Sen. Mark Kelly being vetted by Harris campaign as possible running mate: Updates
Corrections & Clarifications: An earlier version of this article incorrectly attributed a quote from U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva to U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton.
President Joe Biden ended his bid for reelection Sunday and offered his "full support and endorsement" to Kamala Harris to be the Democratic Party nominee.
The move puts the Democrats in uncharted territory one week after an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee. Will the Democrats coalesce around Harris? Who will be her vice-presidential nominee? What will this mean for battleground state Arizona?
U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly's name has been floated as a possibility. The senator from Arizona, husband to former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, had supported the Biden-Harris ticket and not withdrawn his support from the president.
Follow updates from Arizona Republic and USA Today Network reporters here.
Harris campaign vetting Sen. Mark Kelly for veep
Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., is among the elected officials asked to submit background materials for vetting as a possible running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris.
Kelly's name started gaining momentum as a possible vice-presidential candidate even before President Joe Biden's shock announcement Sunday that he was bowing out of the presidential race.
USA TODAY reported Tuesday that North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and former Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-La., to turn in financial and biographical details.
— Republic staff
Kamala Harris secures votes needed to become Democratic nominee
Vice President Kamala Harris successfully moved Monday to shore up the support she needed to secure the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination, potentially avoiding a bitter internal party dispute one day after President Joe Biden announced he's backing out of his own White House campaign.
A USA TODAY count of delegates shows the 59-year-old Harris has secured endorsements in excess of the 1,976 delegates needed to become the party's nominee in the first round of voting. There are 3,936 Democratic delegates in total, including former presidents, state and local party leaders, members of Congress and governors, but only about half get to vote in the first round.
California's delegates put Harris over the top Monday evening when they voted unanimously to back the state's former U.S. Senator for president. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for the vote.
"Tonight, I am proud to have secured the broad support needed to become our party’s nominee, and as a daughter of California, I am proud that my home state’s delegation helped put our campaign over the top," Harris said in a late-night statement Monday. "I look forward to formally accepting the nomination soon."
She expressed thanks to Biden and others in the Democratic party who support her.
"I look forward to taking our case directly to the American people," Harris said. "This election will present a clear choice between two different visions. Donald Trump wants to take our country back to a time before many of us had full freedoms and equal rights. I believe in a future that strengthens our democracy, protects reproductive freedom and ensures every person has the opportunity to not just get by, but to get ahead."
— USA TODAY
Latino groups weigh in on Biden dropping out, Harris candidacy
PoderLatinx, an organization that aims to build political power among the Latinx community, released a nonpartisan statement Sunday thanking President Joe Biden for making progress on issues that were in line with Poder Latinx mission. The organization used the announcement to encourage Latinos to be active voters.
“Our voices and our votes are more important than ever. We have the power and responsibility to shape the future of our country and ensure that our concerns, dreams, and aspirations are represented and respected,” said Yadira Sanchez, Poder Latinx executive director.
The statement urges Latinos to get their community involved on the ballot, not just for the presidency, but for “officials at all levels”.
Latino Victory, an organization that helps to ensure the Latino community’s values are reflected in government, endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president and thanked the Biden-Harris administration for its work, including Biden’s recent parole-in-place.
“Vice President Harris represents the best of our American values, as the daughter of immigrants who shattered a glass ceiling for women. … (She) listens to the Latino community, she cares about us and will continue to have our backs,” said Sindy M. Benavides, Latino Victory president & CEO.
Voto Latino, an organization aimed at educating and empowering Latino voters, endorsed Harris along with news that it was committing $44 million to a Latino registration and turnout campaign, which the group said was the largest of its kind.
“The Vice President has been a longtime friend of Voto Latino since our inception 20 years ago. She has been a supporter, a counselor, and a proponent of equal rights for the most marginalized among us, demonstrating that she will be the President for all Americans,” said Maria Tersa Kumar, co-founder and president of Voto Latino.
Voto Latino thanked Biden for the work throughout his presidency that it said helped Latinos and their families prosper. The group also reminded the Latino community of the difference between Biden’s presidency and Trump's.“If Trump returns to the White House, he’ll execute his anti-democracy and extreme platform. He will continue dehumanizing immigrants and will deploy our military to round up people who they deem look undocumented,” Kumar said.
— Erick Trevino
Harris campaign to hold Arizona event with Dolores Huerta
Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign will hold an Arizona event on Thursday with Dolores Huerta, a legendary labor leader and civil rights activist who co-founded the United Farmworkers Association with Cesar Chavez.
“There will be free tacos, music, great speakers, and Harris Merch,” according to an invitation obtained by The Republic. It wasn’t immediately clear where the event would take place.
The invitation includes the new Harris campaign logo, which says “Let’s WIN this” in red and blue script. Harris has a years-long relationship with Huerta. The vice president called the labor leader a “dear friend” when wishing her a happy 94th birthday earlier this year, and Huerta was an early endorser and California co-chair of Harris’ presidential campaign in 2019.
The event marks one of the campaign’s first gatherings since President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid and endorsed Harris. The Harris campaign will be staffed by many of the same people who were working for Biden, it said Monday, and the Arizona operation has largely remained in place.
Huerta’s visit also comes as Democrats say they need to work harder to appeal to working people in Arizona. A top union boss spoke at the Republican National Convention last week, which raised some eyebrows on the left.
— Stephanie Murray
US Senate Republican campaign arm hits Harris
The National Republican Senate Committee, the fundraising arm for U.S. Senate Republicans, released a messaging memo to candidates Monday titled: "Harris creates strong down-ballot opportunity."
The group argues that the case against Biden — that he was "mentally unfit to hold office" — didn't work well against down-ballot Democrats. But Harris "owns the Biden Administration's baggage," they write, making her "arguably a bigger threat to Democrats' Senate majority than Joe Biden."
The memo details Harris' policy positions and concludes with a section titled "weird," including noting that she laughs at "inappropriate moments" and loves Venn diagrams.
— Riley Beggin
‘I’m watching you, kid,’ Biden tells Harris as she takes over campaign
President Joe Biden dropped in by conference call as Vice President Kamala Harris met with her full campaign staff Monday evening for the first time since taking the torch from Biden as the likely Democratic presidential nominee
“I watching you, kid. I’m watching you, kid. I love ya,” Biden told Harris before she delivered remarks to her campaign staff – which was previously Biden’s campaign staff – at the campaign’s headquarters in Wilmington. Del.
In remarks that lasted about 20 minutes, Harris praised Biden’s accomplishments as “unmatched in modern history.”
“I know it's been a rollercoaster, and we're all filled with so many mixed emotions about this,” Harris said. “I just have to say: I love Joe Biden. I love Joe Biden.”
Harris announced that she retained Jen O’Malley Dillon, who served as chair of the Biden campaign, to lead her presidential campaign. She said Biden’s campaign manager, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, will remain in her role as well.
— Joey Garrison
Here's what US Sen. Mark Kelly has been doing as VP talk heats up
All those rumored to be in the running for a revised Democratic presidential ticket headed by Vice President Kamala Harris kept relatively low profiles on Sunday.
For U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., that was a little easier than for the governors also mentioned as possible picks.
Kelly has been part of a congressional delegation visiting England. While there, he met the United Kingdom’s new prime minister, Kier Starmer, and attended the Farnborough International Airshow, an annual aerospace, aviation and military conference.
It was the second visit with a head of state in as many weeks for Kelly. Last week he also met Mexico’s outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum.
Such visits are hardly surprising for Kelly. He has traveled to war zones like Israel and Ukraine and met with Taiwan’s president, who is a source of tense relations with mainland China. Kelly is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a veteran combat pilot and astronaut, so military-related airshows are not new for him.
Kelly’s visit to the U.K. was planned long before President Joe Biden shook up American politics with his decision Sunday to exit the race and endorsed Harris to succeed him.
— Ronald J. Hansen
Harris fundraising boom continues, campaign says
The Harris campaign announced $81 million in donations in the 24 hours since the vice president announced her bid on Sunday.
This number includes money raised through the campaign, the Democratic National Committee and joint fundraising committees.
“The historic outpouring of support for Vice President Harris represents exactly the kind of grassroots energy and enthusiasm that wins elections,” Kevin Munoz, campaign spokesperson, said in a statement.
Along with Democratic lawmakers, major donors had raised concerns about Biden following his debate performance and threatened to withhold their financial support if the president continued toward the nomination.
— Savannah Kuchar
State, county Democratic leaders unanimously back Kamala Harris
The Arizona Democratic Party’s top brass are unanimously supporting Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s nominee, the group said Monday.
“We are united behind Vice President Kamala Harris because our democracy is on the line, and we will work around the clock to ensure she defeats Donald Trump once and for all in November,” state party chair Yolanda Bejarano said in a letter signed by more than two dozen Arizona Democrats.
President Joe Biden’s decision to end his campaign Sunday set off a national scramble to get in line behind a new presidential candidate ahead of the Democratic National Convention next month. The party’s job was made easier when Harris’ would-be opponents opted to endorse her rather than offer themselves as candidates at a contested convention.
The Arizona Democratic Party Executive Board and the party’s county chairs unanimously pledged their support to Harris in a letter, praising Biden and saying “we are firm in our unequivocal endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris.”
Behind the scenes, DNC delegates from around the state have been calling one another to shore up support for Harris, Biden’s chosen candidate and former running mate. Delegates in New Hampshire, North Carolina and several other states have already declared their unanimous support for the vice president, and Democrats in Arizona say they’re on track to do the same.
— Stephanie Murray
Who is Mark Kelly? All about the U.S. senator from Arizona
He has been in the Senate since the 2020 elections and is a man whose life story seems to have several elements that would be the biggest part of most people’s biography. He was a Navy combat pilot. He was an astronaut. So was his twin brother, Scott. His wife survived being shot in the head. He is the author of several books and one of the wealthier members of the Senate.
Kelly is married to former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz.
They met on a U.S.-China trade mission in 2003 and were married in 2007.
At the time of their wedding, Kelly was still an astronaut and Giffords, a Tucson native who had been a state lawmaker, was a freshman in Congress.
On Jan. 8, 2011, she was shot in the head at a constituent event near Tucson by a man with paranoid schizophrenia. Six people died and 12 others besides Giffords were wounded.
Afterward, Kelly and Giffords formed an organization now called Giffords that advocates for what they describe as common-sense gun regulations.
Kelly emerged as a national spokesperson on the issue for years ahead of his career in politics. Giffords resigned her seat in Congress in 2012.
Kelly's first marriage ended in divorce after 15 years. He has two adult daughters.
— Ronald J. Hansen
A Harris-Kelly team? They hit the campaign trail once already
Democrats pondering a possible presidential ticket headed by Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly can rewind to a campaign event last month where they appeared together.
It happened in Las Vegas and came the day after President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance startled the nation.
As it turned out, Kelly, D-Ariz., took the same stage as Harris to urge Nevadans to support the Biden-Harris ticket and reelect U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev.
Kelly displayed a willingness to talk tough — he referred to former President Donald Trump as "a convicted criminal" — and to invoke the 2011 attempted assassination of his wife, former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., to make a point about current policy choices.
It was a reminder of Kelly’s usually relaxed campaign demeanor, sprinkling his remarkable biography with sharp partisan barbs.
— Ronald J. Hansen
Kamala Harris quickly securing votes to become Democratic nominee
A USA TODAY count of delegates shows 59-year-old Vice President Kamala Harris is more than 40% of the way to the 1,968 delegates needed to become the party's nominee in the first round of voting. There are 3,936 Democratic delegates in total, including former presidents, state and local party leaders, members of Congress and governors.
After announcing Sunday afternoon that he no longer sought the nomination, 81-year-old President Joe Biden endorsed Harris, a move that likely inspired delegates pledged to him to endorse her.
It will ultimately be up to the delegates to pick the nominee, but it remains unclear whether that decision will come by a remote roll call vote early next month as was originally planned by the party or at the Democratic National Convention that's scheduled to run August 19-22 in Chicago.
— Sarah D. Wire and Sudiksha Kochi
Could Kamala Harris defeat Donald Trump in swing state Arizona?
Could Vice President Kamala Harris do better at the top of the ticket?
Arizona Democrats are asking themselves that question as they scramble to line up behind a new nominee a mere 29 days before their party’s national convention. Biden endorsed Harris on Sunday when he quit the race, encouraging the party to unite behind her ahead of the November election.
It won’t be easy, but Harris could pull it off, said Chuck Coughlin, a longtime Republican strategist in Arizona who left the party during the Trump era.
“It's like you're in the middle of a Simone Biles double backflip twist and you're gonna have to land it coming out of Chicago, and there's a lot of moving pieces,” Coughlin said. “She's been living in Biden’s shadow for so long, I think it's easy to underestimate her."
Political watchers in Arizona say Harris could reinvigorate the apathetic voters who have said for months that they don’t like any of their presidential options, and that she has a strong message on abortion rights that will resonate here. But Harris also runs the risk of inheriting the Biden administration’s bad reputation on immigration, a big issue in the border state.
“Is anything going to be invigorating enough for Democrats, young Democrats in particular, to come out and vote?” said Stacy Pearson, an Arizona Democratic strategist. “The answer to that is yes. Kamala Harris can win when young Democrats are energized. So we've now solved the apathy problem. Now we're going to get into the issues.”
— Stephanie Murray
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs endorses Kamala Harris
Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs on Monday backed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the party’s nominee for the White House.
“As the last few weeks have made clear, Americans are looking for a new generation of leadership that will move past the divisiveness and unite us around our shared American values,” Hobbs wrote from her campaign account on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
“I believe that leader is Vice President Harris, and I look forward to working with her to lower costs for Arizonans, restore reproductive freedom, and defend our democratic rights.”
Hobbs joined other Democratic governors in conversations airing concerns about President Joe Biden following his feeble performance in a debate earlier this month. But she has said she believed Biden could serve another four years in office. She did acknowledge that voters might have concerns about the octogenarian president’s age, however.
On Sunday, after Biden announced he would leave the race and endorsed Harris, Hobbs said Biden was “the embodiment of a public servant.
“Throughout his career, he has led with integrity, selflessness, and unparalleled empathy,” Hobbs’ campaign posted on social media. “His decision today is a clear reflection of these qualities and his commitment to putting the American people first.”
— Stacey Barchenger
Pelosi backs Harris as the vice president locks up congressional support
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., endorsed Kamala Harris on Monday as she continues to pick up key support from Democratic lawmakers.
“Today, it is with immense pride and limitless optimism for our country’s future that I endorse Vice President Kamala Harris,” Pelosi said in a statement. “My enthusiastic support for Kamala Harris for president is official, personal and political.”
Pelosi played a key role in Biden’s eventual exit from the race. The former speaker served as a sounding board for Democratic lawmakers who were concerned with Biden’s campaign. Her comments on Biden that were hardly enthusiastic endorsements of Biden over the past weeks gave the green light to Democrats to publicly come out against the president.
– Ken Tran
Biden's decision to drop out caught networks by surprise
"Given the brevity of the time we have between now and the election in November, this is without a doubt an absolute earthquake for Democrats," Kevin Corke said on Fox News. No doubt, especially since, in recent days — in recent hours, even — it seemed as if the president, in defiance of several reports, was newly determined to stay in the race.
Where were we 15 minutes ago, correspondent Alex Marquardt asked CNN reporter Priscilla Alvarez.
"Where we were is that the campaign, his allies, had said he was staying in this race," Alvarez said. "That's what we were hearing over the course of the morning."
Selena Wang reported Sunday on ABC News, "As late as last night I was talking to my sources, these Biden aides who are close to the President, saying the President was still angry and upset, that he felt betrayed by some of his closest allies who had turned against him, that he was still digging his heels in."
Mary Bruce on ABC News echoed Wang's reporting, even repeating some of the language: "Just a couple hours ago some of the President’s allies were out on the Sunday talk shows saying he was all in, that he wasn’t going anywhere. They were digging in."
It was the second weekend in a row a huge story pressed the media into action on short notice. An assassination attempt on Trump on July 13, a couple of days before the Republican National Convention, was another huge story — but that one was a complete surprise.
Biden's decision was less so, which is doubtless why much of the coverage quickly shifted to what's next.
— Bill Goodykoontz
In first remarks since launching campaign, Kamala Harris pays tribute to Joe Biden, Beau Biden
In her first public remarks since she became the de facto presumptive Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris payed tribute to Joe Biden and his son, Beau Biden.
"Joe Biden's legacy of accomplishment over the past three years is unmatched in modern history. In one term, he has already surpassed the legacy of most presidents who have served two terms in office," Harris said during an NCAA event at the White House.
Said she first met Joe Biden through his son Beau Biden. Beau Biden was the attorney general of Delaware while Harris served in the same role in California. Beau Biden died from brain cancer in 2015.
"Back then, Beau would often tell me stories about his dad. He would talk about the kind of father and the kind of man that Joe Biden is," Harris said. "The qualities that Beau revered in his father are the same qualities that I have seen every day in our president. His honesty, his integrity, his commitment to his faith and his family. His big heart and his deep love of our country."
— Marina Pitofsky
Biden withdrawal highlights LBJ parallels
When President Joe Biden dropped his sudden bombshell announcement on Sunday that he has pulled out of the race for the White House, echoes of 1968 grew louder.
On March 31, 1968, Lyndon Baines Johnson went on the air with an unscheduled Oval Office television address to announce, perhaps even more unexpectedly: "I shall not seek, nor will I accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your president."
Johnson was in poor health and haunted by the war in Vietnam. In his address to the nation, LBJ framed partisanship during a tumultuous year on U.S. soil and in Vietnam as a distraction from what he called the "awesome duties" of the presidency, on which he vowed to focus.
Biden on Sunday sent a similar message in a one-page, 321-word letter he released, saying, "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."
— Sean Holstege
Trio of Democratic ticket hopefuls endorse Harris
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is among the latest to back Kamala Harris.
“Vice President Harris has the experience, record, vision, and wisdom to unify the country,” Moore said in a statement on Monday. “She will have the unique ability to energize the Democratic Party base and mobilize a unique coalition, and we must rally around her and elect her to serve as the next President of the United States.”
Moore, a rising star in the party since winning election in 2022, told CBS last month he would not seek the presidential nomination himself. On the rumored list for Harris’ running mate, Moore said he had “lengthy conversations” with both her and Biden on Sunday.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer endorsed Harris on Monday, telling voters in the Democratic swing state "let's get to work."
"In Vice President Harris, Michigan voters have a presidential candidate they can count on to focus on lowering their costs, restoring their freedoms, bringing jobs and supply chains back home from overseas, and building an economy that works for working people," Whitmer said, calling Harris a "stark contrast to Donald Trump."
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, often mentioned as a possible presidential contender, also joined the growing chorus of Democrats backing Harris.
“I am proud to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for president of the United States,” Pritzker said in a statement released Monday.
— Savannah Kuchar, Marina Pitofsky and Michael Collins
Gila River Indian Community governor praises Biden's 'lasting legacy'
Stephen Lewis, governor of the Gila River Indian Community, lauded Biden for his “unwavering commitment” to Indian Country on Sunday.
“His historic investments and support are a lasting legacy that will transform our Communtiy and many others across Indian Country,” Lewis posted to Facebook.
“May the Creator be with you and your family,” he said.
— Debra Krol
How did Kelly, Gallego react to Biden’s announcement?
U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly said in a written statement that it takes "great humility to make the difficult decision" that President Biden has made to not seek reelection.
"(Biden) led us out of a pandemic, took historic steps to bring back microchip and clean energy manufacturing and rebuild our infrastructure, and he has strengthened our alliances and made our country safer," Kelly said.
Shortly after praising Biden's decision to step down, Kelly posted to X his endorsement for Vice President Kamala Harris as the nomination for the Democratic ticket.
"(Harris) is the right person to defeat Donald Trump and lead our country into the future," Kelly said. "Gabby and I will do everything we can to elect her President of the United States."
Gabrielle Giffords is Kelly's wife and former U.S. representative from Arizona. In 2011, Giffords was the target of an assassination attempt near Tucson that killed six, including an 8-year-old girl and a federal judge, and wounded 18, plus Giffords, who sustained a near-fatal gunshot wound to her head.
Giffords and Kelly were among the first to condemn political violence after news broke of the assassination attempt on Trump.
U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego issued a statement on Sunday lauding Biden for his work to pass the Violence Against Women Act as a senator, his fight to find a cure for cancer with his Cancer Moonshot as vice president, his work to cut prescription drugs and create more jobs as president.
"He put his country first today, as he has throughout his tenure as a public servant," Gallego said.
Gallego, a U.S. Senate candidate, had said on Thursday that Biden needed to prove he can do the job if he stays in on the top of the Democratic ticket. Gallego's comments didn't go as far as his Democratic colleagues on Capitol Hill, Reps. Raúl Grijalva and Greg Stanton. Both recently called for Biden to step aside.
On Sunday, Gallego said that Arizona is at a crossroads and that abortion rights, water security, caring for veterans, and more are now on the line.
"That's why I will spend the next 107 days laser-focused on defeating Kari Lake and her dangerous plans to ban abortion, endanger seniors' Medicare, and hurt Arizona families," Gallego said.
Gallego is running against Lake for the senate seat that will be up for grabs after Sen. Kyrsten Sinema's decision not to run for reelection. Mark Lamb is also vying for the GOP nomination.
— L. M. Boyd
Chandler resident: Biden dropping out will 'help Trump'
Ken Willis, a Chandler resident, was visiting Scottsdale Fashion Square on Sunday after learning of Biden’s announcement.
“I’m glad he did it, and I’m not shocked,” said Ken Willis, who was proudly wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat and a shirt that read, “Jesus is my savior, Trump is my president.”
“It’ll help Trump. The Democrats don’t like her,” he said, referring to Vice President Kamala Harris.
— Annie Goodykoontz
Phoenix mayor endorses Harris
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, who was on President Joe Biden’s reelection advisory committee, endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris after Biden announced Sunday afternoon he would not continue his campaign.
In a series of posts on X, Gallego said: “The upcoming election is a critical one— and we have a clear choice: revert to another disastrous Trump presidency and slide back from the progress we’ve made, or continue to build on the momentum and achievements of the last four years under the Biden-Harris Administration.
“I choose the latter. The future I want for our country is one where seniors can enjoy low costs on their medications, where combatting climate change is an urgent priority, and where the American Dream is achievable for all families—not just the wealthy few.
“That’s why I wholeheartedly support @KamalaHarris, who I know will continue to deliver results for all of us, and stand ready to do whatever it takes to elect her to the White House.”
— Taylor Seely
Support builds for Kamala Harris, but there's still a way to challenge
Democratic heavyweights helped throw their support behind Vice President Kamala Harris ascending to the top of the party’s presidential ticket on Sunday, but it’s still at least possible for now that she could face a challenge at the national convention.
Any challenge must be made in writing no later than the day before the convention begins, Aug. 19, according to rules adopted by the party two years ago. The challenger must agree to be in the running, which eliminates the possibility of a “draft” movement for any candidate.
And, importantly, a challenger needs the support of at least 300 delegates. No state can provide more than 50.
Arizona, for example, has 85 delegates; California has 495, according to the Green Papers, a website that tracks the delegate counts.
Biden won about 95% of the Democrats’ pledged delegates during the primary selection process.
Any of a handful of Democratic governors could mount a challenge, though none of them indicated they were even considering it in their immediate response to Biden’s decision. Those governors, coming from Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, are viewed as in the running for the vice-presidential pick by Harris.
U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., who is also a VP possibility, pointedly supported the Biden-Harris ticket until Biden’s decision and then he said he was backing Harris.
— Ronald J. Hansen
Read Vice President Kamala Harris' statement
Vice President Kamala Harris thanked President Joe Biden for his "extraordinary leadership" and "decades of service to our country" in a 300-word statement Sunday, on a day of momentous announcements and fast-moving developments.
Earlier, Biden announced he was dropping out of his bid for a second term, which he followed up with a strong endorsement of his vice president. Democrats must now choose a candidate at their convention in Chicago next month.
Here is her statement in full:
"On behalf of the American people, I thank Joe Biden for his extraordinary leadership as President of the United States and for his decades of service to our country. His remarkable legacy of accomplishment is unmatched in modern American history, surpassing the legacy of many Presidents who have served two terms in office.
It is a profound honor to serve as his Vice President, and I am deeply grateful to the President, Dr. Biden, and the entire Biden family. I first came to know President Biden through his son Beau. We were friends from our days working together as Attorneys General of our home states. As we worked together, Beau would tell me stories about his Dad. The kind of father-and the kind of man-he was. And the qualities Beau revered in his father are the same qualities, the same values, I have seen every single day in Joe's leadership as President: His honesty and integrity. His big heart and commitment to his faith and his family. And his love of our country and the American people.
With this selfless and patriotic act, President Biden is doing what he has done throughout his life of service: putting the American people and our country above everything else.
I am honored to have the President's endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination. Over the past year, I have traveled across the country, talking with Americans about the clear choice in this momentous election. And that is what I will continue to do in the days and weeks ahead. I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party-and unite our nation-to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda.
We have 107 days until Election Day. Together, we will fight. And together, we will win."
—Sean Holstege
Navajo leader: Biden 'stands among the most impactful presidents'
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren called Biden a steadfast champion for tribes across the United States and characterized Biden’s decision to step down as an act of courage.
“His legacy will be etched in history with hope and grace, as he stands among the most impactful presidents,” Nygren said in a statement issued Sunday.
Nygren pointed to the American Recovery Plan Act and the Infrastructure Investment Jobs Act as major investments in tribal law enforcement, “through Biden’s leadership.”
“I am honored to call him a friend and to have worked alongside him,” Nygren said. “The Navajo people are deeply thankful for his commitment and leadership.”
— L. M. Boyd
Phoenix resident says Biden made right call by dropping out
Robert Lopez, a Phoenix resident, thought this was the right choice for Biden.“For people that have been paying attention, you could kind of tell that something wasn’t right, for the last two or three years,” he said. “It’s sad to see presidents dropping out, but I think what he did was probably a patriotic thing to do.”
— Annie Goodykoontz
'Plenty of time' to replace Biden on AZ ballot, secretary of state says
Joe Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race has opened widespread speculation as to who will be the Democratic ticket at the top of Arizona's Nov. 5 ballot.
But that ballot, technically, has not yet been created. There is "plenty of time" to have it reflect whoever emerges as the Democratic presidential and vice presidential candidates, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said Sunday.
"We're not worried about calendars and timetables," Fontes said.
There are deadlines, however.
The first one hits Aug. 9, when the secretary's office must have the names of the presidential electors from the various political parties. It's not necessary for the electors to know who the nominee is — that decision is made by the delegates at their respective party conventions.
The GOP delegates have already picked Donald Trump as their nominee, and the Libertarians in May selected Chase Oliver to lead their ticket. Democrats won't nominate a candidate until they meet Aug. 19-22 at their convention in Chicago.
— Mary Jo Pitzl
Do Arizona Democratic delegates have to vote for Biden?
Delegates do not need to be released and can vote for whoever they want, according to Democratic National Committee member Elaine Kamarck.
“There is no such thing as Joe Biden releasing his delegates,” Kamarck said during a webinar hosted by Delegates Are Democracy, a new group which aims to educate delegates about convention rules.
Kamarck is the founding director at the Brookings Institution Center for Effective Public Management and wrote a book about presidential nominations. The nomination process is still open heading into August, she said.
DNC rules direct delegates who are pledged to a candidate to “in all good conscience reflect the sentiments of those who elected them,” according to DNC rules. Kamarck said that phrase is an important “loophole” that was added after a bitter fight at the 1980 Democratic convention, when Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., challenged incumbent President Jimmy Carter.
The party has never experienced a situation where “the primaries were over, very clear cut winner, and yet something was discovered,” Kamarck said, “after the end of the primaries that caused people to severely doubt whether or not their nominee should precede.”
“We’ve never faced this,” Kamarack said.
— Stephanie Murray
What did Arizona Republicans in Congress say?
In the hours after Biden's announced his exit, Rep. Juan Ciscomani reposted Biden's statement by adding that the president's policies will be on the ballot in the form of Kirsten Engel.
Engel is challenging Ciscomani in the 6th Congressional District race as the Democratic candidate.
"From our border to your pocketbooks, we can’t let Biden-Engel win," Ciscomani said on X.
Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., called on Biden to step down as president in addition to stepping out of the presidential race.
Biggs posted that Biden is "too weak and feeble" to be prosecuted and to campaign, asking how he would be strong enough to continue serving as commander in chief of "the strongest nation in the world."
While Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., did not issue a statement on Biden stepping out of the race or his subsequent endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee, Crane did post a video to X criticizing Harris for her border policies.
About 20 minutes after Biden posted his announcement to X, Rep. Paul Gosar posted, "The coup is complete."
— L. M. Boyd
What did the Arizona congressmen who called on Biden to step aside say?
U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz., issued a statement expressing his gratitude to Biden for his "significant achievements and progress his administration has made."
Grijalva was the second sitting lawmaker to push for the incumbent to step down after Biden's debate performance.
"What he needs to do is shoulder the responsibility for keeping that seat — and part of that responsibility is to get out of this race," Grijalva, an 11-term lawmaker, told the New York Times on July 3.
Grijalva's announcement followed Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, the first sitting lawmaker to urge Biden to step down.
In Grijalva's statement Sunday, he described Biden's decision to step aside as emblematic of his life of public service and that Biden will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most consequential presidents in our history.
U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Ariz., in an X post, said President Biden put the future of the country first.
"He will go down in history as one of the most effective chief executives of the modern era. I will forever be proud of what we have been able to deliver for Arizona," Stanton said.
Stanton on July 11 called on Biden to step aside from the 2024 presidential race.
"The stakes in this election could not be higher. For our country's sake, it is time for the President to pass the torch to a new generation of leaders," Stanton wrote in a social media message.
— L. M. Boyd
Read President Joe Biden's announcement
President Joe Biden announced Sunday he will not seek reelection, ending weeks of speculation after a disastrous showing in his debate with Republican challenger Donald Trump.
Biden made the announcement in a one-page, 321-word letter released on X, formerly Twitter.
This is that letter in its entirety:
"My Fellow Americans, over the past three-and-a-half years, we have made great progress as a nation.
"Today, America has the strongest economy in the world. We've made historic investments in rebuilding our nation, in lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, and in expanding affordable health care to a record number of Americans.
"We've provided critically needed care to a million veterans exposed to toxic substances. Passed the first gun safety law in 30 years. Appointed the first African American woman to the Supreme Court. And passed the most significant climate legislation in the history of the world. America has never been better positioned to lead than we are today.
"I know none of this could have been done without you, the American people. Together, we overcame a once in a century pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. We've protected and preserved our democracy. And we've revitalised and strengthened our alliances around the world.
"It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek re-election, 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.
"I will speak to the nation later this week in more detail about my decision.
"For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me re-elected.
"I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris for being an extraordinary partner in all this work. And let me express my heartfelt appreciation to the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me.
"I believe today what I always have: that there is nothing America can't do - when we do it together. We just have to remember we are the United States of America."
— Sean Holstege
Biden 'a friend of Indian Country and we hate to see him leave', tribal leader says
In learning of Biden’s exit, Ak-Chin Chairman Robert Miguel called it a sad day but remained optimistic.
"I consider President Biden a good friend and this is an emotional day for me today," Miguel said. "He's been a friend of Indian Country and we hate to see him leave."
Miguel, who has led the 1,100-member tribe south of Maricopa since 2014, thanked Biden for his support of tribes and said he hopes whoever occupied the Oval Office next will continue Biden's policies of honoring Indian Country and upholding tribal rights.
He said he's headed to Washington for a week of meetings with officials and congressional delegates, and said he expects to gain a better sense of how the government will move over the next few months.
"It's a sad day, but we keep moving forward."
— Debra Krol
Mark Kelly's name is being floated on the Dem ticket. What about his Senate seat?
If U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly were to join the Democratic presidential ticket, he would continue to be a senator. A parallel example: U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio is Donald Trump’s vice presidential pick, but Vance continues to serve in the U.S. Senate.
If the Democrats win in November and Kelly is on the ballot as a vice presidential or presidential candidate, he would leave his Senate seat just two years into a six-year term. It would then fall to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs to appoint someone to fill Kelly’s seat until the next general election in 2026, as state law requires. The law also requires the appointee to be from the same political party as the departing senator.
This is nothing new to Arizona: In 2018, then-Gov. Doug Ducey appointed U.S. Rep. Martha McSally to fill the U.S. Senate seat that Jon Kyl held. Kyl himself was an appointee, a retired U.S. senator who came back into service when Ducey tapped him to fill U.S. Sen. John McCain’s seat after McCain died in August 2018. But Kyl had indicated he would only fill the McCain seat through the end of 2018, necessitating another appointment from Ducey.
That gave McSally a two-year stint in the Senate. In 2020, she ran for the right to fill out the remaining two years of McCain’s term – and lost to Mark Kelly. With that term expired, Kelly ran again in 2022, earning the normal full six-year term of a U.S. senator.
Over the course of four years, the U.S. Senate seat changed hands three times.
— Mary Jo Pitzl
What does Joe Biden ending his campaign mean for Arizona?
There's ample time in Arizona to get a new Democrat on the ballot ahead of the November election. Ballots aren't finalized until late summer and the first ballots don't go out until Sept. 21.
— Stephanie Murray
Who is Mark Kelly?: All about the US senator from Arizona and Gabrielle Giffords' husband
Mark Kelly: A fresh face for Democrats
Political experts said Arizona's Mark Kelly brings serious upside potential to the Democrats on a presidential ticket.
“To his advantage, Kelly is a fresh face on the national scene,” said Michael Genovese, a political science professor at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles who has written extensively about the presidency.
“He’s not well-known outside of Washington and outside of the talking heads, so that doesn’t carry with it all the baggage insiders might carry. … He’s kind of an untainted presence,” Genovese said about the senator from Arizona.
— Ronald J. Hansen
Biden drops out, supports Kamala Harris for nomination
President Joe Biden ended his campaign Sunday, saying that it is in the "best interest" of the Democratic Party and the nation that he "stand down" and end his reelection bid.
The president threw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris and said he would address the nation later this week.
"It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your president," Biden wrote in a letter posted to social media.
Biden, 81, will not resign his role as president and will remain in the White House until January.
— Stephanie Murray
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kamala Harris news: Latest as Democrats regroup for 2024 election
