JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Sunday, President Joe Biden announced he would be backing out of his run for reelection. The Democratic Party has not decided on a nominee yet, or announced how that nominee will be chosen. However, Biden has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.
Harris has visited Jacksonville twice over the past twelve months and has been outspoken about Florida's politics.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has already come out with criticism against Harris, writing on X: "Kamala Harris was complicit in a massive coverup to hide and deny the fact that Joe Biden was not capable of discharging the duties of the office. She also was the the border czar during the worst border crisis in American history. Democrats are just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic."
Harris has several times spoken out against DeSantis's policies and education policies that changed under his tenure. Here's what she had to say during her recent visits to Duval.
Harris came to Jacksonville in person on May 29 to speak about reproductive rights. She called Florida's 6-week abortion ban "extremist."
During her speech, she said that abortion rights were paramount on the 2024 ballot and would be decided in the 2024 election. She condemned making abortion a crime. (You can read our full VERIFY on the facts of Harris's speech by clicking here.)
The following statement was provided to First Coast News via the Biden-Harris campaign after that visit:
“Today, an extreme abortion ban takes effect in Florida, banning reproductive health care before many women even know they are pregnant. There is one person responsible for this nightmare: Donald Trump. Trump brags about overturning Roe v. Wade, making extreme bans like Florida’s possible, saying his plan is working ‘brilliantly.’ He thinks it’s brilliant that more than four million women in Florida, and more than one in three women in America, can’t get access to the care they need. Now, he wants to go even further, making it clear he would sign a national abortion ban if elected. Just yesterday, he once again endorsed punishing women for getting the care they need.
“Trump is worried the voters will hold him accountable for the cruelty and chaos he created. He’s right. Trump ripped away the rights and freedom of women in America. This November, voters are going to teach him a valuable lesson: Don’t mess with the women of America.”
Harris also spoke in Jacksonville in July 2023 after a decision by Florida state education officials changed what students are taught about African American history. She said Florida's new curriculum sought to "replace history with lies."
She also spoke against book bans in Florida: “And what is happening here in Florida? Extremist so-called leaders for months have dared to ban books. Book bans in this year of our Lord 2023."
DeSantis fired back at her remarks during that talk, saying on X: “Democrats like Kamala Harris have to lie about Florida's educational standards to cover for their agenda of indoctrinating students and pushing sexual topics onto children. Florida stands in their way and we will continue to expose their agenda and their lies.”
The Duval County Democratic Party also opened a Biden-Harris campaign headquarters on Beach Boulevard in June.
Jacksonville City Councilman Rahman Johnson spoke at the event, saying his attendance serves as an official endorsement of the Biden-Harris campaign.
Johnson said while the office will serve as the new headquarters, most of the work organizers will be doing will be out in the community, making sure people are registered to vote.
“That’s why we are here. To put those ideals to work to be a better, deeper, truer America. This election is not about Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, it’s about democracy," Johnson said.
*Click here to see how Duval leaders are reacting to Biden's decision.