President Joe Biden is facing increasing pressure from within the Democratic Party to step down from his re-election bid, with nearly 20 Democrats in Congress publicly calling for him to exit the race. The calls come amid concerns about Biden's age and performance, particularly in debates. Some lawmakers believe that a stronger candidate would give the party a better chance of winning in November and preventing former President Donald Trump from regaining the White House.
The list of Democrats calling for Biden to step aside includes Reps. Jim Hines (D-Conn.) and Adam Smith (D-Wash), the ranking members on the Intelligence and Armed Services Committees, respectively. Other lawmakers include Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), who was the first to call for Biden to end his campaign, and Reps. Eric Sorensen (D-Ill.), Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.), Hillary Scholten (D-Mich.), and Mike Levin (D-Calif).
Senators Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Elizabeth Warren have also weighed in, with Warren suggesting that Vice President Kamala Harris is ready to step up as the nominee if Biden steps down. However, not all Democrats are on board with the idea of Biden stepping aside. Some believe that he should be given the opportunity to run for a second term and let voters decide.
Biden has shown no signs of dropping out and has continued to campaign despite his age and health concerns. He is expected to resume campaigning next week, with plans to attend fundraisers and hold events in key battleground states.
The pressure on Biden from within the Democratic Party comes as he faces challenges from Republicans, who are eager to capitalize on any vulnerabilities in his campaign. The Republican National Committee has already launched attacks against Biden over his handling of the economy and foreign policy issues.
