Several top House Democrats are urging President Joe Biden to step away from a 2024 campaign, expressing deep concerns about his potential impact on the Democratic Party’s prospects in the upcoming elections, CNN reports.
Those sentiments were expressed Sunday during a leadership call hosted by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to solicit opinions from ranking members and leaders before members return to Washington this week.
According to sources familiar with the call, the discussion was dominated by fears about the potential damage Biden’s candidacy could cause to the Democratic ticket and the party’s chances of regaining a majority in the House. However, Jeffrey did not state his stance on whether Biden should run for re-election, leaving the issue open for debate among the participants, as CNN reported.
The call saw notable divisions among House Democrats, with lawmakers advocating for Biden’s removal outnumbering those voicing support for his candidacy.
Those opposing Biden included Representatives Mark Takano, Adam Smith, Jim Himes, Joe Morelle, Jerry Nadler, and Susan Wild. In contrast, Representatives Maxine Waters and Bobby Scott spoke in favor of Biden, underscoring the internal differences within the party leadership.
One of the primary concerns raised during the nearly two-hour conversation was the risk of losing the opportunity to win a majority in the House if Biden remains the Democratic nominee. Several participants expressed a preference for Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the ticket, viewing her as a potentially strong candidate.
“It was pretty brutal,” one senior Democratic aide told CNN anonymously, describing the intensity of the discussions that took place during private conversations among House leaders.
Aides indicated that no immediate decisions are expected about formal demands or actions, such as a White House meeting or letter to Biden, before the full Democratic caucus gathers on Tuesday. Jeffries reportedly stressed that members will be allowed to express their opinions freely and make their own decisions on the matter.
Another senior House Democrat revealed that the sentiment within the caucus is overwhelmingly supportive of Biden stepping down. The member emphasized that while there is respect for Biden’s long career in public service, there is a growing consensus that the party needs to formulate an effective strategy to move forward.
According to Democratic Party sources, Tuesday’s caucus meeting is expected to be a defining moment for Biden. Many Democrats dissatisfied with Biden’s recent debate performance are awaiting Jeffries’ public stance on the matter. So far, Jeffries has maintained a cautious stance, refraining from publicly supporting any specific action while he continues to assess sentiment within his caucus.
Meanwhile, President Biden looked confident during his visit to the battleground state of Pennsylvania, expressing his faith in the Democratic Party’s united support behind him. When questioned by the press, Biden clearly stated that the party stands behind him, reports CNN.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
