四虎影院

From compassion and gratitude to cynicism and the conspiratorial, Texas鈥檚 elected officials wasted little time weighing in on President Joe Biden鈥檚 historic decision to bow out of the presidential race and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.

Biden had been under increasing pressure to forego reelection since his against former President Donald Trump late last month. An increasing number of elected officials from within his own party called for him to step aside. But as recently as this weekend, Biden he鈥檇 remain on the ticket.

His announcement Sunday now creates a chaotic few months forward for Democrats as they determine whom to coalesce around in their effort to defeat Trump in November.

鈥淚 believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,鈥� Biden said in a .

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, promptly called for Biden to step aside before his current term expires in January and lambasted Vice President Kamala Harris for what he called her inaction on the border.

In a separate statement on social media, Biden called for his party to unite around Harris and called his decision to name her his running mate four years ago 鈥渢he best decision鈥� he made.

鈥淭oday I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats 鈥� it鈥檚 time to come together and beat Trump. Let鈥檚 do this,鈥� the president said.

Though it鈥檚 unclear who the Democrats will choose to face Trump, Cornyn foreshadowed what will likely be part of the Republican strategy should Harris get the nod.

鈥淚f Dems think trading Biden for his failed Border Czar is going to change anything, they're dreaming. Under her 鈥榣eadership鈥� criminals and terrorists stream across our wide-open border & fentanyl continues to kill thousands of innocent Americans,鈥� Cornyn . 鈥淚f she can鈥檛 fix the border, how is she going to run the country? Kamala Harris is even more radical, more extreme and less competent than Joe Biden. And if Pres. Biden is not competent to run for reelection, he should step down from the presidency.鈥�

Gov. Greg Abbott also played up the border theme and offered a subtle self-promotion of his state-based border policies, which include the multi-billion Operation Lone Star. That initiative has sent thousands of state police and Texas National Guard troops to the state鈥檚 southern border.

鈥淛oe Biden has now endorsed and fully supports his 鈥楤orders Czar鈥� Kamala Harris to be the Democrat candidate for president. I think I will need to triple the border wall, razor wire barriers and National Guard on the border,鈥� he posted on social media.

Abbott later proffered, without evidence, that the early debate schedule was a backhanded attempt to force the president out.

鈥淚t looks more and more like that very early debate was a set up to force Biden to step aside. Today鈥檚 announcement may not have happened without that disastrous debate,鈥� Abbott said in a separate online post.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick piled on that theory, and continued his focus on Trump鈥檚 predecessor, former President Barack Obama, who Patrick insisted was pulling Biden鈥檚 strings behind the scenes.

鈥淥bama is seeking his 4th term as President. The June debate was a hit job on Biden by his own party; humiliating him was step one to run him out. There was no need for Biden to debate that early, as I said at the time.鈥� Patrick . 鈥淥bama has been running the White House and will continue to run it with Michelle or Kamala. They picked Biden in 2020 so Obama could serve a third term, and now Obama seeks a fourth term.鈥�

Abbott later also called for Biden to step down.

"If Biden is unfit to run FOR the presidency, he is unfit to run THE presidency. American security is at risk both at home and abroad. A change in the oval office is essential 鈥� immediately 鈥� to ensure the safety of Americans and the security of our country,鈥� on social media.

Texas Democrats, including some among the first group of lawmakers to call for Biden to step aside, for making the correct decision.

鈥淥nce again President Biden comes through for America, putting country over ego in a way that Donald Trump never could,鈥� U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, posted. 鈥淣ow we must move forward to offer a nominee, who can win over disaffected voters and energize Democrats.鈥�

Doggett nearly three weeks ago, saying he 鈥渇ailed to effectively defend his many accomplishments and expose Trump鈥檚 many lies鈥� following the June 27 debate.

Doggett also kept the door open to his party鈥檚 selection of someone other than Vice President Harris to lead the ticket this November.

鈥淲hile, with President Biden鈥檚 endorsement, Vice President Harris is clearly the leading candidate, we should be open to all talented individuals, who wish to be considered,鈥� .

Juli谩n Castro, the former mayor of San Antonio and secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, said Biden鈥檚 decision shows the president is an excellent statesman.

鈥淧resident Biden deserves enormous credit for bringing the nation back from Covid, reinvigorating our economy, moving us forward to address climate change, among many other accomplishments,鈥� he said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 been an excellent president.鈥�

Like Doggett, Castro joined of elected officials urging Biden to pass the torch.

U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, who was one of the national co-chairs of Biden鈥檚 reelection campaign, said in a post on social media that it was a privilege to work with the president, whom she called the greatest of her generation.

鈥淔rom funding climate action and infrastructure to lowering the cost of prescription drugs, historic investment for veterans healthcare, providing relief for mixed status families, fighting for women's reproductive freedom, and so much more - the Biden-Harris record is unmatched,鈥� she posted.
She then threw her support behind Harris, who Escobar said was primed to counter Trump and the GOP鈥檚 agenda.

鈥淪he, too, earned 14 million votes in the primary, & will lead the fight for our freedoms against Trump's Project 2025 that seeks end our democracy,鈥� Escobar .

Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa echoed the praise for Biden鈥檚 decision and urged voters of all parties to unite around a candidate that can defeat Donald Trump.

鈥淭he President鈥檚 decision does not come lightly, and does not discredit the momentous contributions that President Joe Biden delivered over the last four years and through decades of service,鈥� Hinojosa said in a . 鈥淭he path forward is clear: Democrats, Independents and Republicans alike must unite, mobilize and vote to once again reject Donald Trump, whose extreme defining principles are in opposition to the values of the middle class.鈥�

State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, the chairman of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, cheered Biden as an 鈥淎merican hero鈥� then urged unity in the upcoming months.

鈥淲e thank him for his service to the country he so dearly loves,鈥� he posted on social media. 鈥淲e must rally behind whomever our Democratic nominee will be.鈥�