 "From donors to Democracts, who is asking Biden to drop out of 2024 US presidential race?")
United States President Joe Biden is experiencing mounting pressure from some prominent Democrats to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race following his recent debate performance.
Concerns about his ability to win against former US President Donald Trump have been voiced by various members of his party, including sitting members of US Congress and influential donors.
Which Democratic lawmakers are calling for Biden to step down?
A wave of Democratic lawmakers has publicly called for Biden to step aside. The most recent to join this chorus is Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig, who stated that she does not believe Biden can secure a victory against Trump.
“This is not a decision I’ve come to lightly, but there’s simply too much at stake to risk a second Donald Trump presidency,” Craig said.
As an elected leader, I feel a responsibility to be honest about what I believe, even when it’s hard to hear.
— Angie Craig (@AngieCraigMN) July 6, 2024
President Biden is a good man & I appreciate his lifetime of service.
But I believe he should step aside for the next generation of leadership.
The stakes are too… pic.twitter.com/rtZLz6riDp
Illinois Rep. Mike Quigley echoed this sentiment on MSNBC’s “All In With Chris Hayes” on Friday, suggesting that Biden’s legacy is already established and that stepping down would be the best course of action.
“The only thing that you can do now to cement that for all time and prevent utter catastrophe is to step down and let someone else do this,” Quigley said.
Impact Shorts
View AllBREAKING: Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) calls on Biden to exit the race:
— All In with Chris Hayes (@allinwithchris) July 5, 2024
"Mr. President, your legacy is set. We owe you the greatest debt of gratitude. The only thing that you can do now to cement that for all time and prevent utter catastrophe is to step down and let someone else… pic.twitter.com/tnWOxja5lF
Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton expressed his views on Thursday, urging Biden to “let new leaders rise up and run against Donald Trump.” He stated the importance of winning the upcoming election, telling Boston-based WBUR News, “That’s what’s most important. We have to win.”
Arizona Rep. Raúl Grijalva and former US Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro also called for Biden’s withdrawal. Grijalva told The New York Times that Biden should shoulder the responsibility of keeping his seat by exiting the race, while Castro criticised Biden’s debate performance and questioned his ability to mobilise voters.
President Biden should fulfill his promise to be a bridge to the next generation of leadership—and allow a stronger Democratic candidate to prevent a disastrous second Trump term.
— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) July 3, 2024
Time is running out.
Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett, the first sitting member of Congress to suggest Biden withdraw, drew a historical parallel by referencing Lyndon Johnson’s decision to step down. “Under very different circumstances, he made the painful decision to withdraw. President Biden should do the same,” Doggett said in a statement.
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Former Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan suggested in a Newsweek op-ed that US Vice President Kamala Harris should be the Democratic nominee, describing Biden’s recent performances as “heartbreaking.”
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey became the first Democratic governor to call for Biden to reevaluate his campaign, and US Senator Mark Warner, D-Va., reportedly began organising a group of Democratic senators to ask Biden to drop out.
How have donors reacted?
The debate and subsequent interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos have not alleviated concerns among major Democratic donors. Reed Hastings, co-founder of Netflix, reiterated his call for Biden to step down, citing concerns about Biden’s mental state.
Former PayPal CEO Bill Harris, who donated $620,000 to the Biden Victory Fund in 2020, also expressed doubts about Biden’s viability as a candidate, describing Biden’s stepping aside as “inevitable.”
Investor Whitney Tilson, who donates over $100,000 annually to Democrats, and Los Angeles real estate mogul Rick Caruso also voiced their concerns.
Damon Lindelof, co-creator of the TV show “Lost,” emphasised the need for Biden to gracefully step aside and urged other donors to hold their contributions until there is a change at the top of the ticket.
Also Read: Who is Gavin Newsom, the possible replacement for Joe Biden after his debate disaster?
Despite the internal party turmoil, Democratic fundraising efforts have seen success. House Democrats raised $3 million at an event with former US President Barack Obama and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries in New York City, in addition to $1.3 million during and after the debate.
How is the party tackling the situation?
Jeffries is organising private meetings with lawmakers to gauge their opinions and find a unified stance. A recent call involving top House committee members revealed a split, with some advocating for Biden to step aside and others supporting his candidacy, reported CNN.
President Biden and House Democrats are continuing to create good-paying American jobs.
— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) July 1, 2024
For everyone.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York, Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state, and Rep. Mark Takano of California were among those expressing concerns about Biden’s capability.
Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, a key figure behind the scenes, has been advising lawmakers and remains supportive of Biden, though she acknowledged the concerns raised by his debate performance. After Biden’s interview with ABC, Pelosi praised him on social media, highlighting his achievements and potential to continue delivering results.
.@JoeBiden is a great President who continues to deliver for America’s kitchen table.
— Nancy Pelosi (@TeamPelosi) July 5, 2024
Because of the policies and investments of Joe Biden and Congressional Democrats, we have the strongest economy in the world: 15.7 million new jobs, wages are up, inflation and costs are down —… pic.twitter.com/Ka7oQLHYzH
Rep. Maxine Waters of California, Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia, and Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts voiced their support for Biden. Neal asserted, “Biden beat Trump in 2020 and he’ll do it again in November.”
US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer plans to address these issues in the upcoming Democratic senators’ weekly lunch, reported AP. Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia had initially intended to gather senators for a private discussion about Biden, but those conversations will now take place in the regular caucus luncheon.
Also Read: Kamala Harris has better chance of beating Trump, than Biden, polls predict
Senate Democrats have also reported a surge in support, viewing congressional races as a crucial firewall against Trump. Strategists advise Democratic candidates to focus on their own brands and the impact of their work on local districts while campaigning alongside Biden.
With inputs from agencies
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