Buttigieg, Indiana Democratic leaders back Harris as Republicans call on Biden to resign
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The Indiana Democratic Party quickly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as President Joe Biden’s successor on Sunday, while key Republicans reacted by calling on Biden to step down immediately.
Following weeks of pressure, Biden said Sunday that he would not seek a second term, which throws open the Democratic nomination and leaves the decision to the delegates of the Democratic National Convention. Thirty minutes later, Biden released a statement endorsing Harris, who competed against Biden for the Democratic nomination in 2020 before becoming his running mate.
Indiana Democratic Party Chairman Mike Schmuhl issued a statement saying Americans “are hungry for a new generation of leadership from the White House to local offices to move America forward with liberty and justice for all.”
“Now is the time to unite behind Vice President Kamala Harris to defeat Donald Trump and continue the progress of the last three-plus years,” he said. “Vice President Harris has already shown leadership on the issues that impact everyday Americans, from gun violence prevention to protecting abortion rights and fighting for reproductive justice in all 50 states.”
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, also endorsed Harris on Sunday, calling her the “right person to take up the torch.”
“I have seen her extraordinary leadership firsthand, working closely with her during the 2020 campaign and then in the historically effective Biden-Harris administration,” he said.
Buttigieg is also on the list of candidates Harris is expected to consider as a running mate assuming she gets the nomination.
Other Indiana Democrats who endorsed Harris on Sunday include Ron Klain, who previously served as Biden’s White House chief of staff, calling her the “only veteran of a national campaign.” Destiny Wells, the Democrat’s candidate for Indiana attorney general, released a statement saying that she joins “all Americans in rallying to continue President Biden’s work by supporting Vice President Kamala Harris.”
They joined a number of prominent national Democrats who endorsed Harris on Sunday, including California Gavin Newsom (also a possible Harris running mate), former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina.
Those who had not endorsed her by Sunday evening included former President Barack Obama as well as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. All issued statements on Sunday that did not mention Harris. In Indiana, U.S. Rep. Andre Carson of Indianapolis and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jennifer McCormick issued statements that did not endorse Harris.
The AP reported thta Harris was making calls late in the day to congressional lawmakers and racking up support, including from Rep. Annie Kuster of New Hampshire, the chair of the New Democrat Coalition, a moderate caucus on Capitol Hill, who endorsed Harris Sunday.
Meanwhile, Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison promised a “transparent and orderly process.”
Even as Democrats were debating how to move forward, top Republicans—including some in Indiana—were pushing Biden to resign now.
“If President Biden is incapable of serving as his party’s nominee, he’s incapable of serving as our commander-in-chief for the next six months,” said U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, the Republican nominee for Indiana governor. “He should resign effective immediately as a matter of national security.”
U.S. Rep. Jim Banks, the Indiana Republican running for U.S. Senate to replace Braun, went one step further, saying that if Biden doesn’t resign, the “25th amendment must be invoked,” which lays out a process for removing the president.