Four House Democrats have urged President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race following his poor debate performance. In a message sent out on Friday, the lawmakers suggested that Biden should hand over the reins to a new generation of Democratic leaders in order to defeat Donald Trump and “protect our democracy.”
Democratic Representatives Jared Huffman, Marc Veasey, Chuy Garcia, and Mark Pocan issued a joint statement, joining Senator Jon Tester and over 25 other lawmakers in calling for Biden to step aside for a new nominee. Senator Martin Heinrich also became the third Democratic senator to request Biden’s withdrawal.
“We believe the most responsible and patriotic thing you can do in this moment is to step aside as our nominee while continuing to lead our party in the White House,” the statement reads. “Democrats have a deep and talented bench of younger leaders, led by Vice President Kamala Harris, who have lifted you up, empowered, and prepared for this moment. Passing the torch would fundamentally change the trajectory of the campaign.”
“At this point, however, we must face the reality that widespread public concerns about your age and fitness are jeopardizing what should be a winning campaign,” the statement reads. “These perceptions may not be fair, but they have hardened in the aftermath of last month’s debate and are now unlikely to change.”
Following Biden’s lackluster showing in the initial presidential debate on June 27, Democrats were met with a series of unfavorable poll results. In the aftermath of the debate, a Morning Consult poll conducted on June 28 revealed that 60% of voters, including 40% of Democrats, believed that Biden ought to be substituted.
“It would reinvigorate the race and infuse Democrats with enthusiasm and momentum heading into our convention next month,” the statement reads. “Mr. President, you have always put our country and our values first. We call on you to do it once again, so that we can come together and save the country we love.”
Other potential candidates, such as Vice President Kamala Harris, are outperforming the current officeholder in polls against Trump. According to a BlueLabs survey, Democrats are sharing data indicating that Biden is trailing alternative candidates by an average of three points in swing states, suggesting that voters may be seeking a new leader.
