Wave of other Democrats in the House of Representatives calls on Biden to resign

Ten Democrats and one senator on Friday called on President Joe Biden to suspend his re-election campaign, all arguing that Biden cannot win because the focus is on “senior moments” rather than his skills and accomplishments.

“If the upcoming election is a referendum on past performance, future promise and character, I firmly believe Biden would win,” wrote Representative Sean Casten (D-IL) in an opinion piece for the Chicago-Tribune“But politics, like life, is not fair. And as long as this election is instead fought over which candidate is more likely to be held accountable for public gaffes and ‘senior moments,’ I believe Biden will not only lose, but is uniquely incapable of changing this debate.”

Shortly after Casten’s op-ed, four other House Democrats – Reps. Jared Huffman (D-CA), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Chuy Garcia (D-IL) and Mark Pocan (D-WI) – also issued a joint statement calling on Biden to pass the baton. They said they appreciated Biden’s work over the past four years and the decades he spent in other political offices, but defeating former President Donald Trump was the highest priority.

“At this point, however, we must face the reality that widespread public concern about your age and fitness is jeopardising an election campaign that was supposed to be successful,” the MPs said.

“We believe the most responsible and patriotic thing you can do at this moment is to step down as our nominee and continue to lead our party from the White House,” the lawmakers continued.

Shortly thereafter, Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) became the third senator to call on Biden to resign. In a statement, he said that the 2024 election requires a “focus that is bigger than any one person.”

“While the decision to withdraw from the campaign rests solely with President Biden, I believe it is in the best interest of our country for him to step down,” Heinrich said. By passing the torch, he would secure his legacy as one of our nation’s greatest leaders and allow us to unite behind a candidate who is best able to defeat Donald Trump and secure the future of our democracy.”

Another House Democrat, Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH), joined his colleagues in calling on Biden to suspend his campaign on Friday afternoon, saying Democrats need a candidate who can “make clear to the American people what changes we need and what country we all deserve.”

“After weeks of deliberation and hundreds of conversations with voters, I have concluded that Joe Biden is no longer the best person to make this case,” Landsman posted on X.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), a close ally of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), sent a letter to Biden on Friday urging him to withdraw from the 2024 presidential campaign.

Lofgren said that as a member of the House Committee on January 6, she “probably knows as well as anyone how unfit Donald Trump is to be president.”

“Simply put, your candidacy is on track to lose the White House and potentially influence crucial elections in the House and Senate,” Lofgren said. “For these reasons, I am urging you to withdraw our party’s nomination to give another Democratic candidate the opportunity to run against and beat Donald Trump in the November election.”

Shortly after Lofgren’s testimony, Representatives Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) and Kathy Castor (D-Florida) called on Biden to pass the baton. McCollum endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as Biden’s successor and encouraged Democrats to select Governor Tim Waltz (D-Minn.) as their running mate.

“Victory in November and thwarting former President Donald Trump’s dangerous, hateful agenda must be the Democrats’ sole goal,” McCollum said in a statement about the Star-Tribune“To give Democrats a strong and viable path to the White House, I urge President Biden to release his delegates and authorize Vice President Harris to run as the Democratic presidential nominee.”

Castor said it was an “exciting time to potentially pass the torch,” and also noted that Harris would be a good choice for the party as a new candidate.

“Kamala Harris is a fighter and I have complete confidence in her,” the Florida Democrat told local station WFLA in Tampa, Florida.

Rep. Morgan McGarvey (D-KY), the only Democrat in the Kentucky delegation, also called on Biden to suspend his campaign on Friday. He praised Biden’s leadership and said in a post to X that there was “no joy that he should not be our nominee in November.”

“But there is too much at stake in this election, and we cannot afford for the focus of the campaign to be on anything other than Donald Trump, his MAGA extremists, and the mega-rich dark money donors who are ready to destroy our path to a more perfect union with Trump’s Project 2025,” McGarvey said.

“President Joe Biden is a good man who cares deeply about the American people,” McGarvey continued. “I trust that he will do what is best for the nation and that we will come together as Democrats to move the country forward.”

Meanwhile, 33 congressional Democrats are calling on Biden to withdraw from the presidential race. Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) called on Biden to withdraw on Thursday.

Others calling on Biden to resign include Representatives Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Angie Craig (D-MN), Pat Ryan (D-NY), Adam Smith (D-WA), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Hillary Scholten (D-MI), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Greg Stanton (D-AZ), Ed Case (D-HI), Jim Himes (D-CT), Scott Peters (D-CA), Eric Sorensen (D-IL), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), Mike Levin (D-CA), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) and Senator Peter Welch (D-VT).

Veasey’s decision to ask Biden to pass the torch is notable considering he is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, a group of lawmakers who have been a strong ally of the president over the years. Biden addressed the caucus last week, and many said their coalition stands behind Biden in his re-election campaign.

Biden and his campaign insist the president will not step down and will be the Democratic nominee, but there are reports that he is more open to the idea of ​​allowing a new candidate to advance. The campaign has denied this.

All five lawmakers addressed Biden’s legacy in their statements. Casten wrote that the president deserved to leave with “dignity and decency.” His comments echoed those of his colleagues in their own messages to the president.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

“It is with a heavy heart and after much personal reflection that I am calling on Biden to pass the torch to a new generation,” Casten said. “I want him to leave with the dignity and decency that have characterized his half-century of public service. I want him to cement his legacy as a president who saved our democracy in 2020 and left it in 2024 in trusted hands that can carry on his legacy.”

“It breaks my heart to say this, but Biden is no longer equipped for this job,” he added.