ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – After Sunday’s announcement from President Joe Biden that he will not seek reelection in 2024 and instead endorses Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic party’s presidential nominee, Alaskans on both sides of the aisle shared their impressions and concerns.

Among them was Mike Wenstrup, chair of the Alaska Democratic Party.

“My biggest reaction was just seeing yet another example of how selfless and how much of a patriot President Biden is,” Wenstrup said. “He’s putting this country ahead of his own interest in what he wants. He’s been one of the most consequential presidents of my lifetime. And I think this is just another example of him, putting America first.

Wenstrup also explained how the nomination for president would go forward since many delegates have already pledged votes to Biden.

“Because of President Biden ending his campaign, all his pledged delegates are free to vote for any candidate of their choosing. I do believe there’s going to be a groundswell and movement towards everyone endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris moving forward. I’ve spoken to several of our delegates currently — I’ve spoken also to our leadership — and many of us are at this point that, those that I’ve spoken to, are all strongly supporting Vice President Harris.”

While members of the party decide who will lead their ticket in November, Wenstrup said he supports Harris as the next Democratic presidential nominee.

“I think there’s a ton of great Democratic leaders across the country who would make a great president. Nobody has vice President Harris’s record and her ability to not only unite the party but unite the country and become the first woman president,” he said.

The Alaska Republican Party’s chairman Carmela J. Warfield said in a statement posted to social media that the state’s party stands behind former president Donald Trump.

“The Alaska Republican Party stands united behind President Donald J. Trump and we will win in November,” Warfield wrote.

Other members of the party expressed support for Biden’s decision to withdraw from the upcoming election. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said in a social media post that she respects his decision not to seek reelection.

“I respect President Biden’s decision to act in the best interest of the country by stepping aside in the 2024 presidential election,” Murkowski said.

Rep. Jamie Allard, R-Eagle River, was a delegate at the 2024 Republican National Convention last week that endorsed former president Donald Trump. She doesn’t think the change on the ticket will have much affect on her constituents.

“I don’t think it impacted the constituents in my district — and I say that because we’re going full speed ahead with President Trump and getting him elected with our vice president J.D. Vance,” Allard said. “I wasn’t shocked. I mean, it was coming. We all knew it. There was no surprise. I was like, it’s about time.”

Allard remains steadfast in her support of Trump.

“I believe President Trump will be uniting our country, and we need to move forward. And we all need to come together, reach across the lines to be a unified country. But that doesn’t mean we compromise our values, or compromise our direction in which the country should go in order to be the greatest country in the world.”

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