A letter posted to President Joe Biden (D)’s Twitter account Sunday asserted that he has dropped out of the 2024 presidential race, explaining that he believes it “is in the best interest of [his] party and the country” for him to do so.
Although the American public has yet to receive any confirmation from Biden himself that he approved of the release of the letter, several of Maine’s elected officials and the state’s two major political parties have since responded to the decision.
While some Maine politicians — as well as the Maine Democrat Party — praised the president as “one of the most accomplished presidents in our nation’s history,” the state’s Republican Party referred to him as a “terrible president” who “crushed the working class in our state.”
Other elected officials kept their remarks more neutral, suggesting that the withdrawal was “a difficult decision” but ultimately was right “for the good of the country.”
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024
Maine Governor Janet Mills (D) responded to President Biden’s decision Sunday evening in a post on X, referring to him as “one of the best presidents in [her] lifetime.”
“He has ably led our nation through unprecedented challenges; he has made once-in-a-generation investments in our nation, championed democracy at home and abroad, strengthened our nation’s global alliances, and delivered steady, competent, and compassionate leadership,” Gov. Mills wrote.
“He is a person of great integrity and great heart, and he has been a true friend to the State of Maine,” said Mills. “I have no doubt that history will recognize President Biden as the most legislatively successful president since Lyndon Johnson.”
“In stepping aside, the President is putting the interests of the American people first. He is demonstrating that the office of the presidency is not about a single person, but, instead, is the manifestation of the hopes and dream of millions of Americans across the country,” she wrote.
Mills concluded by endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris (D), stating that she “look[s] forward” to “doing everything [she] can to elect” her “as our next president.”
My statement on President Joe Biden’s announcement that he will no longer seek reelection for president: pic.twitter.com/I2w2CZKArP
— Janet Mills (@JanetMillsforME) July 21, 2024
Sen. Angus King (I) has also responded to Biden’s decision to drop out of the presidential race, calling it “the ultimate act of patriotism.”
“In his farewell address, George Washington said, ‘that, in withdrawing the tender of service which silence in my situation might imply, I am influenced by no diminution of zeal for your future interest, no deficiency of grateful respect,'” wrote Sen. King. “Like our first president, Joe Biden recognizes that the presidency is not about one person, or one party. It’s about the American people.”
“And today, in one of the most challenging geopolitical moments in history, the American people are in need of a new leader who can take on those abroad who are trying to destroy freedom and democracy, while also meeting our challenges here at home and ensuring our nation lives up to its highest ideals,” King said.
“President Biden’s decision to step aside from his reelection run will cement his legacy among some of the greatest statesmen in our country’s history,” he concluded. “Biden’s decision today continues his sound commitment to service and is the ultimate act of patriotism.”
Click Here to Read Sen. King’s Full Statement
In an email to the Portland Press Herald, a spokesperson for Sen. Susan Collins (R) reportedly said — as paraphrased by the outlet — “that she appreciates Biden’s service and recognizes that leaving the race must have been a difficult decision.”
The spokesperson went on to explain that Sen. Collins would not be commenting on the potential nomination of Vice President Harris because “she is not involved in the Democrats’ decision making process of who should be the Democratic presidential nominee.”
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D) spoke out regarding the president’s decision to drop out of the race in a statement posted to her official website, referring to Biden as “an exceptional president” and characterizing the withdrawal as “putting what’s best for the American people and our country first.”
“Our nation was still in the throes of a global pandemic and just days removed from a violent insurrection when Joe Biden took office,” Rep. Pingree wrote. “In the months and years that have followed, President Biden rose to an extraordinary moment in America’s history, not only leading us through an historic recovery from the pandemic, but driving transformational investments in climate and infrastructure, lowering drug prices for seniors, and rallying the world to stand up for Ukraine and democracy.”
“Joe Biden has been an exceptional president and it’s been an honor to work with him and his administration,” she said. “We have achieved so much.”
“Once again, President Biden has met the moment and made the careful decision to withdraw from the 2024 race — putting what’s best for the American people and our country first and passing the torch to the next generation of leaders,” she concluded. “Our goal remains the same: ensure Donald Trump does not end up back in the White House. The stakes could not be greater.”
Click Here to Read Rep. Pingree’s Full Statement
According to the Press Herald, Rep. Jared Golden called Biden’s withdrawal from the race the “right decision for the good of the country.”
The campaign manager for Rep. Austin Theriault (R-Fort Kent) — the Republican candidate running against Rep. Golden in House District 2 — said simply: “Is Jared Golden voting for Kamala now? We know he is not voting for Trump.”
Both the Maine Democrats and Maine Republicans have also issued statements responding to Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race.
The message conveyed by the Maine Democrat Party echoed many of the points made by the state’s Democrat and Independent elected officials, speaking to the Biden Administration’s record and referring to him as “one of the most accomplished presidents in our nation’s history.”
“President Biden will be remembered as one of the most accomplished presidents in our nation’s history,” they wrote. “It is thanks to his bold leadership and the effectiveness of his administration that our country saw the strongest recovery of any developed nation and that our economy is now the envy of the world.”
“In Maine, his policies created hundreds of thousands of jobs, made historic investments to repair infrastructure that is critical to keeping us connected and our economy humming, and delivered relief for Mainers by ensuring the wealthy pay their fair share, cutting costs for Mainers suffering under the high costs of medication, and removing the burden of student debt,” they continued.
“We thank the President for his dedication to service on behalf of all Americans and for all he has delivered for the people of Maine,” they concluded. “We are excited for this newfound opportunity to showcase the next generation of Democratic leadership. The goal of the Maine Democratic Party remains the same: to defeat Donald Trump and JD Vance and elect Democrats up and down the ballot this November.”
https://t.co/LMb2Yreq9I pic.twitter.com/ru6wzuaP6X
— Maine Democrats (@MaineDems) July 21, 2024
The statement sent out Sunday afternoon by the Maine Republican Party carried a markedly different message for Mainers.
“Joe Biden has been a terrible president for Maine,” they wrote.
“Mainers should remember that whoever the Democrats choose to run will have been a supporter of Biden’s policies that have crushed the working class in our state,” the party said.
“Please go vote in November,” they concluded, “it’s the only way to avoid having President Kamala Harris continue Biden’s destruction of Maine.”
Please go vote in November: it's the only way to avoid having President Kamala Harris continue Biden's destruction of Maine.
— Maine GOP (@mainegop) July 21, 2024
– Maine GOP Chairman Joel Stetkis
Good riddence to Brandon and no welcome for the camel.
Start making your list of the people who would back cackles, they care not for the country they are for themselves. They enrich themselves at the cost of citizens. They grovel for your vote then spit in your face after they get it. Please share your fondest memory of the last four years, Perhaps its the 40% inflation, the endless war with blank checks and no accountability , $6 gas, double electricity cost, 60% insurance increase, open borders, record drug smuggling and overdose deaths, record crime, being saddled with someone else student loans. And remember folks Joe says if you get the vax you can’t catch covid. Unbelievable, who would want 4 more years of this, sadists?
“the ultimate act of patriotism.”–There is room for more Mr. King.
Listen to this ….
“ He is the most accomplished president in our nations history “ …..
Anybody who believes that is an idiot !
LOL LOL
THEY ARE LIARS ….LIARS …LIARS
Biden was the Worst President in our history ….
And anybody who looks at the state of the country today will know that .
Vote these liars out in November !
ALL of them .
The Democrats response is hilarious Biden was in this race until the puppet masters decided he had to go. No one gave a hoot about the American people, if they did, they would have been honest about his condition long ago.
All the dirty dems are breathing a big sigh of relief. Of course if brandon hadn’t stepped down they may have found a convenient way to rub, er I mean force him out.