Sen. Brown and 35 Democrats Call for Biden to Quit Race

On Friday, Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio became the fourth Senate Democrat to publicly call for President Joe Biden to exit the 2024 presidential race. Brown’s appeal comes as Biden remains resolute in his campaign efforts despite mounting pressure from within his party. This latest call adds to the voices of 35 Congressional Democrats, including Senators Martin Heinrich of New Mexico and Jon Tester of Montana. Both are running for re-election and have expressed concerns about Biden’s ability to secure victory against former President Donald Trump. Senator Peter Welch of Vermont was the first to request Biden’s withdrawal, reflecting a growing unease within the party about the current administration’s trajectory.

The discontent is not limited to the Senate. Eleven House Democrats have also voiced their concerns. Representatives Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico, Jared Huffman of California, Marc Veasey of Texas, Chuy Garcia of Illinois, and Mark Pocan of Wisconsin issued a joint statement urging Biden to step aside. Additional calls came from Representatives Sean Casten and Zoe Lofgren of Illinois and California, respectively, Greg Landsman of Ohio, Kathy Castor of Florida, Morgan McGarvey of Kentucky, and Betty McCollum of Minnesota. McCollum has notably suggested Vice President Kamala Harris as a potential replacement, endorsing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. This represents a significant shift, particularly from McCollum, who explicitly named Harris and Walz as suitable successors.

The growing dissent is further reflected in recent actions from other prominent Democrats. Representative Jim Costa of California and Representative Adam Schiff, also from California, have joined the chorus of those urging Biden to withdraw. Schiff, in particular, has become a high-profile critic, expressing serious concerns about Biden’s ability to defeat Trump in a general election. This sentiment was echoed by Representatives Brittany Pettersen and Mike Levin, who publicly urged Biden to reconsider his candidacy on July 12, citing his record of public service but arguing that it is time for him to step aside.

The calls for Biden’s resignation intensified following a series of events on July 11 and 12. Representatives Jim Himes of Connecticut, Scott Peters of California, and Eric Sorensen of Illinois issued statements shortly after Biden’s high-stakes press conference concluding a NATO summit. This press conference was seen as a crucial opportunity to quell Democratic defections, yet it appears to have exacerbated concerns about Biden’s leadership and campaign strategy. This period of scrutiny has also seen additional criticisms from other House Democrats, including Representatives Greg Stanton of Arizona, Adam Smith of Washington, Ed Case of Hawaii, Brad Schneider of Illinois, Hillary Scholten of Michigan, Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, Pat Ryan of New York, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, Angie Craig of Minnesota, Mike Quigley of Illinois, Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, and Raúl Grijalva of Arizona, all of whom have also urged Biden to reconsider his bid.

The criticism extends beyond Congress. The Local 3000 chapter of the United Food and Commercial Workers union has joined the call for Biden to withdraw. Citing concerns about the risks posed by a potential second Trump term, the UFCW 3000’s shift in support marks a significant departure from its previous backing of Biden. The union had previously supported a campaign for Democrats to vote “uncommitted” in primaries as a protest against Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

In the realm of celebrity endorsements, several high-profile figures have criticized Biden’s persistence in the race. George Clooney, a major fundraiser for Biden, wrote an op-ed in The New York Times urging him to step aside to “save democracy.” Actor Rob Reiner, author Stephen King, and heiress Abigail Disney have also expressed support for Biden’s withdrawal, adding to the mounting pressure from public figures.

Wealthy donors are not exempt from this growing discontent. Mark Pincus, a billionaire who has donated over $1 million to support Biden and the Democrats, has called for Biden to step down. This call is echoed by other billionaires, including Christy Walton, Michael Novogratz, and Reed Hastings. Mark Cuban has also suggested that Democrats consider an alternative nominee, adding to the chorus of influential voices urging Biden to exit the race.

The media has played a significant role in this discourse. Joe Scarborough of MSNBC suggested the day after Biden’s debate performance that the president should consider stepping aside. The New York Times’ Editorial Board, along with the editorial boards of The Chicago Tribune, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Boston Globe, has also called for Biden to withdraw. Prominent left-of-center opinion writers such as Thomas Friedman, Nicholas Kristof, Ezra Klein, and Paul Krugman have joined this chorus, expressing doubts about Biden’s ability to win the election. The New Yorker’s David Remnick, Washington Post’s David Ignatius, and The Atlantic’s Mark Leibovich have similarly urged Biden to consider stepping down.

Political staffers and former advisors have voiced their concerns as well. David Axelrod, a former Obama advisor and CNN analyst, described Biden’s insistence on remaining in the race as a “defiant delusion.” The Pod Save America team, including Jon Favreau and Jon Lovett, has questioned Biden’s candidacy, reigniting tensions between Biden and Obama supporters. Longtime Democratic consultant James Carville has publicly stated that Biden should not be the nominee, while Chandler West, a former White House deputy director of photography, has written on Instagram that “it’s time for Joe to go.” This internal critique highlights growing concerns about Biden’s effectiveness and political strength.

Former Democratic politicians have also weighed in. Julian Castro, the former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, has argued that Biden should “absolutely” withdraw. Former Representative Tim Ryan of Ohio and 2020 presidential hopeful Andrew Yang have both suggested that Harris represents the party’s “best path forward” and criticized Biden’s continued candidacy as damaging to the country.

Amid this wave of criticism, Democratic leadership in Congress remains publicly supportive of Biden. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer have maintained their public backing but are reportedly working behind the scenes to persuade Biden to withdraw. This ongoing internal party conflict reflects a deepening divide within the Democratic Party regarding Biden’s candidacy.

Despite the mounting pressure, Biden has resisted calls to step down. He has attributed his poor debate performance to external factors such as a cold and travel schedule, and he has dismissed the criticism as an overreaction to one “bad night.” Biden has stated that he is fit to continue serving and has planned to resume campaigning next week after isolating in Delaware due to a recent COVID-19 diagnosis. However, recent reports suggest that Biden may be reconsidering his position, with some Democrats speculating that he might withdraw from the race soon.

Other Democrats have voiced concerns about Biden’s capabilities without explicitly calling for his withdrawal. Representative Jamie Raskin suggested Biden re-evaluate his candidacy, comparing him to a tired baseball pitcher, while Senator Michael Bennet has predicted a potential Trump landslide victory. Representative Ritchie Torres criticized the narrative of a single poor debate performance as indicative of broader denial and self-delusion, reflecting a broader concern about Biden’s effectiveness and electability.

The controversy surrounding Biden’s candidacy has intensified following his uneven debate performance against Trump, characterized by disjointed responses and errors. This performance, along with subsequent public gaffes, has led to increased calls for new leadership within the Democratic Party. The growing chorus of criticism underscores the mounting pressure on Biden to reconsider his bid for re-election.