Image source, Getty Images
- author, Sam Cabral
- role, BBC News, Washington
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A growing number of Democrats are calling on Joe Biden to end his reelection bid and step aside for a younger candidate.
Over the past two weeks, concern has spread among politicians, donors and others in the party about his poor performance in the debates.
The 81-year-old adamantly declared he was “not going anywhere” and delivered a lengthy and largely coherent rebuttal to his critics at a NATO summit on Thursday.
But the pressure is mounting as he continues to trail in the polls against Republican rival Donald Trump.
Does anyone want Biden to step down?
It began five days after the June 27 debate. Lloyd Doggett One The 15-term congressman from Texas said it was time for Biden to “make the painful, difficult decision to step back.”
Doggett, 77, who sits on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, said that while he respected “everything President Biden has accomplished,” he had not been able to “effectively defend many of his own accomplishments” during the debate.
He was later joined by other colleagues from the House of Representatives.
- Arizona left wing Raul Grijalva He told The New York Times that the race was in a “shaky” state and that Biden “must take responsibility” for keeping the White House.
- Seth Moulton Massachusetts Sen. Joe Biden, who is running for president in 2020, told WBUR he’s no longer confident Biden can beat Trump.
- Mike QuigleyThe Illinois congressman, who helped plan the Democratic National Convention, made a direct plea to the president on MSNBC, saying that “his legacy is established” but that it’s time to “let somebody else take this on.”
- Angie CraigJohn Biden, a Democrat representing a battleground state of Minnesota, expressed concern about Biden’s performance in the debate and his “lack of a strong response” since then, and warned that “time is running out” to choose a successor.
- Adam Smith The Washington Rep., the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said Biden was no longer able to “make his case clearly, articulately and forcefully to the American people.”
- Center-left congresswoman from New Jersey Mickey Sherrill “Democrats cannot allow Trump to return to the White House,” he wrote, “and the stakes are too high and the threats too real to remain silent.”
- Pat RyanThe congressman, who represents a vulnerable district in New York state, called on Biden to “fulfill his earlier promise to be a bridge to a new generation of leadership” and step down “for the good of our country.”
- Longtime Oregon leftist Earl BlumenauerBiden, who is retiring at the end of this term, said he hopes she will not run in 2024, saying the 2024 campaign is “not just about extending the presidency but about protecting our democracy.”
- Hilary Scholten“There’s too much at stake in this election for us to stand by and be silent while there’s still time to do something,” the Michigan native told The Detroit News.
- Another Illinois moderate, Brad SchneiderWith his party’s convention set to begin next month, Biden said he must “bravely pass the baton to a new generation to lead us into the future he made possible.”
- Ed Case The Hawaii lawmaker issued a statement breaking away from the rest of his state’s delegation and saying Biden should not continue running. “Challenging times and realities call for difficult decisions,” he wrote, adding, “My guiding principle is what is best for our country.”
- Greg StantonBiden, who represents the key battleground state of Arizona, said he believes it is time for him to withdraw from the race “in the interest of American democracy and to continue to advance our shared priorities.”
- Jim HimesBiden, who has served as a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives since 2009, said on Twitter that Democrats must put up the strongest candidate possible to challenge President Trump, saying, “I no longer believe that is Joe Biden.”
- California State Assembly Scott Peters Trump also publicly stated his position. “Today, I call on President Biden to withdraw,” he said in a statement. “The stakes are high and we are headed for a loss.”
- Another Illinois congressman Eric Sorensen “I expect President Biden to recuse himself from the presidential race,” he said in a statement to X. “In 2020, Joe Biden ran for president to put country over party, and today I am calling on him to do so again.”
- Washington State House of Representatives Marie Grusenkamp Perez “I question the president’s judgment about his health and ability to perform his job,” he said, suggesting Biden should resign.
- On Friday, California Assemblyman Mike Levin joined the chorus, saying, “I believe it’s time for President Biden to pass the baton.”
- Colorado Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen She called Biden “a good man who has served this country loyally and honorably,” but said she “cannot allow my sons and my voters to suffer for inaction at this critical moment.”
Less than two weeks after the debate, for the first time, a Democratic senator called for Biden to withdraw. Peter Welch Vermont’s governor told The Washington Post, “We need the governor to put us first as he has always done, and we need him to do it now.”
Other celebrities have joined in the call.
- Lieutenant Governor of New York Antonio Delgado“By ending his campaign, Biden is able to show strength and grace and add a new chapter to his legacy,” former Congressman John Biden said.
- Former Ohio State Representative Tim RyanFormer Minister of Housing Julian Castro Self-development guru Marianne Williamson All of Biden’s primary opponents have called on him to withdraw.
- George ClooneyThe Hollywood actor and major party fundraiser told The New York Times that Biden was outdated and that his article was headlined “I like Joe Biden, but we need a new candidate.”
What are others saying?
Democratic Party leaders, including party leaders in Washington, have refrained from commenting and remained neutral on whether Biden should continue to run for president in 2024.
Nancy PelosiFormer House Speaker John Trump declined to directly answer whether he wanted Trump to continue running, as he said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” the president’s favorite news show.
“I want him to do whatever he decides to do,” she said, adding that “time is running out” to make that decision.
He replaced her as the Democratic representative in the House of Representatives. Hakeem JeffriesBiden said he has had “frank, comprehensive and calm” discussions with House members and will consult with leaders about how to proceed, but he denied that he is a political liability to House Democrats.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer While Trump has publicly said he’s “backing Joe,” he has privately told donors he’s open to switching to Biden, according to Axios.
Jamie HarrisonThe Democratic National Committee chairman has continued to defend Biden, telling MSNBC on Friday that “we need to stop nitpicking.”
Many politicians have carefully analysed the remarks, paying tribute to the president’s performance in office but noting that his low approval ratings in opinion polls and concerning public behavior raise serious questions.
Montana Jon Tester Ohio Sherrod Brown Brown is one of the two most vulnerable senators up for reelection and has largely avoided questions on the matter, with Tester saying Biden “has to prove” he’s the right man for the job.
Colleagues expressed similar concerns. Patty Murray, The Washington state senator said Biden “must work harder to show he can run a campaign strong enough to beat Donald Trump.” Michael Bennett, Colorado, He warned that Trump was on track to “win a landslide victory and take both the House and the Senate.”
Two prominent California congressmen Adam Schiff Maryland Jamie RaskinAlso served as Governor of Massachusetts Maura Healy Since the June 27 debate, they too have publicly expressed doubts.
But the president is not without his supporters.
vice president Kamala Harris She remains supportive of her boss. Gavin NewsomGovernor of California and contemporary governors of Michigan and Maryland Gretchen Whitmer and Wes Moore.
The powerful Congressional Black Caucus, which represents about a quarter of House Democrats, reaffirmed its support for Biden this week, as did the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, though some lawmakers reportedly disagree.
Biden’s most ardent supporters are also some of the most outspoken figures in Congress. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezNew York congresswoman and two-time presidential candidate Bernie Sandersand John Fetterman, Senator from Pennsylvania.
