ATLANTA — President Joe Biden delivered the extraordinary news Sunday that he would be ending his reelection bid. While there had been growing calls among some Democrats for the 81-year-old to step aside, his support among Georgia Democrats had remained strong.
Among his top Georgia surrogates were Sen. Raphael Warnock, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. All, in the last few weeks, had reaffirmed their support for the president.
Among Democrats who were quick to react in Georgia, there was both praise for Biden and his presidential record of the last four years, as well as support for Vice President Kamala Harris -- who was immediately endorsed by Biden to be his successor as the Democratic nominee.
Atlanta Mayor Andre DIckens called Biden "an extraordinary American who has dedicated his entire life to working people."
"His incredible record on jobs, the economy, climate, reproductive rights, and his leadership on the world stage make him one of the most consequential leaders in history," Dickens wrote. "Atlanta is stronger because of his leadership. Our nation is better off because of his service and I'm proud to call him friend, leader, and most of all, President."
Republicans, meanwhile, took the news and questioned how Biden can step aside from his reelection campaign, but not the office of the president.
"How can we trust he's able to serve 6 more months?" wrote former Sen. Kelly Loeffler. "Resign."
Jimmy Carter's grandson, former Georgia state Sen. Jason Carter, took a more personal angle, responding on X to Naomi Biden as one grandchild of a president to another:
More reactions
Bottoms issued a statement saying "my heart is filled with a profound sense of sadness and admiration for the man who ahs served our nation with unwavering dedication and grace."
Abrams wrote a lengthy post praising Biden and calling on Democrats to "rally together and show the world the strength and resilience of our democracy."
Georgia's Republican Lt. Gov. Burt Jones said Democrats "can replace their nominee, but can't change the damage they've done to this border and economy."
"He’s been the most effective President of our lifetime, and for that I am truly grateful to @JoeBiden," Georgia state Sen. Jason Esteves wrote on X.
Another Democratic state senator, Elena Parent, wrote: "The contrast President Biden and the Democrats have just drawn with former president Trump and the GOP could not be more clear. Here is a man who puts the country ahead of himself. The GOP has a delusional megalomaniac on their hands, who would never do such a thing. #gapol"
Erick Allen, the former chair of the Cobb County Democratic Committee and a former state representative, said on X, "Now this time to move on and rally around @KamalaHarris. I was the first elected official in Georgia to endorse her in 2020 and once again I will work tirelessly to get her elected in November. #gapol"
"As I have said, If he is not mentally or physically fit to run for reelection why should the American people believe he is fit to continue as President?" former congressional Rep. Doug Collins wrote.
The chairman of the Georgia Republican Party, Josh McKoon, argued Biden "must resign from office immediately. "If he is not fit to run, he is not fit to serve," McKoon wrote.
Bernice King, Martin Luther King Jr.'s daughter and CEO of the King Center, wrote her "heart goes out to President Biden and his family."
Martin Luther King III, global activist and son of civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr., stated that Biden "restored the soul of our nation."
"I thank President Biden for his leadership and service to our nation, and I pledge my support to Vice President Kamala Harris," Georgia Congressman Hank Johnson said in a statement.
Republican Congressman Buddy Carter argued against the decision, criticizing Biden's exit from the race and his endorsement of VP Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for president.
He also mentioned Laken Riley, the 22-year-old nursing student who was killed while going for a run on the University of Georgia campus in late February.
"Now that Biden has stepped aside, those same party bosses are conspiring to anoint a new candidate, whose legacy as 'Border Czar' is stained with the blood of thousands of Americans who have died due to the fentanyl and criminals who have come across our wide-open southern border, including Laken Riley right here in Georgia.
This is a developing story. Refresh often for further updates.