Gov. Jared Polis addresses the audience after being sworn in to office during his inauguration ceremony at the Colorado Capitol in Denver, Jan. 10, 2023. (Kevin Mohatt for Colorado Newsline)
Gov. Jared Polis endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for president Sunday only hours after President Joe Biden ended his bid for reelection and endorsed Harris.
Polis made the endorsement in a post on X.
“I am thrilled to support Vice President Harris — Kamala has a vision of hope and a future we all can believe in,” Polis wrote.
Earlier on Sunday, Polis seemed to hint at his endorsement of Harris in a tweet that consisted solely of three emojis — a coconut, a palm tree and an American flag, an apparent reference to a meme concerning Harris.
The endorsement came as part of a cascade of support for Harris among Colorado Democrats. Other top Democrats in the state who had endorsed Harris by Sunday evening included Secretary of State Jena Griswold and U.S. Reps. Joe Neguse of Lafayette, Brittany Pettersen of Lakewood and Jason Crow of Centennial.
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Other Democratic delegates, who will help formally choose the party’s presidential nominee, also appeared to coalesce behind Harris. Two delegates, former state Rep. Joe Salazar and state Rep. Meg Froehlich of Greenwood Village, told Newsline that a meeting of the state party’s central committee Sunday was characterized by strong support for Harris, and no members expressed support for an alternative.
Biden announced he would drop out of the 2024 presidential race in a letter posted to social media, one month before he was scheduled to officially accept his party’s nomination. Questions about his viability as a candidate gained urgency after a disastrous June 27 debate performance against former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for president.
Top Democrats in the state on Sunday expressed gratitude for Biden, lauding his service to the country and for his decision to make way for another candidate.
“We may not know what comes next, but by passing the torch to a new standard bearer, President Biden has again given us the chance to beat Donald Trump and give our children the future they deserve,” U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet said in a statement.
Bennet had previously voiced some of the strongest words of doubt about Biden’s candidacy among top Colorado Democrats.
“For more than 50 years in public service, President Biden has always put the country before any personal concern or ambitions. It’s just who he is,” U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper said in a post on X. “His presidency – and career – will be remembered alongside Roosevelt’s and Johnson’s for its scale, magnitude, and lasting impact on American society.”
Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert of Windsor said if Biden can’t run for office he should resign “immediately.”
Delegates of the Democratic Party are scheduled to vote for a presidential candidate during a virtual roll call in early August, a process that had been established before Biden dropped out of the race. In exiting the race, Biden endorsed Harris to replace him on the presidential ticket. Other people who have been mentioned as possible Democratic presidential nominees include Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Some commentators have also cited Polis as a contender.
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