US President Joe Biden speaks during an event at SUNY Westchester Community College in Valhalla, New York, US, on Wednesday, May 10, 2023.
Biden and congressional Republicans made little tangible progress Tuesday toward averting a first-ever US defau HARRISBURG, Pa. - A Democrat running for a vacant seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives received President Joe Biden's endorsement Monday in a race likely to determine control of the legislative chamber, with implications for abortion rights, the 2024 presidential contest and Gov.
Josh Shapiro's agenda.Biden cited the majority House stakes and referred to abortion rights in backing Heather Boyd in a special election against Republican Katie Ford in suburban Philadelphia's Delaware County.Biden's statement said the outcome of Tuesday's vote will "determine the future of so many fundamental freedoms that Pennsylvanians hold dear" and called Boyd "an experienced public servant who will protect a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions, stand up for common sense gun safety laws and expand access to voting rights."Boyd and Ford are seeking to replace Rep.
Mike Zabel, a Democrat who resigned in March after a labor lobbyist accused him sexually harassing her. Ford is a military veteran, school volunteer and behavioral therapist; Boyd is a former congressional and state legislative aide.Ford campaign chair Jamie Santora, a Republican who held the House seat until 2018, said Monday that the Biden endorsement indicates Democrats are worried the contest is close.A campaign statement provided by Santora said Biden "just endorsed a person who covered up a sexual harassment scandal for four years.