Local Legislators React to End of President Biden’s Candidacy
• Local lawmakers rallied behind Vice President Kamala Harris following President Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential election.
State and federal legislators have weighed in on the future Democratic presidential ticket since Sunday, when Biden announced he would not seek reelection and endorsed Harris. In Washington D.C. and on Beacon Hill, elected officials have responded to the news positively, with many following Biden’s lead.
Shortly after the announcement, U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss, the two-term congressman from Newton, took to X, formerly Twitter, to commend Biden. He considers Biden stepping aside an “act of patriotism” and backed Harris in his place.
“Joe Biden is the first president in U.S. history who has had to defend democracy at home & abroad simultaneously. He has done so admirably,” Auchincloss wrote on X. “Thank you for your service, Mr. President. Now let’s win.”
State Sen. Becca Rausch, of Needham, praised Biden’s “five decades of public service” and leadership in office while throwing her support behind Harris.
“As we look ahead to our next chapter, as we continue fighting to restore abortion rights, bolster our economy, protect our environment, and preserve our very democracy, the choice for our presidential nominee is crystal clear: Kamala Harris,” Rausch wrote to supporters and on X on Monday. “I am proud to support her candidacy and will do everything I can to ensure she secures the Democratic Party nomination and the win in November.”
Rausch has since shared posts from Kamala HQ, the X account for the Harris campaign, and encouraged constituents to donate to the campaign.
Massachusetts delegates also endorsed Harris, and the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee supported Harris Wednesday night.
Needham’s Rep. Denise Garlick expressed her intent to be politically involved outside of her Massachusetts district, but she did not comment further.
The three Democratic candidates running for Garlick’s seat — Needham residents Patrick Gatto, Ken Ruetenik and Josh Tarsky — all signaled their support for Biden during a forum hosted by the Charles River Regional Chamber July 16, prior to Biden’s announcement. None of the candidates have released public statements on Biden’s withdrawal.
U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey both backed Harris fiercely. Warren described Biden’s presidency as “transformational” and applauded his “selfless action” of passing the torch before rallying voters behind Harris.
“Kamala has been a ferocious warrior on the issue of abortion, and under Kamala’s leadership, we’re going to get Roe v. Wade back into law of the land,” Warren said in a video posted to X. “But the part that’s fun to think about is when you’re up against a convicted felon, who better than a former prosecutor to take it straight to Donald Trump?”
Markey shared a Harris-themed meme and photos with Harris and Biden in his support both of Biden’s withdrawal from reelection and Harris’s campaign for the White House. Markey called Biden “the greatest climate president in our history” and “a champion for working people.”
His endorsement for Harris came Sunday afternoon.
“Kamala Harris is battle-tested and ready to serve. She will galvanize voters and make history on Election Day,” Markey wrote on X Sunday. “All in for Kamala.”
After gathering delegate support across the country, Harris will likely become the party nominee before the Democratic National Convention next month.
