‘Not a joyful day’: After Biden drops, KS Democrats running for Congress want action soon
The Democrats running to represent portions of Kansas City, Kansas, in Congress thanked President Joe Biden after he said he will leave the presidential race and one came close to endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for the nomination.
Former Rep. Nancy Boyda and Matt Kleinmann, a Wyandotte County community organizer, both made clear they would support the eventual Democratic nominee. Kleinmann praised Harris but left room if someone else emerges.
“Vice President Harris has been a steadfast advocate for our country, and her leadership is crucial moving forward,” Kleinmann said in a statement. “I fully support her efforts and look forward to working with her or whomever the next presidential nominee is to advance our shared goals.”
Boyda and Kleinmann are running in Kansas’ 2nd Congressional District, which includes portions of Wyandotte County and much of the eastern half of the state.
Boyda, who had called for Biden to drop out soon after his disastrous debate performance in late June, said she decided to do so after realizing he wasn’t capable of leading the country for four more years.
“I’m not joyous today. This is not a joyful day at all but it needed to happen and we just need to get going as quickly as we possibly can at this point,” Boyda said. “I don’t have an opinion about what we should do from here. I will trust the party to move forward in the way that they believe to be best.”
Neither Boyda nor Kleinmann are delegates to the Democratic National Convention, meaning they have no formal role in choosing the nominee. Biden quickly endorsed Harris on Sunday after announcing his decision to withdraw.
Whoever wins the Democratic race for Kansas’ 2nd District faces an uphill general election battle. Republican Rep. Jake LaTurner, who is retiring, won nearly 58% of the vote in 2022.
The major Republicans running in the 2nd District include former Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, former LaTurner staff member Jeff Kahrs and rancher Shawn Tiffany.
“Regardless of who the Democrats nominate, one thing is certain: Another Democrat would carry on the exact same failed Biden policies that have hurt our country and our people,” Schmidt said in a statement.
Tiffany said in a statement that “Harris will be just as bad for our country as Joe Biden.”
This story was originally published July 21, 2024 at 2:35 PM.
