Michigan Gov. Whitmer endorses Harris after Biden withdraws from 2024 presidential race
(CBS DETROIT) - Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential election after President Biden announced he was dropping out of the race on Sunday.
Whitmer joined a number of Democratic Party governors in other states — including Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers — in endorsing Harris Monday morning.
Whitmer said she's "fired up" to throw her support behind Harris, adding:
"In Vice President Harris, Michigan voters have a presidential candidate they can count on to focus on lowering their costs, restoring their freedoms, bringing jobs and supply chains back home from overseas, and building an economy that works for working people. She's a former prosecutor, a champion for reproductive freedom, and I know that she's got Michigan's back.
"That's in stark contrast to Donald Trump, a convicted felon who stokes violence, overturned Roe, attacked our auto industry which hardworking families depend on, left office after losing 100,000 manufacturing jobs, and drove our economy into the ground last time he was in the White House.
"Vice President Harris has my full support.
"So Michigan, let's get to work. We cannot let Donald Trump anywhere near the White House. Let's go!"
After Mr. Biden's announcement Sunday, Whitmer issued a statement, in which she said "President Biden is a great public servant who knows better than anyone what it takes to defeat Donald Trump. His remarkable work to lower prescription drug costs, fix the damn roads, bring supply chains home, address climate change, and ensure America's global leadership over decades will go down in history."
Other Michigan officials also weighed in on Mr. Biden's decision to withdraw from the race. The announcement comes after many Democratic lawmakers expressed concern over Mr. Biden's health after his performance in the presidential debate. Despite calls for him to step down, Whitmer remained steadfast in supporting him during his campaign.
These developments also come a month before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Within hours of announcing his withdrawal, Mr. Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as a top contender to replace Mr. Biden on the Democratic Party ticket.
CBS News reports a number of Democrats, including Whitmer, are under consideration for the nomination. Despite the governor's name being widely mentioned since the debate, she has repeatedly said that she is not seeking to run for president in 2024 and reiterated that on Sunday.