Minnesota DFL candidates say Biden dropping out brings energy to their races

Rachel Bohman.

Contributed

By John Molseed

July 23, 2024 at 11:27 AM

ROCHESTER 鈥� Minnesota DFL leaders and candidates say they鈥檙e energized by the prospect of a new top of the ballot following President Joe Biden鈥檚 announcement Sunday, July 21 that he鈥檚 dropping his bid for a second term in the White House.

In an unprecedented move, the incumbent and sitting president dropped from the race despite being the de facto nominee less than a month before the scheduled Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Rather than expressing concern that the top of the November general election ballot is up in the air, DFL candidates and leaders say the change is the ticket to energizing voters.

U.S. President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office in the White House, in Washington — U.S. President Joe Biden delivers an address to the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on July 14, 2024.

鈥淲e had heard from a number of voters that they were concerned about Biden being on the top of the ticket, especially after the debate,鈥� said Rachel Bohman, the .

Bohman said voters she has spoken with while campaigning weren鈥檛 excited about either of the top candidates in the presidential race.

鈥淲e encouraged the voters to consider the other races on the ballot,鈥� Bohman said.

However, it鈥檚 the top of the ballot that tends to draw swing voters and moderate voters that can decide races, she added.

鈥淚 am very optimistic with the change that we can really bring this race in a new direction,鈥� Bohman said. 鈥淚 think we can energize so many voters to flip this district back to blue.鈥�

DFL State Rep. Andy Smith, Rochester, said he has heard the same concerns while campaigning for re-election in District 25B in Rochester.

鈥淧eople were not happy we were getting the same race as before,鈥� he said.

Smith called Biden鈥檚 decision a 鈥減atriotic act.鈥�

鈥淗e is a public servant who makes decisions even if they鈥檙e not in his best personal interest, but in the interest of his country,鈥� Smith said.

andy smith — Rep. Andy Smith (DFL - Rochester).

Smith and Bohman said the change coming so close to the election will have more benefits than drawbacks.

鈥淚n the age we鈥檙e in with 24-hour news coverage, social media, podcasts, there鈥檚 plenty of time to campaign and get out unifying messages between now and November,鈥� Smith said.

鈥淭here鈥檚 always the chance it doesn鈥檛 work, but I鈥檓 willing to give this a lot of hope and optimism right now,鈥� Bohman said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e up against ideas like Project 2025, which is not something that benefits most people in this district.鈥�

DFL Chairman Ken Martin also praised Biden鈥檚 service in a statement Sunday noting 2021鈥檚 bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, climate policies, legislation to lower prescription drug prices and more.

鈥淔ew presidents in American history have done more for our country than Joe Biden,鈥� Martin wrote.

The statement went on to voice support for Vice President Kamala Harris as a presumptive nominee on the Democratic ticket for president.

鈥淥ur party must now rally behind Vice-President Harris and emerge as a united front ready to defeat (former President) Donald Trump,鈥� Martin wrote.

Smith said Harris would make the most sense but both he and Bohman stopped short of assuming Harris will be the Democratic candidate.

鈥淭here are a lot of good democratic options out there and they each bring their own strength and energy to the race,鈥� Bohman said.

Harris would have the benefit of the fundraising and re-election campaign team assembled under Biden, she added.

鈥淔undraising and building your team are a lot of hard work,鈥� Bohman said. 鈥淚f she can walk into that, it would be a big advantage.鈥�

For now, it will be up to the delegates at the convention to decide, she added.

Meanwhile, some Republicans believe Biden should resign from office. Rep. Tom Emmer, the House Majority Whip from Minnesota's 6th District, said on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that "Biden must step down from office immediately."

"If the Democrat party has deemed Joe Biden unfit to run for re-election, he鈥檚 certainly unfit to control our nuclear codes," Emmer posted.

The Republican Party of Minnesota expressed a similar sentiment on Facebook when sharing Biden's letter.

"After The Democrats - including Governor Tim Walz - spent months lying to the American people that Biden was fit to run for re-election, he has finally dropped out. But why is he still fit to be the President of the US if he's not fit to be a candidate?" the post said.

As for the second person on the ticket, that鈥檚 even more speculative. Bohman said she would be happy to see Transportation Secretary and former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg anywhere on the ticket.

Smith said either Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro or Michigan Gov. Gretchen Esther Whitmer would be solid choices on a national stage. He also mentioned a more local state leader as well.

鈥�(Minnesota) Gov. (Tim) Walz has been a great governor, and I could see him do well on a national stage too,鈥� Smith said.

By John Molseed

John Molseed joined the Post Bulletin in 2018. He covers arts, culture, entertainment, nature and other fun stories he's surprised he gets paid to cover. When he's not writing articles about Southeast Minnesota artists and musicians, he's either picking banjo, brewing beer, biking or looking for other hobbies that begin with the letter "b." Readers can reach John at 507-285-7713 or jmolseed@postbulletin.com.

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