WASHINGTON – Incumbent U.S. President Joseph Biden announced on Sunday that he will not accept the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination in 2024.
Biden officially clinched enough delegates to become the party’s nominee in March, following a primary victory here in New Hampshire where he was not listed on the ballot. However, he has faced calls to drop out of the race from allies following a recent poor debate appearance against challenger and former U.S. President Donald Trump.
In a letter making the announcement (see below), he thanked U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris for her support as well as the support of those who have worked on his behalf, detailing accomplishments during his term in office. Later on X, formerly known as Twitter, he fully endorsed Harris to replace him as the party’s candidate.
The Democratic Party will officially select a candidate at their convention in late August, although the selection could come in early August due to deadline laws for candidate selection in some states.
The following are statements from local officials. This list will be updated as new statements are provided to Manchester Ink Link.
former Manchester Mayor/New Hampshire Gubernatorial Candidate Joyce Craig
“President Joe Biden has dedicated his life to the service of our country. His decision to no longer seek reelection demonstrates his selfless commitment to our nation and our democracy. President Biden’s legacy in New Hampshire will be defined by what he delivered for Granite Staters. When I served as Mayor of Manchester, President Biden’s administration awarded Manchester a $44 million Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant to develop our innovative bio-manufacturing industry and create 7,000 family-sustaining jobs. Now, southern New Hampshire has been federally designated as a tech-hub bringing in another $44 million that will create even more opportunities for Granite Staters. These are game-changing investments by the Biden-Harris administration that will strengthen our communities and support New Hampshire’s hardworking families. I will always be grateful for President Biden’s lifetime of service to our country, support for New Hampshire families, and for his leadership as our President.”
New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley
President Biden has had one of the most successful administrations in recent history and he has dedicated his life to public service.
After beating Donald Trump in 2020, he brought our country back from a global pandemic and reinvigorated our economy, rebuilt our crumbling infrastructure and made historic investments to combat climate change. He led our partners and allies around the world to defeat creeping authoritarianism in Europe and has returned the United States to our status as a global leader.
With his decision today, President Biden has shown true selflessness and patriotism by passing the baton to the next generation and moving our party and nation forward.
Thank you, Mr. President
New Hampshire First Congressional District Candidate Russell Prescott
With President Biden fulfilling a part of his obligation to the American people by announcing he is not seeking re-election, with many more months still left in his presidency, it’s time for him to do the right thing and resign. It’s also high time for Chris Pappas to do the right thing for America and echo the same call on President Biden to resign.
Furthermore, party elites like Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and Chris Pappas denied millions of voters the democratic process to choose the nominee of one of the major political parties in our country. That is wrong, and I am confident that voters will hold Democrats accountable at the ballot box this November
U.S. Representative Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH-02)
“In just under four years as our Commander in Chief, President Biden has cemented himself in history as one of the most consequential leaders to hold the Oval Office. There is no doubt his administration will forever be remembered for having one of the most impressive legislative records since President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon B. Johnson. These achievements, which have improved the lives of millions of Americans across the country, were no surprise to those who have watched his incredible and storied career in Washington for over 50 years.
NewDems call ourselves Biden Dems because we have long-shared the same commonsense approach to politics. We know we can’t let perfect be the enemy of the good, and in order to get big things done, you can’t do it alone. He’s proven this is the best way to govern and in just a short amount of time, has led Congressional Democrats in passing legislation to strengthen the middle class, create good-paying jobs, rebuild our aging infrastructure, and lower health care and energy costs, and so much more. We love President Biden and are proud of our work together.
In 2020, he ran for President because he knew he could defeat Donald Trump and save our democracy from another disastrous and devastating four years of far-right extremism. Today, with his decision to not seek reelection in 2024, he has once again put the party and country first. We are eternally grateful for his decades of service and for taking on the fight to restore the soul of our nation.
This decision to pass the torch to a new generation of Democratic leaders, led by Vice President Kamala Harris, will be crucial to the long-term success of Democrats for future generations. NewDems remember his legacy today, and applaud him for making this difficult decision.
In the months ahead, we look forward to continuing to celebrate and cement President Biden’s legacy as the most effective president in modern history by continuing our work with him in Congress to improve the lives of hardworking American families – just as we always have.”
U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
“President Biden has been one of America’s most accomplished and consequential presidents. From fixing our nation’s broken infrastructure systems to strengthening our global alliances in the face of unprecedented challenges to enacting the most sweeping climate change legislation to getting our country to the other side of the COVID pandemic, President Biden should be proud of the progress America has made under his leadership. As he always has, President Biden is once again putting the country he loves first, and I thank him for his unwavering dedication and service to our nation.”
U.S. Representative Chris Pappas (D-NH-01)
“I agree with President Biden’s decision to pass the torch to a new generation. The stakes in this election could not be higher, and this moment requires us to be forward-looking and put the needs of everyday Americans front and center. This election is about more than one candidate on the ballot. Protecting reproductive freedom, strengthening Social Security and Medicare, lowering drug prices, and bringing down costs for families are all on the ballot this November. That is why I remain focused on continuing the progress we’ve made, making a difference for Granite Staters, and putting New Hampshire first.”
Executive Councilor/New Hampshire Gubernatorial Candidate Cinde Warmington
“Joe Biden has spent a lifetime putting Americans first and I am deeply grateful for all that he has done for our nation and the Granite State. I admire his selfless decision today to once again put our country first, and I look forward to working with Democrats across the nation to defeat Donald Trump in November.”
U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH)
“President Biden has been one of America’s most accomplished and consequential presidents. From fixing our nation’s broken infrastructure systems to strengthening our global alliances in the face of unprecedented challenges to enacting the most sweeping climate change legislation to getting our country to the other side of the COVID pandemic, President Biden should be proud of the progress America has made under his leadership. As he always has, President Biden is once again putting the country he loves first, and I thank him for his unwavering dedication and service to our nation.”
President Joe Biden has devoted his life to public service, demonstrating an unmatched depth of care for the American people and an ironclad commitment to freedom. His leadership has made a positive impact on Americans from all walks of life, but especially those who needed a champion the most.
President Biden has shown how to connect democracy to the lives of everyday Americans, and his decades of successes spanning his time in the U.S. Senate, as Vice President, and as President demonstrate what can be accomplished when we are committed to democracy’s ideals.
In 2020, he defeated Donald Trump, bringing an end to the disastrous Trump administration, and ensuring that we would continue a government guided by core democratic principles. And as soon as he took office, he got to work rebuilding the American economy while also accelerating our country’s recovery from the pandemic. Under President Biden’s bipartisan leadership over these past three-and-a-half years we have passed critical measures to rebuild our country’s infrastructure, manufacture critical technology here in America again, and provide veterans the care that they have earned and deserve. And even when we couldn’t find members of the other party to work with us, President Biden found a way forward to take on Big Pharma in order to lower prescription drug costs and spur a new clean energy economy to fight climate change. Simply put, President Biden’s presidency will be remembered as one of the most effective in our lifetimes.
On a personal level, President Biden has the extraordinary ability to envision and implement necessary and complicated change, carry the weight of the world on his shoulders, and still remember the individual hopes and struggles of people he met and worked with.
I am profoundly grateful to President Biden for all that he has done for our country and will continue to do for the remainder of his term.
The task before us now is to focus on defeating Donald Trump in November, and I am committed to continuing that work. Our American democracy needs to remain strong and vibrant to deliver real results for the people of America, just as Joe Biden has done.”
New Hampshire First Congressional District Candidate Hollie Noveletsky
“Let’s be clear, this is an unprecedented moment in America’s history. The Democrat Party has been lying to their own voters and the American people at large. Now that their lies have been brought to light, they are overturning the will of over 14 million Democrat voters with barely 100 days to the election. This is completely contradictory of their claims to ‘defend democracy.’
The question also remains; if Joe Biden isn’t fit to run for re-election, is he fit to complete his term? Chris Pappas needs to answer that question.
Finally, Kamala Harris represents more of the failed policies of the Biden Administration. She was appointed as the “border czar” and has overseen the catastrophic Biden border policies.
The choice remains crystal clear this November. Democrats have failed this country over the past 3 and a half years and voters will hold them accountable at the ballot box this November by re-electing President Trump to the White House and electing Republicans in Congress.”
New Hampshire Second Congressional District Candidate Maggie Goodlander
“President Biden is a true American patriot and one of the very best Presidents America has ever known. He has always put his country before himself. From day one in office, he has been a President for all Americans and a tireless fighter for our democracy and our fundamental freedoms. It was an honor to serve our state and nation in his administration at the White House and at the Justice Department. President Biden put the fight for fairness at the center of his economic agenda, and I was proud to serve on the frontlines of the fight against corporate monopolies that are making life harder for hardworking people across America. I will never stop fighting to advance the work President Biden has championed throughout his lifetime of extraordinary service to our country.”
New Hampshire Gubernatorial Candidate Jon Kiper
“I applaud President Biden for his decision to pass the torch to the next generation of American leaders, and it is my hope that upcoming Democratic leaders can emulate the example of fighting for the working class of America. His patriotic decision re-inspires me toward my vision of working for a New Hampshire with more affordable housing, access to reproductive healthcare, a strong public-education system and a cooperative, solutions-based political discourse that aims to include everyone while fighting against extremists and elites.”
New Hampshire House of Representatives Democratic Leader Matt Wilhelm (D-Manchester)
“I am grateful for President Biden’s decades of public service, culminating in the most transformative presidency of my lifetime. Over the past four years, President Biden and Vice President Harris have delivered record accomplishments for Granite Staters and all Americans — from getting our economy back on track after the COVID-19 pandemic, investing hundreds of millions of dollars in American Rescue Plan funds into New Hampshire communities, and overseeing the creation of 54,200 New Hampshire jobs since taking office. I know that Vice President Harris will build on these accomplishments and keep moving our country forward, and that’s why I am proud to put my support behind her. Democrats are ready to defeat Donald Trump in November and build on President Biden and Vice President Harris’ visionary leadership and record of delivering results for all Americans.”
New Hampshire’s Pledged Delegates to the Democratic National Convention (see list below)
“With his decision today, President Biden has shown true selflessness and patriotism by passing the baton to the next generation and moving our party and nation forward. He has led one of the most successful administrations in history and he has dedicated his life to public service.”
“We are immensely grateful to President Biden and are proud to follow his lead and endorse Kamala Harris to be the Democratic nominee for President of the United States. Our endorsement reflects the sentiments of the historic number of Granite State voters who supported the Biden-Harris ticket in the 2024 NH Presidential Primary. Kamala Harris will defeat the Trump-Vance ticket, their dangerous Project 2025 agenda, and will build upon the successes and values of the Biden-Harris Administration.
“Vice President Kamala Harris is phenomenally qualified – she has served as a prosecutor, California’s Attorney General, a United States Senator, and as Vice President. She is a trailblazer, and she is not done in her service to our nation.
“We look forward to the National Convention in August and the next 107 days of campaigning for Vice President Harris and Democrats up and down the ticket.”
District Level Delegates
Alderman Bill Barry
Jay Bowie
State Representative Angela Brennan
Angela Delaney
KR Epstein
Honorable Sue Ford
Slate Goodwin
Prescott Herzog
Aliyana Koch-Manzur
Patrick Long
Former State Senator Melanie Levesque
Doug Marino
Maxine Mosley
Shana Potvin
Alex Wahl
Rob Werner
Party Leader and Elected Official Delegates
Sebastian Fuentes
Sumathi Madhure
State Representative Matt Wilhelm
At Large Delegates
State Representative Luz Bay
Carlos Cardona
JJ Dega
Honorable Jim Demers
Samay Sahu
Maura Sullivan