Gov. Gavin Newsom praised President Joe Biden Sunday in a statement issued in the minutes following Biden’s announcement that he will drop out of the presidential race.

Newsom, whose name is among those considered a possible replacement for Biden on the November ballot, called Biden an “extraordinary, history-making president.”

“President Biden has been an extraordinary, history-making president — a leader who has fought hard for working people and delivered astonishing results for all Americans,” Newsom said.  “He will go down in history as one of the most impactful and selfless presidents.”

Biden made the announcement in a letter posted to social media. It comes after mounting pressure from within his own party to bow out of the president race against Republican nominee Donald Trump.

The 81-year-old president also announced his endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris, a former U.S. Senator from California and the state’s ex-attorney general. 

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President Biden has been an extraordinary, history-making president — a leader who has fought hard for working people and delivered astonishing results for all Americans. He will go down in history as one of the most impactful and selfless presidents.

Thank you, @JoeBiden. https://t.co/HMUMEB1fTl

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) July 21, 2024

Newsom, 56, has long expressed support for Biden, including after the June 27 debate that was widely viewed as a key turning point in Biden’s re-election campaign. He joined the campaign trail, rallying support in Pennsylvania, Michigan and New Hampshire. 

Newsom and Harris, 59, are both high-profile figures whose paths have crossed for years in California politics. Harris was the San Francisco District Attorney at the same time Newsom was the city’s mayor. 

Harris’ political rise began as a prosecutor in Alameda County in the early 1990s. She was elected California’s attorney general in 2010 and won re-election in 2024. She was the U.S. Senator from California from 2017 to 2021.

In a statement issued Sunday, she called Biden a patriot and thanked him for his endorsement.

“I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination,” Harris said. “Over the past year, I have traveled across the country, talking with Americans about the clear choice in this momentous election. And that is what I will continue to do in the days and weeks ahead. I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party—and unite our nation—to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda.”

After Biden’s momentous announcement, attention shifts to the Democratic National Convention one month from now in Chicago. The decision on who replaces Biden on the ticket will be made official in what will be an unprecedented party convention, scheduled for Aug. 19-22.

Scroll for more reaction from around California.

U.S. Sen. Laphonza Butler

“Our nation owes President Biden a debt of gratitude for his service and patriotism, especially in making such a difficult decision. Thanks to his leadership, the American people have witnessed historic investments in education, infrastructure, and so much more. The threat to all that progress remains, and we must now do everything we can to ensure Vice President Harris succeeds.

There’s no one better prepared for this challenge.”

U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla

“Today, President Biden put our country first, as he has done throughout his public service career.”

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Today, President Biden put our country first, as he has done throughout his public service career.

Thank you, @POTUS. pic.twitter.com/Qtm7nXQKSB

— Senator Alex Padilla (@SenAlexPadilla) July 21, 2024