Many reproductive rights advocates let out a quiet sigh of relief when President Joe Biden announced on Sunday afternoon that he would not seek reelection . Shortly after, Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris , quickly shifting the political landscape on one of the most important issues of the 2024 presidential election .

Pro-choice advocates have repeatedly knocked the president for not being more aggressive on abortion rights. Nearly half the country has effectively criminalized abortion care since the Supreme Court repealed federal protections, and the president still struggles to say the word abortion. Several progressive abortion rights groups have also criticized Biden for his Restore Roe campaign a welcomed move for a president to center abortion care but some said it didnt go far enough given how deeply flawed Roe v. Wade was.

But Harris is a different story. The vice president has been the administrations biggest defender of abortion rights in the two years since the Dobbs ruling. She has met with reproductive rights groups at the White House, traveled around the country highlighting the harms of abortion bans and advocated for affordable child care and paid family leave. Earlier this year, she became the first president or vice president to visit an abortion clinic . She also doesnt seem to have a problem saying the word abortion.

As vice president, her voice has been critical in elevating the conversation on abortion since Roe was overturned, said Renee Bracey Sherman, founder and executive director of abortion storytelling organization We Testify.

The fact that she has visited abortion clinics and met with abortion providers, thats leadership that we were asking of the president and he simply could not step up and do.

Reproductive rights groups are feeling a renewed sense of energy since Harris presumed shift to the top of the ticket. Many described Harris as much more bold and intentional when discussing abortion care a topic that has become a liability for Republicans , who many voters believe went too far with abortion restrictions post-Dobbs. Alexis McGill Johnson, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, called Harris candidacy invigorating, adding that the vice presidents presence takes the conversation around abortion rights to heights weve never seen before in a presidential campaign.

Harris is offering a glimmer of hope for Democrats.

The energy in the Democratic Party is palpable right now, Jessica Mackler, president of EMILYs List, told HuffPost. The outpouring of support that weve seen for the vice president over the past not even 24 hours is really remarkable. And I think that reflects that they understand that there is no one more prepared to win this election and no one more prepared to lead this country than Vice President Harris.

Mini Timmaraju, president of Reproductive Freedom for All, told HuffPost she was deeply honored to work with Biden and praised the president for his work on reproductive rights. But unlike the president, who started his decades-long career in politics with anti-abortion views , Timmaraju said Harris stance on abortion didnt need to evolve.

Shes deeply steeped in it. She understands it. Shes had reproductive freedom experts in her administrations, in her offices. This has been an issue in her portfolio, said Timmaraju, who has worked with the Biden-Harris administration on abortion rights. She absolutely brings new energy, enthusiasm, excitement and credibility.