31 Democratic Lawmakers Urge Biden to Withdraw from Presidential Race
By Godfrey George
In a significant development, 31 Democratic lawmakers have called on President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, expressing doubts about his ability to defeat former President Donald Trump.
The plea for Biden to step aside includes not only politicians but also pundits, wealthy donors, and even pro-Biden celebrities, all advocating for a new candidate to enhance the party’s chances in the upcoming election.
Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico is the latest to join Senators Jon Tester of Montana and Peter Welch of Vermont in this appeal. Tester, who faces a challenging re-election campaign, shared his concerns with the Daily Montanan, while Welch published his views in a Washington Post op-ed, suggesting Biden should step down “for the good of the country.”
In the House, Representatives Jared Huffman, Marc Veasey, Chuy Garcia, and Mark Pocan released a joint statement urging Biden to step aside, with additional support from Representatives Sean Casten, Zoe Lofgren, Greg Landsman, and Jim Costa.
California Representative Adam Schiff also expressed “serious concerns” about Biden’s electability against Trump in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.
Further backing comes from Representatives Brittany Pettersen, Mike Levin, Jim Himes, Scott Peters, and Eric Sorensen, all advocating for a change in leadership.
Outside of Congress, prominent Democratic figures and Hollywood celebrities like George Clooney, Rob Reiner, and Stephen King have voiced their apprehensions. Clooney, a former Biden fundraiser, wrote an op-ed in the New York Times urging Biden to “save democracy” by stepping aside.
Billionaires such as Mark Pincus, Christy Walton, Michael Novogratz, and Reed Hastings have echoed this sentiment, citing concerns over Biden’s ability to secure a victory against Trump.
Media personalities have joined in as well, with MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough suggesting Biden should withdraw, and editorials from The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Boston Globe advocating for Biden’s exit.
Political strategists, including former Obama advisor David Axelrod, have questioned Biden’s candidacy, with Axelrod calling his decision to stay in the race a “defiant delusion.” The hosts of the podcast Pod Save America have similarly doubted Biden’s viability.
Veteran Democratic consultant James Carville and former White House deputy director of photography Chandler West have also urged Biden to reconsider his candidacy.
Former Democratic politicians Julian Castro and Tim Ryan have joined the chorus. Castro, a former HUD secretary and 2020 primary candidate, stated unequivocally that Biden should withdraw, while Ryan argued in a Newsweek op-ed that Vice President Kamala Harris is the best option for the party. Andrew Yang, another 2020 hopeful, described Biden’s campaign as “unwinnable.”
Despite the mounting calls, Biden remains steadfast. Speaking from his beach house in Delaware, where he is recovering from a COVID-19 diagnosis, Biden reiterated on Friday that he can defeat Trump.
In a statement, Biden criticized Trump’s “dark vision for the future” and stressed the need for party unity to overcome the former president. Biden’s campaign chair, Jen O’Malley Dillon, acknowledged the challenges but maintained that Biden is the best candidate to defeat Trump.
