Two more House Democrats on Thursday joined the chorus of lawmakers publicly calling on Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, ratcheting up pressure on the president just hours before he is due to hold a highly anticipated news conference.
Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Ariz., and Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawaii, in separate statements on Thursday noted the importance of the November election but also noted that Biden’s public calls outs are not reflective of how they feel about his job in his first term in the White House.
Stanton said he was proud to support President Biden in the 2020 election, but believes Democrats now need to field a candidate who can “make an effective case” to take on former President Trump, who “poses a threat to the rule of law in the United States.”
“I believe it is time for the president to step down as our nominee, in the interest of American democracy and to continue to advance our priorities,” Stanton wrote. X Thursday statement.
“But perhaps President Biden’s most defining achievement is that he is a staunch defender of American democracy,” he added. “A second term for Trump would be a devastating blow to America, and this election couldn’t be more important.”
With the addition of Stanton and Case, the number of House Democrats calling on Biden to step down is 14. The president has strengthened his intention to remain in the race in recent days as calls for him to withdraw continue to grow.
In a letter to Democratic lawmakers earlier this week, Biden rejected the growing outcry and urged them to support his candidacy.
“My guidance is what is best for our country,” Case said in a statement before calling on the president to step down.
“I don’t think President Biden should seek reelection as president,” he said. I have writtenHe pointed out that his remarks had nothing to do with the administration’s track record.
“This is entirely a question of the future, of whether the president can continue in the most difficult job in the world for another four years,” he added.
He did not say who should replace Biden in the role.
“There are many paths to reach that decision about which candidate to choose. They are difficult and uncertain,” he said. “But they are no more difficult or uncertain than the path we’re on, and there’s no reason to stay on that path. I don’t believe that’s the best path for our country.”
Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) also called on Biden to step down early Thursday, saying it’s “time to pass the baton.”
Other critics include Democratic Reps. Lloyd Doggett (Texas), Raul Grijalva (Arizona), Seth Moulton (Massachusetts), Mike Quigley (Illinois), Angie Craig (Minnesota), Mickey Sherrill (New Jersey), Adam Smith (Washington), Pat Ryan (New York), Earl Blumenauer (Oregon) and Hillary Scholten (Michigan).
Sen. Peter Welch (R-Vermont) was the only Democratic senator to make the same statement.
Biden is scheduled to hold an unusual news conference on Thursday night as part of this week’s NATO summit in Washington, which political observers say will be a key test for Biden to show voters, lawmakers and other Democrats his ability to defeat Trump in his bid for reelection and serve a second term.
