The "Squad" of progressive House Democrats is quickly rallying behind Vice President Kamala Harris as President Biden opts out of the 2024 presidential race.
President Biden's bombshell announcement that he will not seek a second term has sent shockwaves through the Democratic Party, and the "Squad" of progressive House Democrats is wasting no time in lining up behind Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor.
The group of young progressives, known for their outspoken criticism of traditional Democratic leadership, is swiftly embracing 81-year-old Biden's chosen successor. Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat, expressed her gratitude for Biden's service and declared her support for Harris as the Democratic nominee.
Biden's Withdrawal Opens Door for Harris as Democrats' 2024 Hopeful
"This was the president’s decision to make and I’m grateful for his years of service to our country. Thrilled to support @KamalaHarris as our Democratic nominee and remain committed to working alongside her to defeat Donald Trump in November," Omar wrote on Twitter.
Similarly, Rep. Jamaal Bowman, a New York Democrat who recently lost his re-election bid, praised Harris as the "most qualified and best choice to lead us forward."
Biden's Withdrawal Opens Door for Harris as Democrats' 2024 Hopeful
"Now that President Biden has suspended his campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris is the most qualified and best choice to lead us forward," Bowman stated on Twitter.
Rep. Cori Bush, a Missouri Democrat facing a challenging re-election bid, echoed her support for Harris, emphasizing the importance of Black women in the Democratic Party.
Biden's Withdrawal Opens Door for Harris as Democrats' 2024 Hopeful
"When we say trust Black women, we mean it. Black women are the backbone of the Democratic Party and it is past time for us to lead our country forward. Kamala Harris is more than ready to lead at this moment," Bush said in a statement.
Notable members of the "Squad," such as Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, have remained silent on the matter as of Sunday afternoon. Tlaib has been a vocal critic of the Biden administration's handling of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Biden's Withdrawal Opens Door for Harris as Democrats' 2024 Hopeful
Ocasio-Cortez, who has supported Biden despite mounting pressure from fellow Democrats to drop out, recently hosted an Instagram live session following former President Trump's speech at the Republican National Convention. She suggested that high-dollar Democratic donors were pressuring Biden to withdraw and expressed skepticism about Harris's potential candidacy.
"I’m here to tell you that a huge amount of the donor class and a huge amount of these elites and a huge amount of these folks in these rooms that I see that are pushing for President Biden to not be the nominee also are not interested in seeing Vice President being the nominee," Ocasio-Cortez said.
Fox News has reached out to Ocasio-Cortez for comment on whether she will endorse Harris.
Biden's decision to step down follows mounting pressure, particularly after his disastrous debate performance against Trump last month. Concerns over his mental and physical fitness to serve another four years have been growing.
In a public letter on Sunday, Biden stated: "It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term."
Biden's withdrawal opens a new chapter in the Democratic Party, with Harris emerging as the frontrunner for the 2024 nomination. The support of the "Squad" provides a significant boost to her campaign and signals a potential shift in the party's direction towards a younger, more progressive leadership.
