Alaska Democratic Party endorses Kamala Harris after Biden steps aside

Alaska Democratic Party members astatine nan authorities normal successful a gym connected nan University of Alaska Anchorage field successful 2016. (Zachariah Hughes/Alaska Public Media)

Alaska’s delegation to nan Democratic National Convention endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris successful nan aftermath of Joe Biden’s announcement Sunday that he would driblet retired of nan 2024 statesmanlike race.

Party officials met Sunday evening and coalesced down Harris, according to a news merchandise from nan Alaska Democratic Party.

State Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage, 1 of 20 voting delegates, said nan news was bittersweet — Josephson said he’s proud of Biden’s record, but said Harris has a amended changeable to “reinvigorate nan Obama coalition” and conclusion Donald Trump.

“I deliberation Kamala Harris will do a amended occupation of making nan statement and presenting nan lawsuit against Donald Trump, and nan truth that nan Trump run intelligibly wanted to tally against Joe Biden tells maine everything I request to cognize astir what they fearfulness successful Kamala Harris,” Josephson said by phone. 

He said nan determination to endorse Harris was unanimous among those who attended nan Sunday evening meeting.

Delegate Ron Meehan commended Biden’s determination to measurement aside.

“I cognize that that determination was 1 that was incredibly difficult for President Biden to make, but 1 that further demonstrates his committedness to nan state supra each other — to doing what’s right,” he said successful a telephone call.

Meehan said he was optimistic that Harris could tally connected nan Biden administration’s argumentation record, pointing to investments successful infrastructure and nan conflict against ambiance change.

“Vice President Harris has a proven grounds of delivering for America’s moving families and protecting our basal freedoms. She has demonstrated her expertise to lead our state pinch strength, compassion, and dignity arsenic Attorney General, Senator, and Vice President,” authorities Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, D-Anchorage, different Alaska delegate to nan DNC, said successful a prepared statement. “I americium proud to guidelines by her arsenic nan Democratic nominee for president.”

Fellow delegate Mike Davis said immoderate floated waiting a time aliases 2 earlier moving to endorse Harris, but he said nan statement was for speedy action.

“I deliberation that nan group felt like, hey, this needs to hap now,” Davis said successful a telephone interview. “It’s important that she knows from nan get-go that she has nan support of [the] Alaska delegation, and truthful that was nan prevailing statement versus, let’s hold a time here.”

Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said successful a social media post that she “respect[s] President Biden’s determination to enactment successful nan champion liking of nan state by stepping speech successful nan 2024 statesmanlike election.” The different 2 members of Alaska’s legislature delegation, Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and Democratic Congresswoman Mary Peltola, had yet to remark connected nan news arsenic of midday Monday.

Democrats astir nan state person rallied down Harris, including immoderate who had been floated arsenic imaginable competitors. State Democratic parties successful Wisconsin, Minnesota and Kentucky, among others, besides endorsed Harris soon aft Biden’s announcement.

“Vice President Harris will transportation connected nan bequest of President Biden pinch unprecedented investments successful Alaska and our people,” Alaska Democratic Party Chair Mike Wenstrup said successful a statement. “She is well-poised to gain nan information and to triumph successful November.”