More than a dozen House members and one senator have called on President Joe Biden to end his bid for another term. Biden told reporters he’s in the race to stay at a news conference seen as a pivotal part of his effort to convince colleagues he’s got the cognitive ability and stamina to run for and do the job.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries met with Biden on Thursday night, after what he said in a letter to House Democrats was several days of “candid, clear-eyed and comprehensive” discourse with members of the caucus.
“In my conversation with President Biden, I directly expressed the full breadth of insight, heartfelt perspectives and conclusions about the path forward that the Caucus has shared in our recent time together,” he wrote.
House Democrats met Tuesday for their weekly caucus meeting and didn’t emerge with a consensus on whether Biden should stay in the race and seek a second term in the White House. But over the past several days, more members have called on Biden to step aside.
Here’s a rundown of who they are and what they said, organized by when they said it.
July 12
Rep. Mike Levin, D-Calif.
Who he is: Levin, first elected in 2018, represents a battleground district in Southern California that Biden would have won by 11.3 percentage points in 2020.
What he said: “President Biden has been an outstanding leader, not only of our nation, but of the entire free world. Making this statement is not easy,” Levin said. “I have deep respect for President Biden’s five plus decades of public service and incredible appreciation for the work we’ve done together these last three and a half years. But I believe the time has come for President Biden to pass the torch.”
Brittany Pettersen, D-Colo.
Who she is: A freshman from Colorado who represents a district that Biden would have won by 14 percentage points in 2020, according to Inside Elections.
What she said: “Joe Biden saved our country once, and I’m joining the growing number of people in my district and across the country to ask him to do it again,” she said. “Please pass the torch to one of our many capable Democratic leaders so we have the best chance to defeat Donald Trump, who is the greatest threat to the foundation of this country that we have ever faced.”
July 11
Eric Sorensen, D-Ill.
Who he is: A freshman from Illinois. Inside Elections rates his race as Lean Democratic. The National Republican Congressional Committee targeted Sorensen in a digital ad campaign accusing House Democrats of helping to cover up Biden’s health status.
What he said: Sorensen said he hoped Biden would step aside after his Thursday night news conference. “It is more important than ever that our neighbors have a candidate for President who will communicate a positive vision for every person in this country,” he said. “Someone who can demonstrate the strength and wisdom needed to lead us through the worst storms. A leader who will stand up to the present threats against democracy.”
Scott Peters, D-Calif.
Who he is: A member of the New Democrat Coalition, Peters represents a safe blue seat in San Diego.
What he said: “The debate raised real concern among elected leaders, supporters and voters that the President will not be able to wage a winning campaign. And while the Biden campaign claims the post-debate national polls remain relatively unchanged, polling in the swing states has worsened alarmingly,” he said in a statement, according to local news outlets. “We must find a candidate from our deep bench of talent who can defeat Donald Trump. … I hope all Democrats will join me in putting the country first, preserving the progress of the past four years, and solidifying Joe Biden’s legacy as one of the great leaders of our time — by defeating Donald Trump.”
Jim Himes, D-Conn.
Who he is: Top-ranking Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, he would be in line to become chairman if Democrats take control in November.
What he said: Himes called Biden “a remarkable leader of unparalleled public service, undeniable achievement, and unconditional patriotism” and touted his administration’s achievements. “It is because of those traits, and in consideration of that legacy, that I hope President Biden will step away from the presidential campaign,” he said in a statement.
Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez, D-Wash.
Who she is: Gluesenkamp Pérez flipped a seat in 2022 and is one of five Democrats who represent a district Trump would have won in 2020. Her race is rated a Toss-up, and she was ranked the House’s most vulnerable Democrat in May by Roll Call.
What she said: In addition to calling on Biden to drop his reelection bid, Gluesenkamp Pérez suggested that the president consider resigning before his term ends in January 2025. “Like most people I represent in Southwest Washington, I doubt the President’s judgment about his health, his fitness to do the job, and whether he is the one making important decisions about our country, rather than unelected advisors,” Gluesenkamp Pérez said in a statement, according to the Seattle Times. “Americans deserve to feel their president is fit enough to do the job. The crisis of confidence in the President’s leadership needs to come to an end. The President should do what he knows is right for the country and put the national interest first.”
Ed Case, D-Hawaii
Who he is: First elected in 2018, Case represents a district Biden would have won by 29 percentage points in 2020, according to Inside Elections.
What he said: “Difficult times and realities require difficult decisions,” he said in an emailed statement from his campaign obtained by Honolulu Civil Beat. “This is one of those times, realities and decisions. My guidepost is what is the best way forward for our country. I do not believe President Biden should continue his candidacy for reelection as president.”
Greg Stanton, D-Ariz.
Who he is: A former Phoenix mayor first elected in 2018 who represents a district that Biden would have won by 11 points in 2020, according to Inside Elections.
What he said: “The Democratic Party must have a nominee who can effectively make the case against Trump, and have the confidence of the American people to handle the rigors of the hardest job on the planet for the next four years,’’ he said. “For the sake of American democracy, and to continue to make progress on our shared priorities, I believe it is time for the President to step aside as our nominee.”
Brad Schneider, D-Ill.
Who he is: A Democrat in his fifth term, Schneider represents a safe blue seat in Illinois. He’s a vice chair of the New Democrat Coalition, a group of center-left Democrats.
What he said: “I love President Biden. I am forever grateful for his leadership and service to our nation. The time has come, however, for President Biden to heroically pass the torch to a new generation of leadership,” he said, according to an Axios report.
Hillary Scholten, D-Mich.
Who she is: A freshman representing a western Michigan district that includes Grand Rapids, Scholten flipped a swing seat in 2022.
What she said: “For the good of our democracy, I believe it is time for him to step aside from the presidential race and allow a new leader to step up,” she said in a statement. She added that she would vote for Biden if he chose to remain in the race.
July 10
Peter Welch, D-Vt.
Who he is: The first Democratic senator to call on Biden to exit the race, Welch won his seat in 2022 after serving eight terms in the House.
What he said: “I understand why President Biden wants to run. He saved us from Donald Trump once and wants to do it again,” Welch wrote in a Washington Post op-ed. “But he needs to reassess whether he is the best candidate to do so. In my view, he is not. For the good of the country, I’m calling on President Biden to withdraw from the race.”
Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore.
Who he is: Blumenauer is the dean of the Oregon House delegation and has been in Congress since 1996. Last year he announced he would not seek reelection. Biden would have won his district by 46 points, according to Inside Elections.
What he said: “While this is a decision for the president and the first lady, I hope they will come to the conclusion that I and others have: President Biden should not be the Democratic presidential nominee,” Blumenauer said in a statement obtained by OPB. “It is a painful and difficult conclusion but there is no question in my mind that we will all be better served if the president steps aside as the Democratic nominee and manages a transition under his terms.”
Pat Ryan, D-N.Y.
Who he is: Ryan won a special election in 2022, focusing his campaign on abortion rights after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Inside Elections rates his race for a full term as Lean Democratic.
What he said: “For the good of our country, I am asking Joe Biden to step aside — to deliver on his promise to be a bridge to a new generation of leaders,” he said on the social media platform X after telling The New York Times that Biden should “deliver on the promise to be a bridge to a new generation of leaders.”
July 9
Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J.
Who she is: Sherill in 2018 flipped a seat that has since been redrawn to be more favorable to Democrats, and she is preparing to run for governor in 2025.
What she said: “Because I know President Biden cares deeply about the future of our country, I am asking that he declare that he won’t run for reelection and will help lead us through a process toward a new nominee,” she said in a statement.
July 8
Adam Smith, D-Wash.
Who he is: The ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, he’d be in line to chair the panel if Democrats take back the majority in November.
What he said: “Well, look, I think he should step aside. I think it’s become clear that he’s not the best person to carry the Democratic message,” he said on CNN. “And here’s the thing, we have an incredibly strong message and record to run on.”
July 6
Angie Craig, D-Minn.
Who she is: Craig flipped a Minnesota swing seat in 2018 and was the first Democratic “Frontliner” — that’s the party’s program for incumbents who need reelection help — to call on Biden to exit the race. Inside Elections rates her race as Lean Democratic.
What she said: “Given what I saw and heard from the President during last week’s debate in Atlanta, coupled with the lack of a forceful response from the President himself following that debate, I do not believe that the President can effectively campaign and win against Donald Trump.”
July 5
Mike Quigley, D-Ill.
Who he is: A Democrat in his seventh term who represents a Chicago-area district.
What he said: “I would say, 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 do this,” Quigley said he would tell Biden in an MSNBC interview.
July 3
Seth Moulton, D-Mass.
Who he is: First elected in 2014, Moulton briefly ran for president in 2020, but his campaign didn’t gain traction and he ran for reelection instead.
What he said: “When your current strategy isn’t working, it’s rarely the right decision to double down,” Moulton posted on social media. “President Biden is not going to get any younger. … We should have all viable options on the table.”
Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva, D-Ariz.
Who he is: In his 11th term, Grijalva is the ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee. He represents a district Biden would have won by 27 points, according to Inside Elections.
What he said: “What he needs to do is shoulder the responsibility for keeping that seat — and part of that responsibility is to get out of this race,” Grijalva told The New York Times.
July 2
Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas
Who he is: A senior member of the Texas delegation, he has held an Austin-based seat since he was first elected in 1994.
What he said: “I represent the heart of a congressional district once represented by Lyndon Johnson. Under very different circumstances, he made the painful decision to withdraw,” Doggett said. “President Biden should do the same.”
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