U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, (D-Texas.), became the first Democrat to publicly call on President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race on Tuesday.
Doggett said Biden’s debate performance against former president Donald Trump “failed to effectively defend his many accomplishments.” He added, “President Biden saved our democracy by delivering us from Trump in 2020. He must not deliver us to Trump in 2024.”
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden is still battling a cold, but his reelection campaign is not going anywhere. Other Democrats have also criticized Biden since the debate but stopped short of calling on him to withdraw.
The Democratic National Committee could formally nominate Biden as its candidate as early as mid-July ahead of the August convention in Chicago. Biden plans to speak with Democratic governors on Wednesday, along with calls to other Democratic leaders and members of Congress this week.
