Alabama Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Hoover, said Democrats have succeeded in “pushing Joe Biden out of the presidential race” and that it does not matter whom the party choose as the nominee in the 2024 election following the president’s announce he will step aside.

“The Democratic Party has now succeeded in pushing Joe Biden out of the presidential race,” Palmer said in an official statement. “It was evident well before the debate with Donald Trump that Biden’s mental acuity was severely diminished, but the Biden White House and the Democrats covered it up. The question now is whether or not he has the ability to continue to serve as President.”

Palmer said regardless of whom they choose as the nominee, Americans will vote on the policies and not the person.

“What the American people should clearly understand is that it doesn’t matter who the Democrats choose because whoever they choose will continue to push policies that will keep the cost of living too high, leave our border open, and make our communities less safe,” Palmer said. “They may change the person on the Democratic ticket, but the policies will not change.”

Alabama Rep. Terri Sewell also announced her endorsement of Harris on Sunday.

“November’s election remains the most critical of our lifetime, when our rights and freedoms hang in the balance. For the sake of our democracy, we as Democrats should come together, follow President Biden’s lead, and unite behind Kamala Harris as our nominee.”

High profile Democrats in Alabama have expressed support for Vice President Kamala Harris as the nominee now that Biden has announced he will not seek reelection.

Alabama Rep. Terri Sewell, R-Birmingham, emphatically endorsed Harris and said she plans to help her beat former President Donald Trump in November.

“I plan to do everything in my power, from now until November, to make Kamala Harris the next President of the United States,” Sewell said.

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin also announced public support for Harris.

“President @JoeBiden’s endorsement of Vice President Harris speaks volumes,” Woodfin posted on X/Twitter. “Her leadership, resilience, and commitment to progress have been evident throughout his administration.

“Proud to stand with @KamalaHarris. Let’s get to work!”

Shortly after his historic announcement, Biden also endorsed Harris.

“My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best decision I’ve made,” Biden said in a statement. “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”

Biden dropped out of the 2024 race for the White House on Sunday, ending his bid for reelection following a disastrous debate with Donald Trump that raised doubts about his fitness for office just four months before the election.

The decision comes after escalating pressure from Biden’s Democratic allies to step aside following the June 27 debate, in which the 81-year-old president trailed off, often gave nonsensical answers and failed to call out the former president’s many falsehoods.

Biden plans to serve out the remainder of his term in office, which ends at noon ET on Jan. 20, 2025.

“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” Biden wrote in a letter posted to his X account.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.