Increasingly more Democrats in Congress have called on Biden to drop out following a rocky debate performance and two gaffe-filled public appearances.
Topline
Almost 20 House Democrats have publicly urged President Joe Biden to end his 2024 presidential bid—joining a growing list of politicians, pundits, billionaire donors and pro-Biden celebrities pushing the president to drop out since his rocky debate two weeks ago.Key Facts
Reps. Brittany Pettersen, D-Colo., and Mike Levin, D-Calif., became the 18th and 19th Democrats in Congress to publicly call on Biden to drop his bid, with both praising Biden’s years of public service but saying it was time for Biden to stand down.
Reps. Jim Himes, D-Conn., Scott Peters, D-Calif., and Eric Sorensen, D-Ill., pushed Biden to end his campaign Thursday evening, issuing statements right after Biden ended a high-stakes press conference wrapping up a NATO summit, that was widely viewed as a key opportunity to stop the Democratic defections.
A litany of other House Democrats publicly urged Biden to stand down earlier this week: Reps. Greg Stanton, D-Ariz., Adam Smith, D-Wash., Ed Case, D-Hawaii, Brad Schneider, D-Ill., Hillary Scholten, D-Mich., Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., Pat Ryan, D-N.Y., and Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J.
Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., is the only Senate Democrat to call for Biden’s withdrawal from the race, saying “Biden should withdraw for the good of the country,” in a op-ed Wednesday.
Reps. Angie Craig, D-Minn., Mike Quigley, D-Ill., Seth Moulton, D-Mass., and Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz., all called on Biden to stand down last week.
Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, was the first sitting Democratic lawmaker to push for Biden to step aside after the debate, explaining he “had hoped that the debate would provide some momentum,” but Biden instead “failed to effectively defend his many accomplishments and expose Trump’s many lies.” Which Celebrities Have Called For Biden To Drop Out?
Several A-list celebrities have stepped up to criticize the president for staying in the race, including Biden fundraiser George Clooney, who penned an op-ed in the New York Times imploring Biden to “save democracy” and step away from the race. Other Hollywood figures include actor Rob Reiner, author Stephen King and heiress Abigail Disney.What Wealthy Donors Have Called For Biden’s Withdrawal?
Billionaire Mark Pincus—who has reportedly donated more than $1 million to support Biden and the Democrats since December—is the latest well-heeled Biden supporter to urge Biden to step aside, including billionaires Christy Walton, Michael Novogratz and Reed Hastings.
