Elected officials from Southern California reacted Sunday to the bombshell announcement from President Biden that he would be dropping out of the 2024 presidential race.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, a former congresswoman who was among the leading contenders to become Biden's running mate for the 2020 presidential election, said Los Angeles residents "have benefited directly" from Biden's leadership.
"His partnership was essential in unsheltered homelessness in Los Angeles decreasing for the first time in years. He has helped provide Angelenos with health care, lower prescription drug costs, stronger infrastructure, an expanded public transportation system, and a greener Los Angeles," Bass said. "President Biden also defeated the most divisive President in history whose agenda weakened America's economy, health and international standing throughout the world."
U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, a San Fernando Valley native, thanked Biden for his "partnership to improve the lives of Californians."
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āDuring his presidency, he led the nation out of a crippling pandemic and revived our economy with record job creation and historic low unemployment. He delivered transformational bipartisan victories to invest in our infrastructure and lower costs for working families," Padilla said.
Democratic Congressmember Ted Lieu, who represents West Los Angeles and the South Bay, released his statement, saying Biden will "go down in history as one of the best Presidents of our great country."
ā[He] took a nation hurt by the pandemic and turned our country around, ushering in massive job growth, infrastructure and a clean energy and tech revolution," Lieu said.
Congressman Jimmy Gomez, who represents the downtown Los Angeles area, touted Biden for āprioritizing the American people.ā
āThe presidentās decision to step aside is bigger than one election or one candidateāit is about the kind of country we want to be in the long run. Now is the time to unify and continue Democratsā longtime fight for working people across this country,ā Gomez said.
Congressmember Nanette Barragan, who represents the Los Angeles Harbor region, said Biden has been one of the most consequential presidents in American history.
āI'm proud to have worked so closely with his administration on so many of these historic achievements. Democrats will work to ensure his legacy is secure and will support (the president) and Kamala Harris as the party moves forward, unified, in our efforts to put the American people over politics,ā Barragan said.
Democratic Assemblyman Isaac Bryan of Culver City called Bidenās announcement a right decision, calling it āselfless, powerful, historic.''
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn thanked Biden for his ādecades of public serviceā in her statement.
āFrom the first time Vice President Biden called me when my mother passed in 2011, to my experience working with Congress, I've seen nothing but a man who is kind, compassionate, and always puts people and his country first,'' Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn said.
