[ad_1]
President Joe Biden faced increasing pressure from some members of his party to withdraw from the 2024 race following his debate debacle in late June. In a remarkable drip of defections, some prominent Democrats have publicly urged the president to drop out and have voiced concerns that he cannot win against Donald Trump in November.
Others have stopped short of calling for Biden’s withdrawal, but warned that Democrats will lose the election if he stays on the ticket. Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet said on Tuesday that he believed Trump and Republicans are currently on track to win the election by a landslide. “So for me, this isn’t a question about polling, it’s not a question of politics. It’s a moral question about the future of our country,” he said.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., also avoided giving a direct answer about whether Biden should stay on the ticket, telling MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Wednesday that “it’s up to the president to decide” if he will stay on the ticket or not. “We’re all encouraging him to to make that decision,” she said. “Because time is running short.”
Here’s a running list of top Democrats, including sitting members of Congress, who have explicitly called for Biden to pull out of the ticket:
New York Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado
In a statement on Wednesday, Delgado said he has “immense respect and admiration” for Biden, but encouraged him to step aside and let a new Democratic candidate who is “capable of re-invigorating and re-energizing Americans” take his place.
Biden “can add to his legacy, showing his strength and grace, by ending his campaign and making room for a new leader,” Delgago said.
New York’s governor, Kathy Hochul, has appeared to stick by Biden.
New York Rep. Pat Ryan
Ryan, a moderate, said Wednesday that he hopes Biden will step aside “for the good of the country,” becoming the 11th House Democrat to do so.
“I really hope, with all my heart, that he will listen,” Ryan told The New York Times.
New Jersey Rep. Mikie Sherrill:
Sherrill became the 10th House Democrat to urge Biden not to run, saying in a statement on Tuesday that the threat of another Trump term is “too real.”
“And because I know President Biden cares deeply about the future of our country, I am asking that he declare that he won’t run for reelection and will help lead us through a process toward a new nominee,” she said.
Washington Rep. Adam Smith
Smith on Sunday was one of four senior Democrats to call for Biden to drop out of the 2024 race during a phone call convened by House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, reported NBC News, citing multiple people familiar with the discussion.
Smith is the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee.
He reiterated his call with a public statement on Monday: “The president’s performance in the debate was alarming to watch and the American people have made it clear they no longer see him as a credible candidate to serve four more years as president. Since the debate the president has not seriously addressed these concerns.”
New York Rep. Jerry Nadler
Nadler was another one the four senior Democrats to call for Biden’s withdrawal from the race during the call with Jeffries, according to NBC News. He is the top Democrat on on the House Judiciary Committee.
On Tuesday, Nadler seemed to walk back his initial push for Biden to drop out. He told the Times that he still has concerns about the president’s re-election bid but that those are now “beside the point.”
“He’s going to be our nominee,” Nadler said, “and we all have to support him.”
California Rep. Mark Takano
Like Smith and Nadler, Takano voiced his concern with Biden’s re-election bid on the call with Jeffries, reported NBC News. He is the top Democrat on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
New York Rep. Joe Morelle
Morelle joined Smith, Nadler and Takano on the Sunday call with Jeffries in saying Biden should step aside as presumptive Democratic nominee, NBC News reported. He is the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee.
Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig
On Saturday, Craig became the fifth House Democrat to call for Biden’s withdrawal from the race. She said in a statement that she does not believe Biden can win against Trump, given Biden’s debate performance and “the lack of a forceful response” from him afterward.
“This is not a decision I’ve come to lightly, but there’s simply too much at stake to risk a second Donald Trump presidency,” Craig said.
Illinois Rep. Mike Quigley
Quigley told MSNBC’s Chris Hayes last week that he believes Biden should withdraw from the 2024 race, becoming the fourth House Democrat to do so.
“Mr. President, your legacy is set,” Quigley said during an appearance on “All In With Chris Hayes,” shortly before Biden’s high-stakes interview with ABC News aired on Friday.
“We owe you the greatest debt of gratitude,” Quigley continued. “The only thing that you can do now to cement that for all time and prevent utter catastrophe is to step down and let someone else do this.”
Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton
Moulton last week became the third sitting House Democrat to call for Biden to step aside, telling WBUR that it was time to “let new leaders rise up and run against Donald Trump.” He said he came to that decision after speaking with fellow Democrats about Biden’s chances in the election.
“That’s what’s most important,” Moulton said. “We have to win.”
Arizona Rep. Raúl Grijalva
Grijalva called for Biden to withdraw from the race last week, telling the Times: “What he needs to do is shoulder the responsibility for keeping that seat — and part of that responsibility is to get out of this race.”
He said he would support Biden if he decides to continue running, but he questioned whether the president could beat Trump in November.
Julián Castro, former Housing and Urban Development secretary
Castro wrote in a post on X last week that Biden’s debate performance “disturbingly demonstrated that he is unable to effectively prosecute the case against Donald Trump — much less inspire and mobilize voters to the polls.”
Castro, who ran against Biden in 2020, said the president was no longer the same campaigner as he was four years ago, and that he “looks very likely” to lose to Trump.
“President Biden should fulfill his promise to be a bridge to the next generation of leadership — and allow a stronger Democratic candidate to prevent a disastrous second Trump term,” Castro wrote.
Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett
Doggett was the first sitting member of Congress to call for Biden’s withdrawal, saying in a statement last week: “I represent the heart of a congressional district once represented by Lyndon Johnson. Under very different circumstances, he made the painful decision to withdraw. President Biden should do the same.”
Former Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan
Ryan, who had questioned whether Biden should run for re-election as early as 2022, declared in a Newsweek op-ed last week that Vice President Kamala Harris should be the Democratic presidential nominee.
“Witnessing Joe Biden struggle was heartbreaking. And we must forge a new path forward,” he wrote. “Those who say that a Harris candidacy is a greater risk than the Joe Biden we saw the other night and will continue to see are not living in reality.”
Hayley Miller contributed reporting.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
[ad_2]
Source link