Democrats weigh Biden’s impact on House races as Republicans grow confident of maintaining majority

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries gave a succinct answer this week when asked if President Joe Biden was a risk to the most vulnerable House Democrats seeking re-election – “No.”

But a growing number of congressional Democrats indicate otherwise. And it’s not just lawmakers who represent true battleground districts, but also House members in districts considered relatively safe.

About 20 House Democrats called the president to withdraw of the race since your debate with the former president donald trump two weeks ago, and the number is growing every day. Some are in highly competitive races, like Reps. Angie Craig of Minnesota, Eric Sorensen of Illinois and Pat Ryan of New York. Others hold seats in Democratic strongholds, such as Reps. Mike Quigley of Illinois and Adam Smith of Washington.

With Republicans having a strong opportunity to retake the Senate and Trump gaining momentum for the presidency, many Democrats see the House as their best opportunity to prevent the GOP from controlling the White House and both chambers of Congress. They need to win just four seats to regain the majority and give Democrats a seat at the table for any major legislative initiative. Still, some lawmakers worry their chances are slipping away.

The focal point for lawmakers calling for Biden to withdraw is to prevent Trump from being re-elected. But Rep. Jim Himes, D-Connecticut, said the risk is greater than that. He said on MSNBC that “the trajectory, what Americans believe deeply now, suggests not only that Joe Biden would lose this race, but that we would lose the Senate and the House.”

The call by some for Biden to step aside could also be a smart political strategy. Steve Israel, a former New York congressman who twice led House Democratic election efforts, said lawmakers in competitive districts need to localize their races, regardless of who is at the top of the presidential ticket. Some are doing so now with their calls for the president to step down.

“You have to make a distinction between the national political brand and your own,” Israel said.

Representative Richard Hudson, president of the House Republicans’ election campaign arm, said that all members of Congress know that Biden has a “cognitive disability” and now “these Democrats who are in competitive seats are running and hiding.” . He said it is too late for those calling on Biden to step aside now.

“I just think it’s very insensitive and very hypocritical. And I think voters will realize that,” Hudson said.

Representative Jared Golden of Maine did not call on Biden to end his candidacy, but said he expects him to lose, which could provide some separation. Still, Golden said he’s not worried about Biden’s impact on his race.

“All I know is that I beat Joe Biden by 13 points in the last election and got a thousand more votes than Donald Trump in that election. I’m not worried about that, and my record of opposing the Biden administration is pretty well established,” Golden said. “So no, I’m not as worried about it as many of my colleagues, but that’s their problem. .”

He noted that he voted with Biden on major infrastructure projects, veterans and semiconductor manufacturing, but against his rescue plan during the pandemic. He said he would also introduce a bill establishing a universal 10% tariff on imports, an idea proposed by Trump.

Golden rejected Republican claims that swing district Democrats knew Biden was weak but quietly enabled him.

“In February, I openly expressed to the press that an 81-year-old man and a 78-year-old man should not be on the ballot for president of the United States,” Golden said. for me. Nor do I think it’s a new concern for most Americans.”

Some lawmakers in competitive races still embrace the president. Rep. Steven Horsford, Democrat of Nevada and chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said he will join Biden at a campaign stop in his district this week. He said the event will focus on housing affordability and job training for young adults, among other things.

Asked if he felt comfortable campaigning with Biden, Horsford said he is focused on resolving issues related to housing and reducing the cost of rent and child care.

“Anyone who wants to work with me and my constituents to resolve these issues, I’m willing to have them join me,” Horsford said.

Democratic leadership continues to express optimism. Julie Merz, executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said Democratic incumbents in competitive districts “are outperforming the top of the ticket in the overwhelming majority of polls we have received since May, including after the debate.”

“We are going to take back the House this fall because House Republicans are anti-choice extremists, obsessed with giving more tax breaks to the ultra-rich, and can’t even accomplish basic tasks like keeping the government open without the votes of House Democrats,” Merz said.

Still, Quigley, one of the first Democrats to call for Biden to resign, said the polls he has seen “trend in the wrong direction.”

“We haven’t had a good day since the debate,” Quigley said.

Republicans in districts won by Biden are also certainly feeling better about their prospects of winning re-election and keeping the House under GOP control, despite their slim margin with a 220-213 House majority.

“The lack of enthusiasm for Biden and the Democratic ticket is only adding to what was already a tailwind for us,” said Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, R-N.Y., who represents a district that Biden won handily in 2020.

Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., said Democrats for eight years have tried to turn tight congressional races into a referendum on Trump. Now, it’s happening to Biden.

“I think voters are looking and seeing a real problem with Joe Biden at the top of the ticket, and I think Democrats obviously have a challenge moving forward,” Lawler said.

Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Calif., said he is trying to stay focused on the issues that voters care about most, which is the affordability of groceries and gas.

“I think increasing football after the debate is not healthy for either party. Frankly, we shouldn’t be celebrating the debate,” Garcia said.