ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Following President Joe Biden's exit from the 2024 presidential race, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president on Monday.
Biden's exit Sunday, prompted by Democratic worries over his fitness for office, was a seismic shift to the presidential contest that upended both major political parties' carefully honed plans for the 2024 race.
Aiming to put weeks of intraparty drama over Biden's candidacy behind them, prominent Democratic elected officials, party leaders and political organizations quickly lined up behind Harris in the hours after Biden announced he was dropping his reelection campaign.
In his statement, Moore praised Harris's experience, record, vision and wisdom. He also said one of the first calls he got following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge was from the vice president.
Moore's full statement can be read below:
"President Biden has built an extraordinary legacy throughout his five decades of public service, particularly during his time in the White House. The American people deserve a champion who will continue the progress of the Biden-Harris Administration, and that’s why I am proud to voice my full support and offer my full endorsement to Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic Nominee for President.
"I had lengthy conversations with both the President and the Vice President yesterday, and I offered my full support for Kamala Harris’ candidacy to both of them directly. Vice President Harris has the experience, record, vision, and wisdom to unify the country. President Biden selected her to serve by his side because he knew she could lead the nation. She will have the unique ability to energize the Democratic Party base and mobilize a unique coalition, and we must rally around her and elect her to serve as the next President of the United States.
"My endorsement today goes far beyond politics. The morning that the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed, one of the first calls I received was from Vice President Harris. She made clear that the entire nation stood with Maryland as we confronted one of the worst tragedies in the history of our state. In that moment, she demonstrated not just her powers of leadership, but also her powers of empathy. It’s something Dawn and I have witnessed first-hand, as we’ve gotten to know the Vice President and her extraordinary family. She has devoted her life and career to family and country.
"America is at a crossroads: Do we choose to move forward and build on the progress of record job creation and decreases in violent crime nationwide, or do we choose to go backward, toward divisive rhetoric and attacks on women’s reproductive health and other fundamental freedoms? Kamala Harris will move us forward, toward a brighter future for all. She is the fighter we need at this moment to realize the full promise of our nation."