As Joe Biden ends reelection bid, Iowa Democrats voice relief, sadness; call him courageous
Iowa Democrats reacted with a mixture of relief, sadness and praise as President Joe Biden announced he would end his campaign for a second term in the White House, a historic development that at once felt both shocking and inevitable.
Many applauded him for doing what they said is the right thing for the country.
Former U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, who was among those initially calling on Biden to step aside, on Sunday congratulated him for "taking this courageous and unselfish step."
"He has been not only a great president, but also a great public servant for almost 50 years," Harkin said. "I believe the Democrats will get very excited, and I believe it's going to be a very spirited campaign."
Polk County Democratic Party Chair Bill Brauch said Sunday he is "relieved and not surprised" by the president's decision.
"I feel disappointed that the president's health was not sufficient to serve another term, because I think he's been the best president of my life and has done a superb job," Brauch said. "… I'm relieved, because I think it would have been extremely difficult for Joe Biden to win this election. And I'm also relieved, (because) I think we will have an opportunity to defeat Trump once again."
Biden made the announcement from his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where he has self-isolated since testing positive for COVID-19 Thursday night.
"It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President," Biden said in a letter addressed to Americans. "And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and my country for me to stand down and to focus solely on my duties as president for the rest of my term."
Shortly after his announcement Sunday, Biden also publicly endorsed his vice president, Kamala Harris, to take his place at the top of the ticket.
Iowa's delegates to next month's Democratic National Convention were scheduled to hold a virtual meeting Monday night to discuss who they are supporting with Biden off the ticket. Several delegates said they are excited to support Harris, who Biden endorsed Sunday.
The drumbeat of calls for Biden to step aside had been sounding for weeks, ever since his disastrous debate performance against Republican candidate and former president Donald Trump on June 27.
In that debate, Biden appeared frail and confused, stumbling through sentences and trailing off mid-sentence.
Polk County administrator John Norris, who led Iowa presidential campaigns for Jesse Jackson and John Kerry, said Biden's debate performance was "painful." He told the Des Moines Register Sunday he thinks Biden's decision to step aside is for the best.
"I think it's the best thing for Joe Biden. I think it's the best thing for the Democratic Party, and it's the best thing for the country," Norris said. "This gives us a chance to really offer voters an alternative to Donald Trump that doesn't have the question marks that were surrounding the president."
Iowa Democrats heaped praise on Biden for making a difficult but important decision.
"This is a shining example of public service over self and a bright opportunity for America to turn the page to the future," Auditor Rob Sand, Iowa's lone statewide elected Democrat, said in a text message Sunday.
Former Iowa Democratic Party Chair Sue Dvorksy said she believes Biden made the right choice and emphasized that she feels "remarkable gratitude for who he is and what he has done for this country."
"I believe that Joe Biden has spent an entire career doing what, in his view and in his heart, was the best thing that he could do for America at the time," Dvorksy said. "And I think he did that today. And I think it was brave, and I think it was patriotic. And it does not surprise me that he was brave and patriotic. He has been a remarkable president."
After debate, most Iowa Democrats initially stood by Biden
Biden's appearance in the June debate stood in sharp contrast with the Biden who campaigned heavily for the presidential nomination throughout Iowa’s 2020 Democratic caucuses.
That year, Biden earned the endorsement of many of Iowa’s top Democratic officials, including state Sen. Pam Jochum of Dubuque, then-U.S. Reps. Cindy Axne and Abby Finkenauer, and former governors Tom Vilsack, who now serves in Biden’s Cabinet as secretary of agriculture, and Chet Culver.
None of those politicians publicly called on Biden to step aside following the debate. But some, like Jochum, offered lukewarm support.
"It really is up to Joe Biden. The ball is in his court to make that final decision," Jochum told the Des Moines Register, adding that the Democratic Party needs to come together and refocus its attention on contrasting Biden's accomplishments with Trump's record.
Harkin was among the first to voice grave concerns after the debate, saying in a note to family and friends that was later publicly released that the debate was “a disaster from which Biden cannot recover.” He said Biden should release his delegates ahead of the convention so the party could choose a new nominee.
But few elected Democrats followed behind him.
Two Democratic congressional candidates, Christina Bohannan and Sarah Corkery, both said in July statements they believed Biden should step aside.
Corkery, the Democratic nominee in northeast Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, said Sunday she admired Biden’s willingness to do so.
“We have to be bold,” she said. “And bold leaders call the truth when they see it. Iowans know the truth. Millions of people saw what they saw, and that toothpaste could not be put back in the tube. And I’m glad that President Biden got good counsel. He’s been an amazing president. His legacy will live on forever and he made the right choice.”
Corkery said she’s energized by Biden’s decision and proud to be a Democrat because it shows that the party can adapt.
“Democrats can be nimble, we can change the plan when we know the plan’s not working, we can reunite and align behind anybody,” she said.
In a statement Sunday, Jochum thanked Biden for all that he's done for American workers and their families.
"What truly sets the president apart is his heart," she said. "Many Iowans, including myself, have heard from Joe personally when tragedy struck our lives. He always made time for people. President Biden is a statesman who has always put our country before himself. I urge all Americans to thank President Biden. Now, more than ever, it’s crucial for Democrats to come together in our quest to defeat Donald Trump this November.”
More: 'I had to turn the loss into purpose': How Joe Biden shares Iowans' grief on the campaign trail
State's Democrats quickly focus on the election ahead
Jennifer Konfrst, Iowa House minority leader, praised President Biden as someone who "has always done what’s best for the American people, and his decision today is just the latest example."
But she quickly pivoted to issues troubling Americans and the opportunity posed by the presidential race.
"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 Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart told reporters that she's confident Democrats will unite behind a candidate and continue Biden's legacy.
"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," she said. "But I recognize that this action means that Joe is telling us that it's time for us to finish the job."
Some Iowa Democrats excited about the prospect of a Kamala Harris nomination
Hart said the democratic process still needs to play out, but she believes Harris would be more than qualified to lead the Democratic ticket in November.
"(Biden's) willingness to put his legacy into Kamala Harris' hands speaks volumes," Hart said. "It speaks volumes about her competency, her experience that she has gained as vice president. And 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."
In her July 11 statement calling for Biden to drop out of the race, Corkery said it was “time for him to pass the baton to Vice President Kamala Harris." She praised Biden’s decision Sunday to endorse Harris for the presidency.
“She is the best one. She is the vice president,” Corkery said. “That is the role is to be ready to step up. President Biden said he would have never picked her if she wasn’t ready on day one, and she has been.”
Corkery said she’s excited because she believes it’s time for a woman to be president.
“It’s time to put a woman in charge,” she said. “So as a woman I’m thrilled that we will have a woman at the top of the ballot.”
Dvorsky, who was one of Harris' biggest Iowa endorsers, along with her husband, said she's excited to bring out all of her Kamala Harris caucus gear and get behind her 100%.
"I know where the Kamala Harris shirts are. They are fresh. They are laundered. They're ready," Dvorsky said. "We have a yard sign that will be up in the front yard very, very shortly, and already the picture of it is on my Facebook page. So we're ready to go. We're thrilled."
She said she believes the base of the party will begin to coalesce around Harris given the stakes of the election.
"I don't think a single one of the top tier candidates is going to go into Chicago with the idea that this is a good time to create chaos with what we're up against," she said. "I absolutely believe that the base of this party is going to get behind the vice president of the country."
Rob Johnson, a state House candidate who worked with Harris' 2020 Iowa presidential campaign, said he's confident in Harris' ability to lead.
"I have full confidence that after the years of her serving and doing what she's done to even just become the vice president, to even just get there … I believe she will have the full support of the Democratic Party," he said. "And I believe she will be able to sway a lot of people who may be on the fence as well."
Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.
Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register. She is also covering the 2024 presidential race for USA TODAY as a senior national campaign correspondent. Reach her at [email protected] or 515-284-8244. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Democrats react with relief, sadness as Joe Biden ends 2024 bid