Pennsylvania political leaders took to social media on Sunday to respond to President Joe Biden’s announcement that he would step down as the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee, and expressed support for Vice President Kamala Harris.

In messages and statements, Democrats unanimously praised Biden for his decades of public service in the Senate and later in the White House, describing his presidency as one of the most successful in modern history.

Sen. Steve Santarsiero, D-10, and chairman of the Bucks County Democratic Party, placed an “X” on his support for Harris for president and thanked Biden for his “lifetime of service to our country,” adding, “You will always have a home here in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.”

“History will judge Joseph R. Biden as one of the greatest presidents since the end of World War II,” Santasiero said. “It will also record him as someone who saved American democracy once, in 2020, and with this selfless act today, very likely this year as well.”

Bucks County Democratic Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia said neither she nor the county would be releasing a statement on Biden’s announcement. Marseglia, of Middletown, and Santarsiero are among six Bucks County delegates who have committed to Biden’s attendance at next month’s DNC in Chicago.

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Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro released a statement Sunday endorsing Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee at the DNC. The Montgomery County resident and former Pennsylvania attorney general said he has known Harris for nearly two decades.

He called the vice president a leader who will continue the work of “generations of Americans who came before us to perfect our union, protect our democracy, and advance true freedom.”

“The best path forward for the Democratic Party is to quickly unite behind Vice President Harris and refocus on winning the presidency,” Shapiro added. “The contrast in this race could not be clearer, and the path to victory in November runs right through Pennsylvania.”

Democrat Ashley Ehasz, a war veteran who is running in a rematch with Republican incumbent Brian Fitzpatrick for the 1st Congressional District seat, wrote on “X” that she respects the president’s decision not to seek re-election.

“I am deeply grateful to him for all he has done for the American people,” she added.

As of Sunday evening, Fitzpatrick’s campaign had not released a statement regarding Biden’s resignation as the Democratic nominee, nor had he posted anything about it on “X.”

Madeleine Dean, a Democratic congresswoman from Montgomery County and representative of the Fourth District, thanked Biden for his service in a statement on X. She added that Biden has led the United States with “dignity, empathy and unwavering patriotism” since 2021.

“He has prioritized everyday Americans, guided the United States through the pandemic recovery, and passed some of the most consequential legislation in a generation, including modernized infrastructure, cleaner water, lower prescription drug costs, and the first gun safety law in 30 years, to name a few,” Dean wrote.

Democrat Sen. Robert Casey Jr. wrote on “X” that Biden deserves the gratitude of a nation for his historic achievements, including rebuilding our economy after the pandemic and delivering the largest infrastructure investment in modern history.

“He has had an exemplary career in public service. He is a patriot who has always put our country first,” Casey wrote in his post.

But not everyone on social media congratulated and thanked Biden or his party.

Rep. David Winkler, a war veteran who challenged Dean in November, lashed out at Democrats in a message on “X” in response to Biden’s announcement, calling it evidence of a “coup.”

“Let’s be clear, this was not a Democratic exit by Biden. This was a coup by Democratic donors and elites determined to retain temporary power. The Democratic Party is everything they claim Republicans are with this move,” Winkler wrote.

Winkler said that based on the number of “unbound” delegates, there is “no legal way” the party can replace Biden after the first round of voting to join the Super Delegation and called it a “move to undermine the free and fair electoral process of the 2024 presidential primaries.”

“Over 12 million Americans voted for President Biden in all 50 states and he won every primary and every delegate,” Winkler added. “This is a real danger to our republic, that when you don’t have a path, you change the candidate after the people have spoken.”

In a series of messages appearing on “X,” Rep. David McCormick, who is challenging Casey for his seat as Pennsylvania’s Senate representative, used Biden’s announcement to link Casey to the president and what he called the Democrats’ “disastrous liberal agenda.”

“Despite knowing that Joe Biden was NOT fit to serve as Commander in Chief, Casey continued to stand by him,” McCormick wrote, calling Casey an “empty shell,” a “habitual liar,” and a “career politician.”

“Bob Casey cannot walk away from the disastrous liberal agenda he has championed over the past three and a half years and throughout his 30 years of receiving a taxpayer-funded salary,” McCormick added.

Jo Ciavaglia can be reached at [email protected]

This article originally appeared in the Bucks County Courier Times: How did Bucks and Montgomery County leaders react to Biden’s withdrawal?