Following President Joe Biden’s announcement Sunday that he would no longer seek the Democratic party nomination for a second term as president, several Montgomery County officials and organizations have followed the lead of Biden and the party by endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for the job.
U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Dist. 8), who lives in Takoma Park and represents Montgomery County in the U.S. Congress, endorsed Harris in a text to MoCo360 Sunday.
“I totally endorse her–I can’t say it enough different ways. We will win with Kamala!” Raskin said.
Del. Jheanelle Wilkins (D-Dist. 20), who represents the Silver Spring area in the Maryland General Assembly and chairs the House Black Legislative Caucus, announced her endorsement of Harris in a press release Sunday on behalf of the Black Maryland legislators attending the Democratic National Convention (DNC) on Aug. 19 in Chicago.
“We urge the Maryland Democratic Party and all Delegates to the DNC to support Kamala Harris for President. As Vice President, Kamala Harris is the only candidate to be part of a ticket that has defeated Trump,” Wilkins wrote. “She is battle-tested and ready to beat Trump again. Democrats only have a short time to organize ourselves and unite behind a viable candidate. That candidate must be Kamala Harris.”
Five County Council members were among other local officials following suit:
Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando (D-At-large), who is a Maryland delegate to the DNC, endorsed Harris and said he will vote for her at the convention.
Council Vice President Kate Stewart (D-Dist. 4) posted her support on social media on Sunday.
Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles (D-At-large) endorsed Harris in a statement Monday.
“Biden’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris … reinforces the strength of her candidacy and emphasizes the importance of unity,” Sayles said.
Councilmember Evan Glass (D-At-large) also has shared his support of Harris in several social media posts since Biden made his endorsement Sunday.
“I’M READY FOR PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS!” councilmember Kristin Mink (D-Dist. 5) posted on X on Sunday.
Councilmember Marilyn Balcombe (D-Dist. 2) indicated her support of Harris in a social media post Sunday.
CASA in Action, the board representing CASA, a national immigrant rights organization that is headquartered in Silver Spring and has an active Maryland branch that has advocated for many Montgomery County issues, also stated its support for Harris in a press release Sunday.
“Our members are excited to welcome the first woman President–and first woman of color– President; embracing a new America led by Black, immigrant, indigenous, afro-descendant,)Latine working class people,” the organization said.
County Executive Marc Elrich (D) has not yet made an endorsement of Harris, but released a statement Sunday thanking Biden for his work as president.
“President Biden’s decision not to run for a second term is one I respect and understand,” Elrich wrote. “He has been an exceptional leader, tirelessly advocating for the needs of working men and women across this country.”
Harris has gained support from key political players in the Democratic party on the state level as well. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) both endorsed Harris on Monday. Gov. Wes Moore (D) also offered his endorsement Monday.
“My endorsement today goes far beyond politics. The morning that the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed, one of the first calls I received was from Vice President Harris,” Moore said in a press release. “She made clear that the entire nation stood with Maryland as we confronted one of the worst tragedies in the history of our state. In that moment, she demonstrated not just her powers of leadership, but also her powers of empathy.”
Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Cardin, was one of the first to endorse Harris, who has previously offered her endorsement of Alsobrooks.
“It is paramount that Democrats come together quickly and unite behind a qualified leader. Kamala Harris is that leader,” Alsobrooks said in a statement Sunday.
Former Gov. Larry Hogan, Alsobrooks’ Republican rival in the Senate race, made a statement in support of Biden’s decision, but stopped short of endorsing Harris. Hogan has been vocal about his dislike for former president and Republican nominee Donald Trump, but has not previously endorsed Democrats who ran against Trump.
“I respect President Biden for his decades of public service. I believe he made the right decision for his family and the country,” Hogan said in a press release Sunday. “These are dangerous and unprecedented times. He should be commended for putting the country ahead of personal ambition.”
Montgomery County Republican Central Committee chair Dennis Melby addressed Biden’s decision in an email newsletter Monday, but did not specifically comment on Harris.
“Here, national politics is local. Many of the folks who run the White House, Congress and the federal agencies live in Montgomery County, with their spouses and families. They’ve been lying to us,” Melby wrote. “Our President, they said, was fit as a fiddle and behind closed doors he could run rings around anyone–sharp as a tack and hard to keep up with. They were lying to us.”