This story, originally published at 7:41 a.m. July 22, 2024, was updated at 2:32 p.m. to include additional endorsements of Harris.
U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Takoma Park)–who in early July wrote to President Joe Biden likening him to a tiring star pitcher who should consider taking himself out of the game–expressed confidence late Sunday that national Democrats will “rally around” Vice President Kamala Harris as Biden’s choice to succeed him.
Characterizing Biden as “one of the great presidents of American history” just hours after Biden’s announcement that he was giving up his bid for a second term, Raskin added in an appearance on CBS News: “He’s a great leader, too, because a great leader makes way for great leaders, and helps to raise them and nurture them, and that’s what he’s done with Vice President Harris.
“We’re going to see extraordinary unity and focus in our party getting behind President Biden’s choice of Vice President Harris for president.”
Although Raskin stopped short of explicitly using the word “endorse” in talking about Harris during the nearly five-minute televised interview, he later delivered a full-throated endorsement in a text message responding to questions from MoCo360.
“I totally endorse her–I can’t say it enough different ways. We will win with Kamala!” said Raskin, whose 8th District includes about three-quarters of Montgomery County’s registered voters.
During four terms in Congress, Raskin achieved national visibility as the lead manager in the 2021 impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump arising out of the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol, and later as a member of the ad hoc committee investigating the events of the insurrection.
Also backing Harris Sunday was U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey, a Prince George’s County-based Democrat whose 4th District includes about 20,000 voters in eastern Montgomery County. “I’m going to endorse her—I think she’s a great candidate,” Ivey told Fox News. “She’s the only person who can actually carry on the Biden-Harris legacy because she was part of that team.”
Several other leading Maryland Democrats, however, appeared Sunday to be keeping their options open in the wake of Biden’s announcement that he was dropping his bid. The Sunday afternoon announcement came after weeks of intraparty controversy following Biden’s weak performance in a June 27 televised debate against Trump, who was formally nominated last week by the Republican Party as its 2024 nominee.
Such hesitation may reflect uncertainty within the party over whether to line up behind Harris–as Biden and former President Bill Clinton urged Sunday–or to opt for a more open process in the month-long runup to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in late August, an approach supported by former President Barack Obama.
“I commend President Biden’s decision to allow a new generation of leaders to take this country to new heights–leaders who will continue his legacy of unity and strength, of focusing on what brings us together, not what tears us apart,” U.S. Rep. David Trone said in a statement in which he made no mention of Harris. Trone represents the 6th District, which contains about one-quarter of county voters.
Trone–a leading Democratic fundraiser who has held fundraising events for Biden at his Potomac residence–is relinquishing his congressional seat at the end of 2024 after an unsuccessful run for the Democratic Senate nomination in the May primary against Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks.
Alsobrooks, who has been friends with Harris for more than a decade, delivered an unrestrained endorsement for the vice president to move to the top spot on the Democratic ticket.
The two women have known each other since Alsobrooks was first elected state’s attorney for Prince George’s County in 2010, and Harris was chosen as California’s attorney general the same year. As a U.S. senator, Harris endorsed Alsobrooks in the hotly contested 2018 primary when Alsobrooks was elected county executive. She also made a campaign stop in Maryland last month after Alsobrooks won the Democratic Senate nomination.
Returning the favor Sunday, Alsobrooks declared in a statement: “… It is paramount that Democrats come together quickly and unite behind a qualified leader. Kamala Harris is that leader.”
Alsobrooks added she is “proud to be behind her 100% and know that she will defeat Donald Trump and continue the great legacy of accomplishments that President Joe Biden and she spearheaded. Kamala, my friend, let’s go!”
U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Kensington), an early backer of Alsobrooks in her bid for the Democratic Senate nod, made no mention of Harris in his initial statement issued Sunday following Biden’s withdrawal. “President Biden has always put our country first, and in making this decision, he has once again done what he thinks is best for the future of our democracy,” Van Hollen said.
But, by mid-day Monday, Van Hollen had joined the swelling number of elected Democratic officials jumping on the Harris bandwagon, as he said in a follow-up statement: “Having served with her in the Senate, and worked closely together during her time as vice president, I’ve seen firsthand that she has what it takes to defeat Trump this November and to continue moving our nation forward. The stakes for our democracy could not be higher–and I’m committed to working alongside Vice President Harris to get the job done.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Baltimore)–who is vacating the seat that Alsobrooks is seeking to capture this November in a competitive general election contest with former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan–threw his support behind Harris in a post on X late Sunday. “Now the nation must unite–Democrats, independents and Republicans–behind Kamala Harris to be the next president of the United States of America,” Cardin declared.
In a separate official statement, Cardin paid tribute to Biden, with whom he shares a long history. When first elected to the Senate, Cardin–who now chairs the Foreign Relations Committee–was appointed to a seat on that panel, chaired at the time by then-Delaware Sen. Biden.
“Joe Biden is a friend and has been a passionate public servant throughout his lifetime, putting the needs of this nation first time and again. As president, he has led an administration that for nearly four years has helped our nation, helped our people and has created hope and opportunity where there was sickness, despair and inequality.
“For all this and more, Joe Biden has earned the right to determine his own future and I respect his decision,” continued Cardin, while not mincing words with regard to Trump. “Donald Trump is unfit to hold elected office. Democrats, along with independents and Republicans, now must be united and focus our attention on preserving our nation, our Constitution and our way of life under the rule of law.”
Raskin also went after Trump, utilizing his trademark sardonic humor. “Kamala Harris is a prosecutor. She made her career as a prosecutor. Donald Turmp is a convicted felon,” Raskin said during his CBS News appearance, referencing the former president’s recent conviction.
In May, a New York jury found Trump guilty of 34 counts following a trial on allegations of covering up hush money payments to an adult film star.
Alluding to Trump’s vice-presidential running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Raskin gibed: “I think America is realizing that J.D. Vance has no convictions at all. But Donald Trump has at least 34 convictions right now–and he can share some of those with J.D. Vance.”
Raskin then offered a prediction.
“The framework of the race is clear at this point–Kamala Harris is going to prosecute this case for democracy and freedom across the country … and she will prosecute the case against Donald Trump and J.D. Vance,” he said. “She’s going to be an extraordinarily powerful candidate.”