New York officials react to Biden dropping reelection bid

New York officials are reacting Sunday after President Joe Biden announced he will not seek reelection.

Biden made the announcement in a letter posted to social media.

“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President,” he wrote. “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 has endorsed his vice president, Kamala Harris, for the Democratic nomination. 

Leaders across New York are reflecting on Biden’s time in office as he becomes the first sitting president to decline to run for reelection since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968.

Gov. Kathy Hochul:

“Joe Biden is an American hero, a true statesman, and he’ll go down in history as one of the greatest champions of working families our nation has ever known. Thank you, Joe Biden.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams:

“America owes a debt of gratitude to President Joe Biden for his decades of service. He and his team took us out of COVID, stabilized the country, and restored the soul of the nation. President Biden is now again delivering for the American people by passing the torch at a critical moment, when the country needs strong leadership from a new generation.”

Sen. Chuck Schumer:

“Joe Biden has not only been a great president and a great legislative leader but he is a truly amazing human being. His decision of course was not easy, but he once again put his country, his party, and our future first. Joe, today shows you are a true patriot and great American.”

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries:

“President Joe Biden is one of the most accomplished and consequential leaders in American history. In less than one term, he rescued the nation from a once-in-a-century pandemic, brought the economy roaring back from the brink of recession, enacted consequential legislation for everyday Americans and saved our democracy by defeating the Insurrectionist-in-Chief.”

Sen. Kirsten Kirsten Gillibrand:

“Thank you President Biden for your decades of public service. I’m so proud of everything we’ve accomplished together — from fighting for health care for veterans exposed to burn pits, to passing historic legislation making gun trafficking a federal crime, to making investments in jobs and infrastructure across New York. It’s been an honor to serve alongside you.”

Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado:

“Thank you President Joe Biden. Thank you for a lifetime of committed service to America. Thank you for your character, your spirit, and your relentless dedication to perfecting our union.”

Attorney General Letitia James:

“President Biden has been an incredible leader for this country, and I am profoundly grateful for all he has done to move us forward during the hardest times. Our nation is for the better because of his decades of service and commitment to uplifting every American.”

State Sen. Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins:

“President Biden has dedicated his life to public service and strengthening the fabric of America. We all owe President Biden our deepest appreciation and gratitude. Moving forward, we in New York stand ready to continue fighting with all our efforts to stop Trump and his terrifying 2025 agenda.”

New York State Democratic Chair Jay Jacobs:

“I admired Joe Biden when he was a United States Senator. I have admired Joe Biden’s decency, honesty, and his demonstrated courage in the face of the most difficult of personal adversities. Joe Biden has been one of our most successful and impactful Presidents – certainly one of the most productive in the past 60 years – and I have admired the job he has done under the most difficult of circumstances.”

Rep. Elise Stefanik:

“If Joe Biden can’t run for reelection, he is unable and unfit to serve as President of the United States. He must immediately resign. The Democrat Party is in absolute free fall for their blatantly corrupt and desperate attempt to cover up the fact that Joe Biden is unfit for office. Every elected Democrat in America owns Joe Biden’s failed and feckless record causing the border crisis, Bidenflation, and chaos and weakness around the world. President Trump will win this November to save America.”

Rev. Al Sharpton:

“When Joe Biden first ran for President, he told me he was motivated by the ugliness of neo-Nazis and Klansmen marching in Charlottesville. As ballots got counted up, it became clear that the majority of Americans shared in his disgust. As Biden went on to triumph over a fascist, racist president bent on using the power of his to benefit nobody but himself, Biden went to work fulfilling his promise to heal our nations soul.”

Rep. Ritchie Torres:

“President Joe Biden’s selfless decision to step aside for a new generation of leadership—Vice President Kamala Harris—is an act of Washingtonian statesmanship.  President Biden leaves behind a transformative legacy that puts him in the pantheon of great presidents among the likes of FDR and LBJ.”

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis:

“For the same reason Joe Biden is unfit to run, he is unfit to continue serving and should resign immediately. Make no mistake, whoever replaces Joe Biden on the ballot will push the same left wing Democrat agenda that is destroying our country and has led to an unprecedented illegal immigration crisis, unsafe and unaffordable cities and record high interest rates, energy costs and food prices.”

Rep. Jerry Nadler:

“Today, I proudly endorse Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for President of the United States. She has been a stellar Attorney General for California, an accomplished U.S. senator, and has been a steadfast partner to Joe Biden.” 

Rep. Mike Lawler:

“Though President Biden and I have not seen eye-to-eye on a number of issues, I recognize his deep commitment to our country, and thank him for his years of service to the nation. During a career that spanned 5 decades, the President committed himself to trying to better the lives of Americans, and while I disagree with his policy proposals, I appreciate his resolve and his sacrifices.”

Rep. Tom Suozzi:

“My heartfelt thanks to President Biden for his years of accomplishments. I will continue working with any one of good faith who genuinely wants to fix the border, to reduce the cost of living, and to help heal the divide in our nation.”

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards:

“Here in Queens, we’ve seen President Biden’s empathy and love of country first hand. In the wake of Hurricane Ida’s destructive flooding that claimed a dozen lives, he not only came to East Elmhurst to mourn with us, but he invested millions of dollars to upgrade our infrastructure. Queens has never had a better friend on the federal level than Joe Biden.”

Rep. Tim Kennedy:

“President Biden has made a choice, like countless ones he has made before, to put the country above himself. We are forever grateful to President Biden for a lifetime of service fighting for families, and leading our country out of the darkness to preserve the soul of our nation.”

Rep. Nick Langworthy:

“If Joe Biden is not fit to run for President, he is not fit to serve as President. I’m calling on him to resign immediately. Democrat Powerbrokers have known for five years how unfit to lead our nation he has been. They, and their media partners, have covered it up and lied about it.”

Rep. Pat Ryan:

“President Biden is a Patriot.  Delivering on his promise to be a bridge to a new generation of leaders is a fitting capstone to a life of selfless service; the entire nation is grateful for all that he’s done for the American people.”

Rep. Joe Morelle:

“President Biden has done what every true leader ought to: put the needs of our country ahead of himself. This difficult decision is an act of true patriotism for the good of our democracy. I am deeply grateful for all he has done to create a better America over the past four years and throughout his lifetime of public service. Thank you, Mr. President.”

Rep. Brandon Williams:

“Joe Biden has announced he will no longer seek a second term, and I wish him well. The challenges of his legacy: high prices, migrant crisis, stronger enemies of America, and a weakened standing in the world will be the challenges of the next Congress and next Administration.”

Rep. Dan Goldman:

“For more than 50 years, President Joe Biden has represented the very best of public service. In the ultimate demonstration of personal sacrifice for the benefit of our country, President Biden has made the difficult but selfless decision to pass the torch to the next generation of leaders in the Democratic Party to ensure that our democracy remains strong and true.”

State Sen. Zellnor Y. Myrie:

“Lady Liberty’s torch has burned brightest when our national leaders have put country over self; when our federal partners have embraced unity, not division; and when our future has held more promise than our past. We thank and honor President Biden’s service as such a leader, and look forward to making Vice President Harris the next President of the United States.”

State Sen. John Liu:

“President Biden’s decision was not an easy one, but it was the right choice to restore hope to our country. Thank you for your service to our nation, Mr. President, and for putting the best interests of our nation first.”

George Gresham, President of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East:

“President Biden and Vice President Harris have led the most pro-worker administration in US history. It is regrettable that with such a stellar record of achievements, there was ever any doubt about President Biden’s ability to lead. Nevertheless, his decision to pass the torch to Vice President Harris reflects his longstanding commitment to putting the American people before personal ambition.”

Brooklyn Councilmember Justin Brannan:

“Joe Biden brought this country back from the brink. His decision today to put America first will only further cement him as one of our nation’s greatest presidents. Selflessness is the mark of a true patriot. As a delegate, I now look forward to nominating Vice President Harris in Chicago next month and delivering a victory for working families from Brooklyn to Bakersfield in November.”

Queens Councilmember Vickie Paladino:

“Biden endorsing Kamala was his way of giving Obama and the DNC the finger for forcing him out. Kamala is the single most toxic figure in American politics. They needed to jettison her. Now they can’t. If she’s the nominee they lose even bigger.”