Republicans, meanwhile, said in statements that Biden should resign from office if he is not up to the task of campaigning.

Iowa Democrats express relief, sadness at Biden exit

Hart thanked Biden for his efforts lowering prescription drug costs, including insulin, and his passage of a bipartisan infrastructure bill.

“I’m personally sad that President Biden has decided he is unable to continue the work that he has started by running for a second term,” Hart said during a Zoom call with reporters. “But I recognize that this action means that Joe is telling us that it’s time for us to finish the job.”

Hart thanked Biden “for the sacrifices that he’s made for our country during his decades-long career serving the American people.”

She rebuffed calls for Biden to resign.

“He’s is doing the job. He has been doing the job,” she said. “He’s been doing a tremendous job through his tenure. Running for office, though, running for the next four years is another question, right?”

In the meantime, Hart said she’s confident that Iowa Democrats “will unite behind a candidate who will defeat Donald Trump this November, and will carry on Joe Biden’s legacy.”

Hart said Biden’s endorsement of Harris “means a great deal,” but stopped short of offering her support for the vice president as the party’s nominee.

“His willingness to put his legacy into Kamala Harris’s hands speaks volumes,” she said. “It speaks volumes about her competency, her experience that she has gained as vice president. And so so that means a great deal. I also am sure that the delegates recognize that this is going to be their decision, their process, but I absolutely think that Iowa Democrats can rally around Kamala Harris as our nominee, but we’re very early in this process. So we will see what happens as the hours and days go by going forward.”

Hart said the Democratic National Convention now becomes an open contest, with delegates responsible for picking a new standard-bearer to challenge Trump in the fall. She said she was not aware of ballot access issues in Iowa for the eventual Democratic nominee.

Regardless of who takes over at the top of the ticket, Hart said her message to Democrats is “keep your eye on the prize.”

“That this is a very important election for the state of Iowa,” she said. “We’ve got great candidates running in these congressional districts. We have terrific candidates running for the Statehouse, for the state senate. We’ve got terrific candidates running for our local offices … and we really need a change here in Iowa.”

Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand, the lone Democrat to hold statewide office in Iowa, called Bidens’ announcement “a shining example of public service over self and a bright opportunity for America to turn the page to the future” in a statement to The Gazette.

Republicans call on Biden to resign

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, said in a statement that whoever is chosen to replace Biden on the ticket will “represent the same failed policies of the last 4 years.” She joined many other Republicans in saying Biden should resign from office based on his decision to end his campaign.

“Donald Trump will be our next President. Until then, if Joe Biden can’t run for re-election, it’s clear he isn’t capable of running the country,” Reynolds said.

Iowa GOP Chair Jeff Kaufmann, along with other top Iowa Republicans, made similar calls for Biden to resign from office. Kaufmann said Biden’s decision to stay in office is “an incredibly dangerous decision to make.”

“Our adversaries now know that America is at a very weak point, with a Commander in Chief who is incapable of governing,” Kaufmann said in a statement. “Biden should do what is right and resign.”

Attorney General Brenna Bird, who last week spoke at the Republican National Convention, attacked Democratic policies and said any replacement for Biden would represent the same goals.

“And no matter who they replace Biden with, they all have to own that record of failure,” Bird said in a social media post. “They all still represent the same extremist agenda that has caused mass illegal immigration, soaring inflation, and a woke green scam.”

Republicans also suggested the decision for Biden to exit the race after the primaries subverted the will of Democratic voters, who overwhelmingly backed Biden in primaries this spring. Bird said the decision “dismantled our primary system.”

“This whole situation was caused by the Democrat elites, big donors and corporate media who just plunged Democracy and their party into complete chaos simply because their candidate was losing in the polls,” Kaufmann said. “Every voter who supported Biden in the Primary election should feel abandoned and betrayed.”

U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who is running for re-election against Democrat Christina Bohannan, said Biden’s exit was a “ historic injustice perpetrated by the Democrats who lecture the country about democracy.”

U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, both Republicans, criticized Democrats’ policy agenda and said a change in nominee would not change voters’ minds.

“A change in candidate doesn’t fool anyone,” Grassley said in a post on X. “Changing horses midstream isn’t going to stop the bad policies +reckless agenda at the top of the Democrat ticket.”

Iowa Democrats weigh in

Other leading Democrats in Iowa expressed their support for Biden’s decision and their determination to press on with the election against Trump.

Iowa House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights, said Biden’s decision was in the best interest of the American people. She praised his presidential record, including record job growth and lower health care costs.

“So many Americans are frustrated and tired of politics these days, and it’s reached a fever pitch this summer. I don’t blame people who just want to tune out,” Konfrst said. “The President’s decision today gives an opportunity to turn the page on this chapter of our history and put people over politics again.”

Iowa Senate Minority Leader Pam Jochum of Dubuque said Biden’s service had been admirable and said Democrats should unite around the goal of beating Trump in November.

“What truly sets the President apart is his heart. Many Iowans, including myself, have heard from Joe personally when tragedy struck our lives. He always made time for people,” Jochum said. “President Biden is a Statesman who has always put our country before himself. I urge all Americans to thank President Biden.”

Iowa DNC member Scott Brennan expressed surprise at Sunday’s announcement from Biden. Brennan said he was disappointed in the pressure campaign on Biden to bow out, but acknowledged the strategic move to ensure a successful November election.

“President Biden has had a very successful presidency, and I just thought that some of the criticism was unfair,” he said. “ … I think he did the right thing in endorsing Vice President Harris. She’s been his partner for the last three plus years, and she would be the logical one to succeed him as at the top of the ticket.”

He said he believes Harris will rally strong support from Democrats due to her partnership with Biden, and that she has an opportunity to reconnect with supporters in the state.

“So now Democrats need to get behind her, and we need to focus on the number one issue, which is having a successful November of 24 election,” Brennan said.

Democrat Christina Bohannan, who is running against incumbent Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, called Biden a “true patriot who puts his country before himself” in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Bohannan, a former state lawmaker and University of Iowa law professor, praised Biden for his “many years of dedicated public service and his steadfast commitment to our democracy.”

Bohannan said she is “energized more than ever to work on the things that matter most” to Iowans, including lowering costs for working families, expanding access to affordable health care, lowering drug prices, supporting public education and “restoring reproductive freedom.”

Cedar Falls Democrat Sarah Corkery, who is running against incumbent Republican Ashley Hinson in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, joined Bohannan in calling on Biden to withdraw.

Corkery, on July 11, called on Biden to “pass the baton to Vice President (Kamala) Harris.”

Speaking with The Gazette on Sunday, Corkery said she supports President Biden’s endorsement of Harris, citing her readiness and ability to unite the party, saying it’s time for a “top-of-the-game” candidate like Harris to lead the ticket.

“If you’re disappointed, be disappointed in a party that put somebody up when they knew President Biden wasn’t in his best form,” Corkery said. “But regardless, I am really proud of President Biden for making this tough call. It was his call to make all along, nobody else could make it. And I think it’s going to show that Democrats can be nimble. Democrats can make a change, even when maybe, in the past, we have gone forward with a plan that didn’t seem like it was going to work.”

Corkery said Kamala Harris’s candidacy presents a fresh start for Democrats.

“So we need to reunite, unite behind Kamala Harris and it’s time for a woman be in charge,” she said.

State Rep. Adam Zabner, a Democrat from Iowa City and a Biden delegate, expressed support for Biden’s endorsement of Kamala Harris, highlighting her leadership on reproductive freedom and abortion access. Zabner also praised Biden’s selflessness, contrasting him with Trump and the GOP.

“I think even without him running for president, the truth is that there will be generations of Americans who benefit from his investments in fighting climate change, in our country’s infrastructure, and, of course, in our democracy,” Zabner told The Gazette. “And I think that this decision putting our democracy ahead of his own ambition to serve our country for four more years is an example of that.”

Zabner said he will be supporting Harris as the party’s nominee.

Bret Nilles, chair of the Linn County Democrats and a Biden delegate, said Biden’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris has sparked surprise and discussion among party members, but he believes most delegates will support Harris at the upcoming convention.

Nilles said he believes Kamala Harris can reinvigorate the campaign and Democrats, citing her momentum running for president in 2020 and her Senate experience. He said Iowa Democrats running in competitive races may benefit from the focus on Harris, as it could generate new interest and attention for the party.

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