US election: Who are the supporters who called for Biden to drop out of the race?

It’s been two weeks since the disastrous performance of Joe Biden in the debate against Donald Trump. Despite his campaign’s best efforts, concerns about his health and mental capacity have not abated, and a number of Democratic lawmakers, celebrities, donors and media personalities have called for him to drop out of the race.

The president has so far remained steadfast, issuing an open letter on Monday (8) in which he questioned his critics and argued that he is “firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end and to defeating Donald Trump.”

“The voters — and only the voters — decide the Democratic Party nominee,” Biden wrote. “The question of how to proceed has been discussed at length for more than a week now. And it is time for it to end. We have one job. And that is to defeat Donald Trump.”

But as Biden and his campaign choose to align themselves with Democrats and pledge their support for the president, calls for him to drop out of the race and for the party to replace him with a younger, more capable candidate continue to grow.

Here are some of the most notable names in and out of politics who have expressed concern about the 81-year-old president as he seeks a second term — including those who have openly argued that Biden needs to drop out:

Senators

One Democratic senator explicitly called for Biden to step aside. Peter Welchof Vermont, did so in an op-ed in the Washington Post published Wednesday. “For the good of the country, I am calling on President Biden to withdraw from the race,” Welch wrote, adding that “we need him to put us first.”

Several other Democratic senators suggested Biden should take a step back.

Michael Bennetfrom Colorado, told CNN: “Donald Trump is on track to win this election, I think, and perhaps win it by a large margin and take the Senate and the House with him.”

“I am deeply concerned about Joe Biden winning this November,” he said. Richard Blumenthalof Connecticut, told reporters, adding that “we have to come to a conclusion” about what to do “as quickly as possible.”

Patty Murrayfrom Washington, wrote in a statement that Biden must “seriously consider how best to preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future” and that “we need to see a much more vigorous and energetic candidate.”

Raphael Warnockof Georgia, said after the debate that Biden “absolutely not” should drop out of the race, but appeared to soften his stance this week when he told Axios that “we’re going to get to a place where we win in November,” and that Biden is the nominee “right now.”

Tim Kainefrom Virginia – who has experience running a presidential campaign against Trump as his running mate Hillary Clinton in 2016 — was also evasive when speaking to reporters on Wednesday. “I have every confidence that Joe Biden will do the patriotic thing for the country,” he said. “And he will make that decision. He has never let me down.”

The most important voice in the Senate is that of the Majority Leader, Chuck SchumerNew York. Schumer has publicly insisted that she is “with Joe,” but the Axios reported Wednesday that he is open to the idea of ​​replacing him on the ticket.

Deputies

So far, 11 House Democrats have called on Biden to withdraw from the race: Lloyd Doggettfrom Texas; Raul Grijalvafrom Arizona; Mike Quigleyfrom Illinois, Angie Craigfrom Minnesota; Adam Smithfrom Washington; Mikie Sherrillfrom New Jersey; Seth Moultonfrom Massachusetts; Pat Ryanfrom New York; Earl Blumenauerfrom Oregon; Hillary ScholtenMichigan; and Brad Schneiderfrom Illinois.

Several other House members expressed concern, most notably Nancy Pelosifrom California. The former Speaker of the House during an interview with the Morning Joe on Wednesday did not say whether she felt Biden should stay in the race. Instead, she insisted it was his decision. When reminded that Biden had already made the decision to stay in the race, Pelosi reiterated that the decision was Biden’s.

Governors

No Democratic governor has called on Biden to drop out of the race. The president met with them the week after the debate to allay concerns, though it doesn’t appear many of them are convinced he’s up to the task. New York Times reported that Biden told them he needed to sleep more and work less at night. The comment left many of the governors frustrated.

The Governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmera rising star in the party who has been mentioned as a possible Biden replacement, said Wednesday that it “wouldn’t hurt” for Biden to take a cognitive test. (Whitmer has insisted she is not interested in replacing Biden on the ticket.) Illinois Gov. JP Pritzkeranother rising star in the party, was recently caught on an open mic saying he doesn’t “like where we are.”

The Lieutenant Governor of New York, Antonio Delgadocalled for Biden’s resignation on Wednesday, writing in X that Biden “can add to his legacy by showing his strength and grace by ending his campaign and making room for a new leader.”

A Political reported Wednesday that support for Biden in deeply Democratic New York is waning and that the Democratic stronghold is at risk of becoming a battleground state in November.

Celebrities

George Clooneya longtime Democrat who hosted a lavish fundraiser for Biden in June, called on the president to step aside in an op-ed in New York Times published on Wednesday. “We will not win in November with this president,” Clooney wrote.

“Furthermore, we’re not going to win the House, and we’re going to lose the Senate. This is not just my opinion; this is the opinion of every senator and member of Congress and governor I’ve spoken to privately. Every single one of them, regardless of what he or she is saying publicly.”

Clooney is far from the only celebrity to call for Biden to drop out of the race. Others to do so include Rob Reiner, Stephen King, Michael Moore, Sara Haines, John Cusack It is Damon Lindelof.

Several other notable celebrities – from late-night talk show hosts like Jon Stewart It is Stephen Colbert to the actor Michael Douglas – have openly expressed concerns about Biden’s age and his ability to govern.

Party donors

Democratic donors are also not happy with Biden’s debate performance.

Abigail Disneythe granddaughter of the Disney founder, said last week that she plans to withhold donations to the party until Biden drops out of the race. Gideon Steinanother major donor, says he plans to withhold $3.5 million in planned giving until Biden leaves, according to the The New York Times. Reed Hastingsa Netflix co-founder and major Democratic donor, also called on Biden to step aside. “Biden needs to step aside to allow a strong Democratic leader to defeat Trump and keep us safe and prosperous,” he told the Teams.

It’s not just the big donors who are upset. NBC News reported Wednesday that donations dried up after the debate, and the Biden campaign expects it to get worse. “The money just stopped,” as one source put it.

Media

Major media outlets spent the post-debate period reporting on Biden’s struggles, prompting many of those outlets to publish editorials calling for him to drop out of the race. The editorial board of The Atlanta Journal-Constitutionthe most prominent newspaper in Georgia, which Biden narrowly won in 2020, headlined its article: “It’s Time for Biden to Pass the Torch.” The Chicago Tribunethe largest newspaper in the city that will host the Democratic National Convention later this summer, also called on Biden to step aside.

The same did the The New York Timeswhose editorial board needed only a day after the debate to publish its article arguing that the president should drop out of the race. “The clearest path for Democrats to defeat a candidate defined by his lies is to deal honestly with the American public: to acknowledge that Mr. Biden cannot continue his race,” the Times wrote, “and to create a process to select someone more capable to take his place in defeating Mr. Trump in November.”

Article translated from the original published by Rolling Stone on July 11, 2024. Read the full text in English here.