CASPER, Wyo. — Following the announcement that President Joe Biden will not seek a second term, Wyoming lawmakers and other politicians weighed in on the news and what it could mean for the upcoming election.

In a pair of posts on X, formerly Twitter, Gov. Mark Gordon urged Republican voters to stay energized and show up on Election Day.

“Joe Biden’s decision to step aside is the right one; but we must remember that Democrats are still in power and this administration will be in place for months to come,” the governor wrote in a statement. “I am confident that Americans will make the right choice to vote out the Biden administration’s failed policies in November by voting for President Trump and J.D. Vance.”

US Congresswoman Harriet Hageman also gave her opinion on the latest election developments. She said that Biden should not only withdraw from the race, but also resign as president.

“It’s been clear for a long time that Joe Biden has no business running an ice cream stand, let alone the most powerful nation on Earth,” Hageman said. “His decision to withdraw from the race is the right one, but it’s not the only decision he should make. He should resign as president now.”

In an earlier announcement, Biden indicated that he plans to serve out the remainder of his term.

“I believe it is in the best interests of my party and the country that I step down and focus solely on fulfilling the duties of my president for the remainder of my term,” Biden wrote in his statement.

Biden added that he will make a more extensive statement in an address to the nation later this week.

In a social media post on his personal X account, Sen. John Barrasso said the move shows Democrats “admitting to the failures of the last four years.”

“Now that Joe Biden is dropping out of the presidential race, Democrats are running away from their past of doom,” he added.

Wyoming Democrats, including Democratic Party Chairman Joe Barbuto, reacted to the news with a different tone.

“I trusted (Biden) to make a decision in the best interests of our party, nation, and world,” Barbuto wrote in a statement on X. “He has not let me down, and continues to do so today. I am impressed by the courage and patriotism it took for President Biden to make this decision; my respect for him has only grown.”

Before the announcement, Rep. Karlee Provenza (D, Laramie) of Wyoming had expressed concerns about Biden’s viability as a candidate, citing potential concerns about voter apathy if he remained in the race.

“Based on my finger on the pulse, I think there is potentially an opportunity to revitalize voters to vote in a presidential election if Biden were not the nominee,” she said.

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