TN State Representatives react to Biden dropping out of presidential race

JACKSON, Tenn. — A lot of questions and concerns have risen in the wake of President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential election.

With President Biden now out of the race, and Vice President Kamala Harris expected to take the democratic nomination for president, we spoke to local lawmakers to get their reactions.

While most are focusing on the 2024 presidential election, state and federal elections will be on the November ballot as well.

We caught up with two men who are also campaigning on the November ballot to hear their thoughts on President Biden ending his bid for re-election.

“All the millions of people that voted for him in the primary, they’re kind of left out in the cold and it just feels like a sham,” said Republican State Representative Chris Todd.

“I was energized. Actually, I was energized more than I have been in this whole campaign,” said Democratic State Representative Johnny Shaw.

Many are asking the question as to whether this move by the Democratic Party will hurt or help them in the presidential race. Todd, says he believes the move will hurt.

“Folks see that they’ve kind of been–had a little switch, you know, a bait and switch. You know, Biden was going to be it and now he’s not. They’ve donated money, they’ve cast their votes and now it’s going to be someone else. I can’t imagine they feel very good about that,” said Todd.

Shaw believes the opposite.

“The vice president has not been that visible throughout but I think it helps because she’s a prosecutor, number one. I think she can think on her feet a lot quicker than President Biden because he was older,” said Shaw.

As for the Republican Party, they’re thrust into a situation where, throughout the campaign, they’ve had their sights set on beating Joe Biden. Now with a new opponent, we asked if this move would hurt or help them.

“I don’t think it hurts the Republican Party at all. I think President Trump is gaining so much momentum right now, so much support nationwide, and especially here that I don’t think it’s going to affect him or that campaign at all,” said Todd.

“I think it hurts them more, because this is a new generation. Even with Mr. Trump still in the race, he’s nearly 80 years old,” said Shaw.

The Tennessee Democratic Party has since put out a statement including the endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris as the nominee for president.

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