Georgia political figures, voting rights groups rally around Vice President Kamala Harris
In the aftermath of President Joe Biden announcing that he will seek a second term, speculation about who might replace the president on the head of the ticket quickly began to circulate.
In Georgia, a crucial swing state that Biden barely won in 2020, securing a 49.47% plurality of the vote over Trump's 49.24%, all eyes are now on Vice President Kamala Harris, who is expected to take over the ticket.
Harris has made the Peach State a frequent destination on the campaign trail, visiting five times since the beginning of 2024, and if nominated, she would be the first Black woman to head a major party's presidential ticket in American history.
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Stacey Abrams, the former gubernatorial candidate whose nonprofit organization Fair Fight mobilized more than 800,000 new voters ahead of the 2020 election, was one of the first figures to publicly react to Biden’s announcement that he was stepping down from the race. Though she declined to name a specific candidate, Abrams urged Democratic voters to rally behind Biden’s replacement — whoever that replacement may be.
“Now, more than ever, we must not only unite to ensure that Donald Trump does not return to the White House — we must champion a vibrant vision for our next American chapter,” Abrams said in a statement on X. “It is our responsibility to lift every voice and pick up the mantle and fight for justice, equality and democracy.”
More: Read President Joe Biden's full statement as he drops out of 2024 presidential race
Lauren Groh-Wargo, the CEO of Fair Fight, also issued a statement responding to Biden/s announcement.
This a high-stakes, unprecedented (and) chaotic time,” she said in a statement. “While our Party works things out with President Biden's decision not to run, what's certain is we're fighting a massive threat to our democracy, each of our futures, and to our freedoms.”
“I'm thankful for all President Biden has done — he's a leader who puts his country first and his legislative accomplishments will pay dividends well into the future,” Groh-Wargo added. “I'm excited to see Vice President Harris take the lead and our Party to come together and win this fall.”
Gloria Butler, the Georgia Senate minority leader who announced her retirement earlier this year, issued a statement on behalf of the Georgia Senate Democrats declaring their support for Harris’ candidacy.
“Following Joe’s example, we too will persevere,” she said. “We will elect Kamala Harris this November.”
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Leading Georgia figures rally around Vice President Kamala Harris
