BUFFALO, N.Y. — The response across Western New York was swift following President Joe Biden's announcement that he would drop out of the 2024 race for the White House on Sunday, ending his re-election bid.
Erie County Democratic Party Chair Jeremy Zellner was the first local leader to respond, praising President Biden while looking to the future.
"Joe Biden is the most successful and effective president in my lifetime, both in terms of legislative achievement and restoring faith in our democratic traditions at a grave and challenging moment for our nation.
"History will rank him among our greatest presidents, and rightly so.
"Joe Biden met the moment, and America is better and stronger because of the devoted service of this good and decent man.
"The Democratic Party now turns to the critical decision about who will be our standard bearer.
"As an elected Biden delegate, I am eagerly looking forward to leading our WNY Democratic delegation at the convention in Chicago, where we will unite behind the best candidate in order to prevent the reelection of the worst president of my lifetime, Donald Trump."
Gov. Kathy Hochul said President Biden is an "American hero, a true statesman, and he'll go down in history as one of the greatest champions of working families our nation has ever known."
United States Senator from New York and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called President Biden a "true patriot and great American" following his decision to drop out.
U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand thanked President Biden for his decades of public service to the United States. She added that it had "been an honor to serve alongside" Biden.
Rep. Nick Langworthy, who represents New York's 23rd Congressional District, said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that President Biden's decision to drop off did not go far enough.
Langworthy called for Biden to immediately resign from the White House.
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown thanked President Biden for his "incredible compassion" following the Tops mass shooting on May 14, 2022.
"I want to thank President Biden for his dedication to our Country and his strong support for the City of Buffalo. I'm honored to have worked with him to continue to grow our City, enhance public safety and utilize federal funds to improve Buffalo's infrastructure. I will always be grateful for President Biden's presence and incredible compassion after the terrible 5/14 racially motivated mass shooting. He is truly a leader all Americans can be proud of."
New York State Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar also issued the following statement:
"The charade foisted on the country by irresponsible Democrats has come to an end. President Joe Biden should have stepped aside long ago, but he's finally done the right thing and we applaud him for that. We wish him well in his future endeavors.
"This nation is ready for fundamental change from the chaotic Biden years, and President Donald Trump is fully prepared to restore us to greatness. There is no one in the Democratic Party that can stop the momentum of reform that Republicans are leading. Freedom is returning at long last."