ST. LOUIS — President Joe Biden announced Sunday he is no longer seeking reelection.
The greater St. Louis area spans the border of Missouri and Illinois. Politicians representing the area shared reactions to Biden's announcement online.
Missouri GOP gubernatorial candidate and former Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft posted on X saying, "Biden should resign immediately if he is so impaired. No matter who the Democrats pick, Donald J. Trump will be the 47th President of the United States."
St. Louis County Prosecutor and candidate for Congress Wesley Bell called Biden "one of the most impactful presidents in recent history." On X, he wrote, "From tackling the cost of prescription drugs to investing in Missouri's infrastructure, his accomplishments have been historic.
We still have a lot of work to do to beat Donald Trump in November, and Vice President Kamala Harris is the right candidate for this moment."
U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (IL-12) said the county is ready for change. He issued a statement that read, “Republicans in Congress and concerned citizens across America have questioned President Biden’s fitness for office for months. After dismissing those concerns at every turn, Biden’s allies have now forced him out of the campaign in hopes of salvaging races up and down the ballot. Unfortunately for them, it’s too late. The American people are hungry for change and for real leadership, and you aren’t going to get that from Vice President Harris or any of the other top Democrats who helped create this mess in the first place. President Trump is the clear front runner heading into November, regardless of who the Democrats nominate at their convention.”
U.S. Rep. Cori Bush (MO-District 1) shared a statement on X thanking the president and endorsing Kamala Harris. She enumerated Biden's political victories, including the American Rescue Plan, forgiving student debt, and making climate investments with the Inflation Reduction Act. She called on the need to defeat "MAGA extremism and fascism." She endorsed Harris, calling Black women the "backbone of the Democratic party."
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois) said no one has done more for working Americans than Joe Biden. In a statement, she said, "Over more than 50 years in public service, he’s built an unparalleled record of accomplishments. From helping write the Violence Against Women Act in the Senate to shepherding the Affordable Care Act into law as Vice President and from helping guide our nation out of a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic to overseeing historic wage and job growth during his Presidency, Joe Biden has always put our country first and worked to change so many aspects of our lives for the better.
"From the bottom of my heart, I thank him for his effective and successful leadership and for, once again, putting our country before himself. This difficult decision ensures that Democrats can focus on the goal that unites each and every one of us: defeating Donald Trump and preventing another four years of his destructive chaos and corruption."
U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) thanked Biden for his work in office. He issued a statement that read, "Throughout his public career, Joe Biden always put country first. His four years as President made it clear that he was determined to put our country back on track and restore the soul of our nation. America will be forever grateful for all he has given to this country.
“Now the Democratic Party must unite behind a candidate who can defeat Donald Trump and keep America moving in the right direction. I will do everything in my power to help that effort.”
Missouri GOP gubernatorial candidate and State Sen. Bill Eigel (MO-District 22) also called for Biden to resign. He posted on X, saying, "Resign your office. You’re unfit to run and you’re unfit to serve. President Trump will beat whatever whack-job leftist the Dem elites pick to take Biden’s place! TRUMP 2024!"
U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (D-Missouri) posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, saying, "Then RESIGN your office. If you can’t run a mere political campaign, you can’t be President."
Democratic Party of Illinois Chair Lisa Hernandez issued a statement Sunday, saying in part, "Today, we express our deepest gratitude to President Joe Biden for his unwavering service and dedication to our nation. Under his leadership, President Biden navigated some of the most challenging times in recent history–and without failure, he showed us that he is a man of the people …
"We face a critical moment in our democracy. The stakes could not be higher, and we must stand firm against the threats posed by a potential Trump-Vance presidency. Donald Trump and J.D. Vance represents a return to policies that favor the wealthy, threaten our health care, and undermine our democratic institutions. We must ensure that their regressive and divisive agenda does not prevail.
"The Democratic Party of Illinois is committed to this fight. We will mobilize, organize, and vote to ensure that the Democratic ticket prevails in November. Together, we can finish the job and build a stronger, more equitable nation. Thank you, President Biden, for your service and leadership. The work continues, and we are ready to face the challenges ahead with unity and resolve.”
Missouri GOP gubernatorial candidate and Missouri Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe wrote on X, saying, "Biden needs to resign immediately. If he is not mentally fit enough to run for president, he should not continue serving as Commander-in-chief. No matter who the Democrats nominate, Trump will win by a landslide in November and fix what the Biden administration has ruined over the last four years."
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) wrote on X, saying, "President @JoeBiden has dedicated his life in service to this nation, and its citizens are all the better for it. His is a storied political career culminating in one of the most accomplished and effective presidencies of our lifetime." Pritzker noted Biden's statesmanship. He warned of the "threat" of a Trump presidency.
Pritzker on Monday endorsed Harris for president in a statement which said in part: "Vice President Harris has proven, at every point in her career, that she possesses the skills, strength, and character to lead this county and the vision to better the lives of all Americans. From protecting women's rights to defending American workers and strengthening the middle class, Vice President Harris is a champion of the American values we hold dear. She represents our party's best chance to defeat Donald Trump in November, and I will work my heart out to help her do that."
U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Missouri) said Biden's administration was defined by inflation and other issues. In an emailed statement, he said, "Joe Biden’s time in elected office is far past its expiration date. Biden’s three-and-a-half-year tenure in the White House has brought Americans crushing inflation, an abysmal foreign policy record, and a vastly unchecked expansion of the administrative state. Americans are ready for new leadership, not more of the same from Democrats - regardless of who they now scramble to nominate. Further, if Joe Biden isn’t fit enough to serve as a candidate after the primary, he isn’t fit to serve as president now.”
This is a developing story. Additional comments will be added as they are received.