President Joe Biden announced on his social media platforms on Sunday afternoon, July 21, that he will no longer be seeking re-election in 2024, deciding not to accept the Democratic Party’s nomination.

Biden is not the first sitting president to choose not to run for re-election, joining a list of names that includes James Polk, James Buchanan, Rutherford B. Hayes, Warren G. Harding and most recently Harry S. Truman in 1952.

Still, for a major political party to lose their preemptive party favorite this late into the campaign season — with the national election less than four months away on Tuesday, Nov. 5 — is revealing, according to a statement from the Alabama Republican Party.

“The Democratic establishment has once again shown their true colors by pushing President Biden out of the race for president,” John Wahl, Alabama Republican Party Chairman, said. “This move showcases their elitist mentality and their complete and utter disregard for the voice and will of the American people during the primary election process. Democrat voters chose Joe Biden as their nominee, and this shameful manipulation of the election process is disrespectful to the American people as well as the democratic process.”

Wahl continued in his statement from the ALGOP, noting his belief as to why Biden chose now to drop out and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for the party’s nomination.

“President Biden’s declining support was not due to his age or debate performance, but rather the result of his failed and ineffective policies,” Wahl said. “The DNC’s solution seems to be Kamala Harris, but as vice president, she has been an integral part of these same failed policies.”

Noah Wahl, the current chairman of the Limestone County Republican Party, reciprocated his brother’s sentiments in an interview with The News Courier on Monday, July 22.

“I don’t feel that Joe Biden’s mental capacity is really that much different now than it was six months ago, or even a year ago,” Wahl said. “I would have thought that if the Democrats were going to take that strategy they would’ve done it sooner. I think a lot of people are going to not be happy that the primaries are already passed, and now the party is going to have to pick their candidate for them.”

Wahl also added that he sees Biden dropping out as a win for the Republican Party, and the possible impact it will have on the results of the 2024 national election.

“I think this is actually going to help (former President) Donald Trump, and it’s going to help the Republicans in November,” Wahl said. “I don’t think the Democrats have enough time to mount a good campaign. I question whether they will even leave Kamala Harris as their nominee, we really won’t know until the Democratic Convention.”

The 2024 Democratic National Convention will begin on Monday, Aug. 19, in Chicago, Illinois, with the endorsement of Biden and various other members of the Democratic Party, Harris is expected to take the stage as the new party favorite.

Ken Hines, the former chairman of the Limestone County Democratic Party, released a statement to The News Courier on Monday and mentioned that Harris appears likely to become the Democratic nominee for president. Hines also noted the impact Biden has had in his four years as commander-in-chief.

“Joe Biden has led his administration through a challenging time in our history while achieving many worthwhile accomplishments,” Hines said. “His presidency capped many decades of dedicated public service, and is a testimony to his perseverance and determination. Those qualities that have served him, and the country, so well also made it difficult for him to recognize that some limits may be impossible to overcome.”

In his statement, Hines questioned the capabilities of Trump, who accepted his party’s nomination during the 2024 Republican National Convention last week. Trump also named J.D. Vance as his vice president pick during the convention.

“It is ironic that Donald Trump, who also has shown signs of age-related deterioration, remains in the race with the full support of his party and his followers,” Hines said. “He also preaches an agenda so at odds with our commitment to democracy and justice that, if he is elected, it would be better if his shortcomings led to failure. Kamala Harris appears likely to become the Democratic nominee for president. If so, she will be, both personally and politically, a far better candidate to lead us forward than Donald Trump.”

Nichole Brooks, who has been an Athens resident for the past 43 years, voiced her reactions to Biden stepping out of the election, disagreeing with the sentiments of Hines.

“I don’t think this will hurt Trump at all,” Brooks, a self-proclaimed Republican, said. “This will make things a little different, but I don’t know if people are going to get behind Kamala Harris. I just don’t think this is good for the Democrats right now.”

Huelet Lovell, who was born in Athens in 1943 and has lived in the area for the better part of eight decades, also voiced his opinions on Biden bowing out of the race and who he will vote for in November.

“Everybody I know is voting for Trump. Biden should have stepped out four years ago,” Lovell, another self-proclaimed Republican, said. “If he stepped out now, and is not able to be a candidate, how is he able to still be our president now?”

Johnny Trussell, a senior Athens resident originally from Winston County, said that Biden’s decision on Sunday will play little to no effect on who he is to vote for.

“I like Trump, that’s the only person I was going to vote for anyways,” Trussell said. “I didn’t really care if he stayed in, I was voting for Trump.”