House Democrats are increasingly panicking about the 2024 elections after the Joe Biden‘s disastrous debate performance — and furious about the president’s response.
Two safe-seat members have already publicly called on Biden to resign. Two of the most threatened Democrats told local news outlets that they have already written off Biden’s chances of winning in November.
Behind the scenes, things are even more hectic. Several draft letters are circulating among House Democrats, and at least one would call on Biden to end his campaign, according to five people familiar with the effort.
Even for Congress, where rumors are constantly swirling in the Capitol, this week has been remarkably chaotic, made worse by the fact that members were not in session and were scrambling to connect with each other remotely.
“Everyone is panicking and I don’t even know what to say,” said a senior Democratic congressman in the House of Representatives who has been trying to manage the aftermath of the conference.
“The Frontliners are really concerned,” the lawmaker added, using House Democrats’ branding of their most electorally vulnerable members.
The secret plans, the careful parsing of words in cable TV reports and the public calls for Biden to prove himself in more public settings underscore a growing sense among House Democrats that the situation is untenable.
The debate and the campaign’s handling of its aftermath have deeply shocked Democrats holding key seats, increasingly convincing them that Biden’s weakness at the top of the ticket could lead to a complete punishment at lower ballot boxes.
“Everybody wants him out. There’s a sense of desperation. I think people don’t understand how we’re going to get out of this hole. And we’re headed toward losing Trump,” said one House Democrat who spoke on condition of anonymity to shed light on private conversations. “All of my text chains in Congress have gone from dark humor to ‘let’s take action.’ … I can’t find a single group of people who really believe that we’re going to win with Joe Biden.”
But no one can agree on what should happen.
Some waited for clearer polling data or other signals. Others hoped to talk to more colleagues and advisers. But next Monday loomed for many as an informal deadline. The House will return from its July 4 recess and members will be in one place again, raising the prospect of collective action that can cover everyone.
Meanwhile, members were forced to privately discuss their actions in group chats and telephone conversations, which resulted in TV hits and interviews in their home districts.
Fears about Biden’s ability to mount a presidential campaign that arose immediately after the debate have intensified this week and are now beginning to filter through to the public.
Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas, a progressive who represents the heart of Austin, became the first sitting Democrat in the House of Representatives to call on Biden to drop out of the race. He was joined a day later by Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona.
Two Democrats in red districts, Reps. Jared Golden of Maine and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington state, said the debate made clear that Biden could not beat Trump. Golden said confidently that democracy could survive a second Trump presidency — an argument that undermines his own party’s core message. Neither explicitly called on Biden to resign.
Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) expressed concerns on CNN about the effects of Biden’s candidacy on the lower ballot box: “I want him to realize right now how much this affects not only his own race, but all the other races that happen in November.”
And swing-seat Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) said at a news conference that she has asked the campaign to make Biden more present in the coming days while also giving him space to “think about whether he wants to move forward.”
During a call with campaign staff on Wednesday, Biden reiterated his commitment to staying in the race, adding, “nobody is pushing me out.” Biden also announced additional campaign stops, a press conference during next week’s NATO summit and will also appear for a recorded interview with ABC News.
For many Democrats, his team’s damage control efforts are just as troubling as Biden’s performance: a combination of resignations, disavowals and claims of innocence that only served to undermine the campaign’s credibility among lawmakers.
“Biden’s surrogates calling us all ‘bedwetters’ is more counterproductive than helpful,” said one Democrat.
Democrats have expressed frustration with Biden’s tight circle and the lack of outreach from the White House or the campaign on how they will right the ship. It took days for Biden to contact House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, whom he called Tuesday, or Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who spoke to the president on Wednesday. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden also spoke with Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.).
House Democratic leaders plan to hold a meeting on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
Mia McCarthy and Sarah Ferris contributed.
