Colorado DNC delegates respond to President Biden not seeking re-election

DENVER — Democrats said Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race isn’t shocking, but does force the party to make some quick decisions.

“As a Democrat, no one is thrilled to not see a leader continue, but I can’t tell you how absolutely thrilled I am to see the torch passed to Vice President Kamala Harris,” said Wanda James, a Colorado delegate.

James is set to attend the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago next month. She said going into the convention and her agenda remains the same: to pick the best candidate to represent the party. She said that candidate is undoubtedly Kamala Harris.

“To me, it makes the most political sense to go with our vice president,” James said. “That’s exactly where we should be. And once again, this is the job she’s been preparing for the last three and a half years.”

James said she’s been supportive of minority candidates from Barack Obama to Hillary Clinton to Kamala Harris. 

She said she hosted a fundraiser at her home in 2019 when Kamala was running for president. Now, she’s ready to get her to the next level in office.

“The idea that we are poised to elect the first female president is monumental,” James said. “We had this opportunity before and we cracked that ceiling. Cracked it into a million pieces.”

She said she also understands the weight of supporting Harris as a woman of color.

“As a Black woman, to be able to support a biracial Black and Asian woman is once again the honor of my lifetime,” James said.

James will be joined in Chicago with Colorado State Representative Leslie Herod, who is also serving as a delegate. She echoed sentiments of breaking through glass ceilings when it comes to seeing Harris excel.

“I know she’s ready to fight this fight and I know she’s ready to inspire a nation to be proud to vote,” Herod shared.

Herod said she’s been to several DNCs, but knows this year’s convention will be under a microscope unlike any other.

“It’s unprecedented, but it’s transformational in a time when our country needs that type of unity and type of transformation and that really clear message of who we are as Americans and how we’re going to fight for each other,” Herod said.

Herod said she’s been 100% supportive of the Biden-Harris administration and ready to support Harris’ potential presidency. She said her intent is to back Harris at the convention.

“It is no question where I will be going or who I will be supporting,” Herod said. “I will be supporting Vice President Harris to be our next president.”

Herod said her Sunday consisted of a flurry of calls from all over. She said delegates met to discuss next steps which are still being decided, she said.

“We know there is a long road ahead of us,” Herod said. “We do have the time to not only make sure the mechanisms are in place for us nominate the next president but also get the message out there as a party, country and ticket.”