Dobson, Figures react to Biden withdrawing from 2024 presidential race

The Republican and Democratic candidates running for Congress in Alabama’s Second Congressional District are reacting to the decision by President Joe Biden to withdraw from the Presidential race.

Biden made the announcement on social media Sunday, saying he will not accept the nomination and putting his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris for the nomination.

“My fellow Democrats,” Biden wrote on X, “I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term. My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best decision I’ve made. Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”

Caroleene Dobson, the Republican nominee for district 2, believes that the president shouldn’t just resign from the race, but resign from the presidency immediately.

“If you are incapable of running for a second term, you are incapable of serving as President of the United States,” Dobson said.

The Democratic nominee for the district, Shomari Figures, reacted to Biden’s announcement by praising his record and thanking him for what he has been able accomplish for Alabama and the country.

“President Biden gave his entire life to public service,’ Figures said. “Through the tragic deaths of his wife, his young daughter, and his son Beau, he continued to lead. He gave his all to this nation, and answered the call to restore the soul of America at a time when we needed it most. He navigated us through the greatest threat to our Democracy in over 150 years and through the worst pandemic in world history.”

“President Biden delivered for this nation and the state of Alabama,” he added. “Just last week his administration awarded Alabama the largest federal grant ever in the history of the state for an infrastructure project that will have transformative economic impacts in Mobile and across the region. On behalf of all of those who call Alabama – and especially District 2 – home, Thank You, Joe.”

Figures gave his endorsement to Harris as the new head of the ticket.

“I first met Kamala Harris in 2012 when she was Attorney General, helping us reelect Obama. She had our back then, and we have hers now,” he said. “I fully support Vice President Harris for the Democratic nomination and look forward to voting for the first Black woman President.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee