Sadness. Respect. Gratitude. 

That’s how some Kentucky delegates to the Democratic National Convention reacted to the news that President Joe Biden will step aside as the party’s next nominee. 

Though the possibility that Biden could withdraw from the presidential race has dominated the news for several weeks, some delegates were still caught by surprise while they were on the road or even at church.  

Kentucky will send 54 delegates to the convention next month. Those delegates were chosen at a state convention in June. Forty-six delegates were committed to Biden while eight were “uncommitted,” meaning they could but were not required to vote for Biden. There will also be four alternates: three for Biden and one uncommitted. 

It’s not yet clear what the process will be for selecting a replacement nominee for Biden. Biden endorsed current Vice President Kamala Harris as the next nominee. Though the convention is scheduled for Aug. 19 to Aug. 22 in Chicago, the party may hold an earlier virtual roll-call to meet early electoral deadlines in some states — including Ohio. 

Should Beshear be tapped for VP? Let us know here

On Sunday, some delegates openly shared their thoughts about Biden’s decision, while others declined to comment, citing instructions from Morgan Eaves, the executive director of the Kentucky Democratic Party. 

“We respectfully ask that you please refrain from speculating or speaking to the media on possible next steps,” Eaves wrote Sunday in an email obtained by The Courier Journal. 

The Kentucky Democratic Party has also declined to share a full list of delegates heading to the convention. Spokesperson Jonathan Levin cited security concerns. 

Here’s what delegates we spoke to said:

State Rep. Rachel Roberts of Newport

“Today is a day for reflection, for everyone to just pause and reflect upon a life of service,” Roberts said, adding she feels “gratitude (to Biden) for a life so far lived in servant leadership.”  

Jack Dulworth, a member of the Democratic National Committee who sits on the executive committee from Louisville

“Today is about a great American, Joe Biden, who made a decision to move America forward,” Dulworth said. 

Johnalma Barnett, a delegate from Bowling Green who will represent Kentucky’s 2^nd Congressional District 

Barnett said she was at church Sunday afternoon when an usher showed her a cell phone with the news that Biden was stepping aside. Initially she was “surprised,” she said, even though she was expecting the news. 

“I’m still at a loss … I will support Vice President Harris, but I think the party just pushed him aside too quick,” Barnett said. “This is really based on one debate.” 

Barnett does think Harris can win, if she’s picked as the nominee. She said she was encouraged to overhear a conversation at a store where men were expressing their support for Harris. 

Barnett is not eager for Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear to become the party’s vice presidential nominee because she doesn’t want him to leave Kentucky. 

Bren Martin, a delegate from Greenup County who will represent Kentucky’s 4^th Congressional District

“I greatly respect President Biden’s choice to step out of the race. I am still processing what it means for the Democratic Party, the country and the world,” Martin told The Courier Journal. “I know this was not easy for him to do.” 

Martin said she is looking forward to moving ahead with the nomination process and is grateful to Biden for his service. 

Reach Rebecca Grapevine at rgrapevine@courier-journal.com or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @RebGrapevine.

LEXINGTON — Nearly 4,000 fans showed up at Rupp Arena Friday night to watch La Familia, a Kentucky basketball alumni team, face the 305 Ballers. The outfit flush with former Wildcats sent their supporters home happy, rolling to an 82-56 victory in the first round of The Basketball Tournament.

But in terms of attendance, the team is hoping for more come Sunday, when it squares off with The Nawf, a team comprised of players from the Atlanta area.

“We just want everybody to come out,” said Aaron Harrison, who had 13 points, five rebounds and two assists in Friday’s win. “We had a crazy crowd today. We expect it to be even crazier on Sunday. So we just want to encourage everybody to come out and have fun. I think we had a lot of fun in here today. We just want to fill Rupp.”

Tyler Ulis hopes that comes to pass.

“This is an opportunity that I feel like we won’t get much,” said Ulis, a former UK star and La Familia’s head coach. “Some of these guys are at the end of their careers, so I feel like all the fans should come out and support (them).”

The Nawf clinched its spot in the round of 32 with an 87-76 win over WoCo Showtime on Friday.

The winner of Sunday’s La Familia/The Nawf game moves on to the round of 16. That contest will be Tuesday night against the winner of Herd That/War Ready, which play at noon Sunday.

Here’s what you need to know, whether you’re attending Sunday’s game in person or following along from home:

La Familia’s matchup against The Nawf is slated to tip off at 2 p.m. Sunday at Rupp Arena.

La Familia vs. The Nawf will air on FOX.

The La Familia/The Nawf game will be livestreamed on the official TBT website, which can be accessed here.

You also can stream FOX on Fubo, which offers a free trial here.

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Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.