Pressure Mounts on President Biden to Drop Reelection Bid
In a surprising turn of events, nine more House Democrats and one Democratic senator have joined the growing chorus of voices urging President Biden to step aside from his reelection bid. This pressure campaign against the president shows no sign of subsiding, even weeks after his disastrous performance in last month’s presidential debate.
The four House members leading this charge – Reps. Jared Huffman of California, Marc Veasey of Texas, Chuy Garcia of Illinois, and Mark Pocan of Wisconsin – issued a joint statement on Friday calling on Mr. Biden to “pass the torch to a new generation of Democratic leaders.” Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico soon followed suit, becoming the third Senate Democrat to urge Mr. Biden to withdraw from the campaign. They were soon joined by Reps. Greg Landsman of Ohio, Zoe Lofgren of California, Morgan McGarvey of Kentucky, Betty McCollum of Minnesota, and Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico.
Of particular note is the fact that two of the representatives, Veasey and Garcia, are members of key caucuses on Capitol Hill whose support Mr. Biden has actively courted. Veasey is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, while Garcia and Vasquez belong to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
Despite Mr. Biden’s efforts to engage with these groups, concerns about his age and fitness for a second term persist. The lawmakers warned in their message to the president that these perceptions have solidified in the aftermath of the debate and are unlikely to change. They believe that stepping aside as the Democratic nominee would be the most responsible and patriotic course of action at this moment.
The House Democrats emphasized the deep bench of young leaders within the party, led by Vice President Kamala Harris, who are ready to take the reins from Mr. Biden. They argued that passing the torch would fundamentally change the trajectory of the campaign, reinvigorating it with enthusiasm and momentum heading into the upcoming convention.
The growing number of lawmakers publicly calling for Mr. Biden to step aside now exceeds two dozen, reflecting a significant shift in sentiment within the Democratic Party. Senator Heinrich stressed the importance of selecting a candidate who can defeat former President Donald Trump in the upcoming election, emphasizing that it is in the country’s best interest for Mr. Biden to step aside.
While Mr. Biden has resisted calls to end his campaign, maintaining that he is the presumptive Democratic nominee chosen by the voters, the pressure continues to mount. His recent diagnosis of COVID-19 forced him to quarantine, temporarily sidelining him from the campaign trail.
In response to the dissent within the party, Mia Ehrenberg, a spokesperson for the Biden campaign, emphasized the diversity of opinions within the Democratic Party but underscored the shared goal of defeating Donald Trump in November. Despite the differing views, the party remains united in its commitment to ensuring a fair and democratic America.
While some House Democrats have called for Mr. Biden to step aside, others, like Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, continue to publicly support the president. Jeffries lauded Mr. Biden’s track record of success and his vision for the future, expressing confidence in his ability to make a compelling case to the American people.
As the pressure on President Biden intensifies, the future of the Democratic Party remains uncertain. With calls for new leadership growing louder, the president faces a critical decision that could reshape the party’s prospects in the upcoming election. Only time will tell how this internal debate will ultimately impact the Democratic Party and its chances of success in the 2024 race.
