Janice R. Andrews
More than thirty congressional Democrats have publicly called for President Biden to withdraw from his 2024 reelection campaign; the list appears to be growing by the hour on Friday. Biden is 81 years old. At his Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, residence, Biden is presently living in self-isolation following his Wednesday COVID-19 test result, which prevented him from campaigning for a portion of the week.
Increasing Democratic Pressure in Congress
At least eleven Democrats have publicly urged Biden to withdraw from the 2024 contest since late Thursday:
- Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio
- Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico
- Rep. Sean Casten of Illinois
- Rep. Jared Huffman of California
- Rep. Marc Veasey of Texas
- Rep. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin
- Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García of Illinois –
- Rep. Greg Landsman of Ohio
- Rep. Morgan McGarvey of Kentucky
- Rep. Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico
The increasing pressure is a result of reports from numerous news outlets that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi informed Biden recently that they have grave concerns that he will not only lose to Trump in the presidential contest but also hurt the Democratic Party’s chances in important congressional races. They haven’t openly urged Biden to withdraw from the contest. According to reports released on Thursday by the Washington Post and the Associated Press, former President Barack Obama is also advising supporters that Biden ought to reevaluate his candidature.
Returning to the Trail of Campaigns
The president is moving on, intending to return to the campaign trail the next week, in spite of the loud and increasing calls for Biden to resign.
Next week, I’m excited to return to the campaign trail and continue highlighting the dangers posed by Donald Trump’s Project 2025 agenda. I’ll also be defending my own record and my vision for America, which is to preserve democracy, uphold individual liberties, and provide opportunities for all. In a statement released by his team on Friday, Biden stated, “The choice is clear, and the stakes are high.” “We can win together.”
While acknowledging that there has been “slippage” in the president’s support and that there is still “a lot of work to be done,” Biden campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon said earlier on Friday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” that there are still “multiple paths” for Biden to defeat former President Donald Trump, who is currently the official Republican presidential nominee.
A New TV Spot Demands Biden Resign
According to NBC News, a new TV spot from the organisation Pass the Torch urging the president to resign is scheduled to air on Monday during MSNBC’s programming in the Washington, D.C., and Rehoboth Beach markets, adding to the growing pressure.
What Biden’s Allies in Congress Have To Say
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, Leader of the House Minority in the House: Jeffries stated to reporters on Friday in Brooklyn that he still believes Biden should be the Democratic nominee. “President Biden, as I’ve said repeatedly, is our nominee,” Jeffries stated. “He has an incredibly successful history. He is among the most accomplished presidents of the United States in history, and he possesses the foresight, credibility, and experience to persuade the American people of the need for us to win in November.”
- Chairwoman of BOLD PAC, Representative Linda Sánchez of California: BOLD PAC, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ fundraising arm, supported the Biden-Harris ticket on Friday. “They have championed policies that lifted up our families and communities, from historic investments in our infrastructure system to expanding access to affordable health care,” Sánchez said in a statement released on Friday. “This government has demonstrated an unshakeable commitment to Latinos and has led with working families in mind. The stakes are really high, and there is still a tonne of work to be done.”
- New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: In a late-night Instagram video on Thursday, she attacked other Democrats who were pushing for Biden to resign, saying they had a clear strategy for what to do next. “I don’t think there is another scenario that won’t put us in great danger,” the woman stated.
Delaware Sen. Chris Coons: As co-chair of the Biden campaign and a close supporter of the president, Coons stated that the president is “weighing” the strongest candidate who has the potential to win in November. Speaking on Friday at the Aspen National Security Forum, Coons stated, “I am confident he is hearing what he needs to hear from colleagues, from the public.” Coons stated, “There are still people who believe he is not strong or capable enough to be our next president.” “I don’t agree.”
How is the DNC Roll Call Voting Going?
The Democratic National Committee is moving full steam ahead with a virtual roll call in an attempt to secure Biden as the party’s presidential nominee ahead of the convention in Chicago next month, in spite of calls for him to withdraw from the 2024 contest. To discuss preparations for the next virtual vote, the rules committee convened online on Friday. The committee is scheduled to convene again on July 26 to decide on the roll call voting rules, which cannot begin until the first week of August.
The Democratic Party is at a crossroads, with Biden getting ready to embark on a campaign trail the following week. The party’s unity and 2024 election strategy are in jeopardy.
