Four more leading House Democrats are urging President Joe Biden not to seek reelection after a private call with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Sunday, according to multiple reports.
Reps. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Joe Morrell (D-NY), Adam Smith (D-WA) and Mark Takano (D-Calif.) called on the sitting president to recuse himself from the 2024 presidential race during a two-hour conference call with Rep. Jeffries. Sources told Politico, The New York Times and other media outlets.
The four Democrats made these claims at a House Democratic caucus meeting on Sunday, which was aimed at addressing fears and concerns within the party about whether Biden can win the presidential election in November.
Nadler, Morell, Smith and Takano joined five other House Democrats in issuing statements casting doubt on Biden’s reelection prospects following his poor performance in the first presidential debate with former President Donald Trump.
The lack of support from Democratic Party leaders could be a major blow to Biden, given the lawmakers’ standing and stature within the party.
Nadler is the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, while Morrell serves as the top Democrat on the Administration Committee.
Mr. Smith is the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee and Mr. Takano is the ranking member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
The four Democrats on the private call, as well as Reps. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Don Beyer (D-Va.) and Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), also expressed concern about Biden’s possible failure in the looming election.
While no Democratic congressional leaders have yet publicly called on Biden to resign, the growing concern from within the House of Representatives signals the party’s wavering confidence in the president.
Biden, 81, continues to face pressure over his age and poor debate performances, and his campaign is trying to do damage control as he tries to rally Democrats around his campaign.
While Jeffries hosted a Sunday caucus meeting to ease fears in the House, Biden was busy campaigning in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania, hoping to make up for his poor performance in the debate.
He also tried to unite the party in an interview with the ABC on Friday, but the effort appeared to fall short.
Still, despite urgings from House Democrats, Biden has repeatedly said he has no plans to step aside for another nominee.
While nine House Democrats have voiced concerns about the sitting president, others are standing by him and working to give him the support he needs.
Rep. Maxine Waters, 85, Democrat of California, earned a standing ovation when she declared, “People say Joe Biden is too old. No, I’m older than Biden!”
