House Democrats urge Biden to step aside

President Biden faces mounting pressure from House Democrats to step aside from his re-election campaign amid concerns over his mental state and electability against former President Donald Trump. In a virtual meeting held by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, several ranking Democrats on House committees suggested that Biden should abandon the race and proposed Vice President Kamala Harris as a potential successor. The discussions among Democrats intensified after Biden’s 22-minute interview with ABC News on Friday, which was intended to ease concerns about his readiness to continue the campaign but instead sparked further doubts.

President Biden: We have to bring back dignity and hope in America. We have to give working class and middle class people like the family I came from a shot. We have to build the economy from the middle out and the bottom up, not the top down. And we must unite America again.… pic.twitter.com/woX3x07nid

— Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) July 7, 2024

ABC News chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl commented that while Biden appeared more coherent than during the recent debate, the interview did not calm the nerves of those who fear he is on a trajectory to lose to Trump. Despite the growing concerns, Biden remains defiant, stating that he would not drop out unless “the Lord Almighty were to come down and say, ‘Joe, get outta the race.'” The president begins a crucial week, hosting the 75th NATO summit in Washington while facing crumbling support from Democratic lawmakers and mounting fears that his defiance could lead to a historic rout by Trump and his followers in November’s races for the White House and Congress. Many Democrats are demanding an immediate political proof of life, but the NATO summit, planned months ago, arrives at the worst possible moment for Biden.

Statement from President Biden on Donald Trump’s Project 2025 agenda pic.twitter.com/4wtIJRdiDY

— Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) July 6, 2024

He aims to focus attention on the war in Ukraine but is certain to be dogged by urgent questions about his political future. A rare news conference is expected, with Biden promising a solo news conference with White House reporters, most likely on Thursday at the end of the summit. Several high-ranking House Democrats, including Jerrold Nadler of New York, Adam Smith of Washington, Mark Takano of California, and Joseph D. Morelle of New York, have said that Biden should end his campaign. The number of lawmakers who explicitly opposed Biden as the nominee during the Sunday call with Jeffries was greater than those who favored his continued candidacy.

Democrats’ concerns on Biden’s viability

One key concern expressed during the nearly two-hour call was the fear of losing the House majority if Biden remained the candidate. It was generally acknowledged that Vice President Kamala Harris should be the nominee instead. “It was pretty brutal,” a senior Democratic aide said, speaking anonymously to discuss the private conversation among House leaders. However, lawmakers from the Congressional Black Caucus, including Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio and Rep. Frederica Wilson of Florida, defended President Biden. Beatty emphasized that Black voters are loyal to Biden, while Wilson stated that any leader calling for President Biden to drop out needs to get their priorities straight. The Biden campaign is continuing its offensive to soothe nervous Democratic donors, with campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore hosting a call with the campaign’s National Finance Committee on Monday afternoon. The campaign will also release a new advertisement taking direct aim at Trump’s abortion policy as part of a $50 million July ad push. As the pressure mounts, Tuesday’s planned Democratic caucus meeting is seen as crucial, with expectations that it may bring significant developments. Many Democrats concerned about Biden’s viability as a candidate are waiting for Jeffries to publicly take a position, while Biden remains active on the campaign trail, insisting that the Democratic Party is still behind him.