After Joe Biden’s disastrous performance in his first debate against Donald Trump raised concerns about his age and fitness for office, the president faces growing calls to step down as the Democratic nominee in November.
Biden reacted strongly, telling MSNBC that “party elites” were behind calls for him to resign, claiming strong support from real voters and challenging skeptics in his own party to “run against me.” Go ahead. Advertise for president – challenge me at the convention!”
No one has gone that far yet, but a growing number of Democratic elected officials have publicly called for Biden to resign or have reportedly done so in private. Here they are:
Lloyd Doggett (Texas)
The veteran Texas congressman was the first to leave, saying last week: “Recognizing that, contrary to [Donald] Trump, President Biden’s first commitment has always been to our country, not to himself, I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw. I respectfully ask that he do so.”
Raúl Grijalva (Arizona)
A prominent progressive congressman from a swing state, Grijalva has influence in his party. Following Doggett, the 76-year-old told the New York Times: “What [Biden] What you need to do is take responsibility for keeping this seat – and part of that responsibility is getting out of this race.” Grijalva also said that Democrats “have to win this race, and we have to control the House and the Senate,” because otherwise the party’s achievements under Biden “would go down the drain.”
Seth Moulton (Massachusetts)
The former Marine and U.S. congressman, who briefly challenged Biden for the nomination in 2020, counted a Boston radio station: “President Biden has done our country a tremendous service, but now is the time for him to follow in the footsteps of one of our founding fathers, George Washington, and step aside to allow new leaders to emerge.” Moulton has since doubled down, quoting the “disaster” of the debate.
Mike Quigley (Illinois)
Talking for MSNBC on Friday, Quigley, a congressman from Illinois, said, “Mr. President, your legacy is set. We owe you the greatest debt of gratitude. The only thing you can do now to cement this for good and avoid a total catastrophe is to resign and let someone else do it.”
Angie Craig (Minnesota)
About Saturdaythe congresswoman he said: “Given what I saw and heard from the president during last week’s debate in Atlanta, along with the lack of a forceful response from the president himself following that debate, I do not believe the president can effectively campaign on and beat Donald Trump. That’s why I respectfully ask President Biden to step down as the Democratic nominee for a second term as president and allow a new generation of leaders to step forward.”
Adam Smith (Washington)
On Monday, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee said the party’s presidential nominee must be able to clearly, articulately and strongly present its case to the American people. “It is clear that President Biden is no longer able to shoulder this burden,” Smith told CNN. Smith also said he was “begging” Biden to “step back. See what’s best for the party, see what’s best for the country.”
Mikie Sherrill (New Jersey)
On Tuesday, New Jersey congresswoman said in a statement that the risks of a second Trump presidency were too high for her to remain silent. “I know that President Biden and his team have been true public servants and have put the country and the best interests of democracy first in their considerations,” she said. “And because I know President Biden cares deeply about the future of our country, I ask that he declare that he will not run for reelection and that he will help lead us through a process toward a new candidate.”
Pat Ryan (New York)
New York congressman facing tough re-election bid in November told the New York Times Wednesday that Biden should step aside. “I would be doing him a grave disservice if I said he was the best candidate to serve this fall,” he said. “For the sake of our country, for the sake of my two young children, I ask Joe Biden to step aside in the next election and fulfill his promise to be a bridge to a new generation of leaders.” He added: “I really hope with all my heart that he listens.”
Peter Welch (Vermont)
On Wednesday night, Vermont Senator Peter Welch called on Biden to withdraw from the election, becoming the first Senate Democrat to do so. Welch said he is concerned because “the risks could not be higher.” Welch said in a Washington Post opinion article: “I understand why President Biden wants to run. He saved us from Donald Trump once and he wants to do it again. But he needs to re-evaluate whether he is the best candidate to do so. In my opinion, he is not.
“For the good of the country, I ask President Biden to withdraw from the race.”
Related: Jerry Nadler (New York), Mark Takano (California), Joe Morelle (New York)
According to various reports, on Sunday, three prominent Democratic congressmen joined Smith on a private call organized by Hakeem Jeffries, the House Minority Leader, to call for Biden’s resignation. Others on the call expressed serious concerns but stopped short of saying Biden should resign.
Nadler is an important figure, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee. At the Capitol on Tuesday, however, he signaled a retreat, telling reporters: “As the president said, 90% of Democrats voted for him in the primaries, period.”
