President Biden's disastrous performance in last week's debate has sent the Democratic Party hierarchy into a panic, with some key players said to be mulling how to get him to drop his re-election bid.
The situation has plunged the party into crisis and threatens to drive a wedge between Biden loyalists and elected officials in key districts ahead of next month's Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Biden’s top campaign advisers have been working on damage control with major donors over the past week, while the White House — and Biden himself — remain steadfast in their stance that he is the right man to lead the party against former President Trump, the likely Republican nominee.
Biden resists mounting pressure to step aside
President Biden's performance in the debate has caused panic among the party hierarchy and major debates are taking place over whether he should lead the party ticket. (Photo by Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Democrats Say Biden Should Step Down
- Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas: “I hope that you will make the painful and difficult decision to retire. I respectfully ask that you do so.”
- Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz.: “I will support [Biden]But I think this is an opportunity to look the other way… What he needs to do is take responsibility for keeping that seat, and part of that responsibility is getting out of this race.”
- Adam Frisch, candidate for Colorado's third congressional district“I thank President Biden for his years of service, but the road ahead requires a new generation of leadership to move our country forward.”
On Wednesday, Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., became the second Capitol Hill Democrat to call on Biden to drop out of the race. (Fake Images)
VAN JONES SAYS DEMOCRATS ARE NOW PLANNING 'HOW' TO REPLACE BIDEN WITH HARRIS
Democrats who have expressed their concerns
- Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California: “I think it's legitimate to ask whether this is an episode or an illness. When people ask that question, it's totally legitimate for both candidates to ask it.”
- Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash.: “About 50 million Americans tuned in and watched that debate. I was one of them for a very painful five minutes. We all saw what we saw, you can't undo that, and the truth, I think, is that Biden is going to lose to Trump.”
- Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine: “I believe Trump will be in the White House in 2025. Maine's representatives will need to work with him when it's in the best interest of Mainers, hold him accountable when it's not, and work independently no matter what.”
- Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa.: “People may not want to hear it, but we're running out of time. Time is not on our side. We have a few months to accomplish a monumental task. It's not cheap and it's not easy. If our president decides this is not a path forward for him, we have to act very quickly. There's not going to be time for a primary. That time has passed. The vice president is the obvious choice. She's sitting right there.”
- Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass.: “I deeply respect President Biden and all the great things he has done for America, but I have serious concerns about his ability to defeat Donald Trump.”
- Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C.: “What I do know is that the American people want an explanation, they need reassurance, and I hope that in the coming days we can achieve that.”
- Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill.: “I think we need to be honest with ourselves: This wasn't just one bad debate performance. There are very real concerns and you have to take voters as they are, not as you want them to be.”
- Senator Peter Welch, Democrat of Vermont: “I sincerely criticise the campaign's attitude towards people who raise issues for debate. That is simply facing the reality of where we find ourselves.”
- Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of the Democratic Republic of the Congo: “I think, like a lot of people, I was pretty horrified by the debate… I think people want to make sure that this is a campaign that is ready to go forward and win, that the president and his team are being honest with us about where he is, that this was a real anomaly and not just the way things are these days.”
Nancy Pelosi on MSNBC expressed concerns about Biden's health.
Democrats who support Biden as a candidate
Twenty-three Democratic governors from across the country came to the White House on Wednesday night to meet with the embattled president, but after the meeting, only Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who leads the Democratic Governors Association, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore spoke to reporters to express their support.
Governor Moore described the meeting with Biden as “honest” and “candid” and said the governors would “have his back.”
Gov. Hochul said President Biden was “in this to win” and that the trio had pledged their support “because the stakes couldn’t be higher,” invoking, on the eve of Independence Day, the fight against tyranny.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who many commentators have touted as a possible replacement for Biden, also attended the White House meeting and endorsed the 81-year-old.
“I heard three words from the President tonight: He's fully committed. And so am I,” Newsom posted on X last night. Newsom also publicly endorsed Biden immediately after the debate.
“You can't turn your back on a candidate because of one performance,” Newsom said after the debate. “What kind of party does that? This president has delivered. We have to deliver for him right now.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks to reporters after the debate in which he endorsed President Biden. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has also publicly endorsed Biden, as has Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs and Hawaii Gov. Josh Green.
Meanwhile, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a longtime Biden ally, has also expressed support, as has House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
“A setback is just the beginning of a comeback,” Jeffries posted on X on Saturday.
Fox News' Kyle Morris contributed to this report.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
