Colorado Democratic party leaders praised President Joe Biden’s decision to “pass the torch” by stepping out of the race for reelection on Sunday as many voiced early support for Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s new nominee.
Biden announced he would “stand down” from seeking reelection in a statement posted just before noon Sunday, the culmination of weeks of private and public pressure from Democrats — including some from Colorado — concerned about his chances of winning against former President Donald Trump in November.
In separate statements, Colorado’s Democratic congressional delegation thanked Biden for his service to the country and hailed his decision to step aside.
U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, the delegation’s highest-ranking member, on Sunday afternoon endorsed Harris as the next president. Neguse, from Boulder, is the assistant minority leader in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“I couldn’t be more excited to endorse and support her campaign for president of the United States,” Neguse said in a post on X.
U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen, who publicly called on Biden to end his reelection campaign, and U.S. Rep Diana DeGette, who told The Denver Post earlier this month Biden had her full support for another term, both endorsed Harris on Sunday.
“Joe Biden embodies what it means to be a true patriot who puts the interest of the country and the American people over himself,” Pettersen said in a statement.
A spokesperson for Pettersen later confirmed the Lakewood congresswoman is planning to endorse Harris and “supports an open convention process.”
DeGette, who lives in Denver, announced her endorsement of Harris in a post on X and highlighted the vice president’s support for abortion and reproductive rights.
U.S. Rep. Jason Crow of Aurora, who reportedly sparred with Biden on a Zoom call about the president’s reelection chances, also praised Biden’s decision on Sunday and said Harris had his full support.
“She will bring a new generation of leadership and unite the country as we strive towards our higher ideals,” Crow said in a post on X. “I call on Americans from every background and corner of our nation to join me in fighting to elect Kamala Harris as our next president.”
Rep. Yadira Caraveo of Adams County also thanked Biden for his decision and said she would support Harris in a post on X, and Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper put out statements of support for Biden.
Bennet and Hickenlooper on Sunday night endorsed Harris on X.
Bennet, who told CNN that Democrats were on a trajectory to lose in November with Biden at the top of the ticket, said the country owes Biden a “debt of gratitude” for his decision to leave the race.
“We may not know what comes next, but by passing the torch to a new standard bearer, President Biden has again given us the chance to beat Donald Trump and give our children the future they deserve,” Bennet said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert of Windsor called on Biden to immediately resign “if (he) can’t run for office” and criticized Democrats for disregarding the primary election in posts on X.
U.S. Rep. Greg Lopez, a Republican from Elizabeth who won the June special election for the Fourth Congressional District seat vacated by former U.S. Rep Ken Buck, also called on Biden to resign “if he cannot pass a cognitive test.”
“President Biden deserves no applause for finally recognizing his inability to govern – four years too late,” Lopez said in a post on X.
Republican U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn of Colorado Springs said he’s called on Biden to retire for years.
“I am glad he’s doing the right thing for once,” Lamborn, who is not seeking reelection, said on X.
While Biden on Sunday endorsed Harris as the party’s new nominee minutes after announcing his decision to leave the race, endorsements from the state’s delegates and other officials trickled out throughout the afternoon.
Colorado Democratic Party chair Shad Murib said that the “overwhelming majority” of the state’s convention delegates expressed support for Harris’ candidacy during a call Sunday afternoon and that a meeting to determine a formal endorsement will be held in the coming days. He demurred when asked if he supported Harris, saying he was “thrilled” with her candidacy but didn’t want to get ahead of the party.
He praised Biden’s presidency and said Harris had been by his side over the past four years.
“We’ve had a friend of Colorado in this administration,” he said, “and I suspect we’ll continue to.”
State Rep. Leslie Herod, a Denver Democrat and party superdelegate, posted support for Harris on social media shortly after the news broke Sunday. Herod did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
State Rep. Junie Joseph, another superdelegate, initially said she was just receiving and processing Biden’s announcement and hadn’t started thinking about next steps or her preferred replacement, but that she would support whichever nominee the party selects.
In a subsequent statement to The Post, Joseph said that “we must unite to elect our Democratic nominee, and if it is Kamala, I am fully committed.”
Superdelegate and University of Colorado Regent Wanda James said Sunday that she was “thrilled that we’re over this hump” and that the party needed to coalesce around Harris to replace Biden.
“The Democrats need to move forward,” she said. “We’ve already wasted a good number of weeks. We don’t have time to vet any other Democrat for this position, and we don’t want an October surprise of an unvetted candidate. And quite frankly, there is one job of the vice president and that’s to step up if the president can’t do it.”
James said she would “100% absolutely” oppose an open convention race of multiple Democratic candidates vying for the nomination. She said she’d spoken to a handful of other Colorado Democratic delegates Sunday, all of whom supported Harris. She suggested either Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer or Arizona U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly as potential running mates for Harris.
“Buckle up, buttercups,” James said. “Here we go.”
Messages left for several other Democratic delegates were not immediately returned Sunday.
State officials including Gov. Jared Polis and Attorney General Phil Weiser also released statements praising Biden on Sunday, as did Colorado House Speaker Julie McCluskie and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston.
Polis thanked Biden for his partnership and work to help Coloradans.
“This could not have been an easy decision but it is the right one, and Joe Biden promised Americans he would always do what’s right for our country and once again he has delivered,” Polis said in a statement Sunday.
On CNN on Sunday afternoon, Polis endorsed Harris as “the best candidate for our future.” He noted Trump’s age — the former president is 78 — and said the Democratic Party had the “vigor and we have the energy on our side.”
Secretary of State Jena Griswold, who oversees Colorado elections, also praised Biden’s decision and said she was proud to support Harris.
In a post on X, Griswold said Trump and “MAGA extremism must be defeated in November.”
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