You’ve heard the rumblings. The whispers in the halls of Congress. The off-record murmurs of concern. President Biden should step aside in 2024. Let someone else take the reins. Biden is too old. Too disconnected. Democrats need fresh blood. A new direction. You scan the headlines. See the tally grow. Two House Democrats. Then three. Four. The chorus swelled. Now a fifth voice joins the refrain. Congresswoman Angie Craig breaks ranks. Urges Biden to quit the race. Says she must be honest, even if it stings. The cracks in party unity split wider. Pressure mounts higher. Prominent voices plead louder. Should Biden heed the call? Bow out gracefully? Or dig in defiantly? Stay tuned. The plot thickens. The drama heightens. The battle looms. Buckle up.
Pressure Mounts as Rep. Angie Craig Calls for Biden to Drop Out
Another Voice Joins the Chorus
Rep. Angie Craig has become the latest – and fifth – House Democrat to urge President Biden not to run for re-election in 2024. Her call comes amid growing doubts over Biden’s age and stamina following a shaky debate performance.
“In my humble opinion, I think it’s time for a new generation of leadership across the board – in both parties,” Craig said in an interview. “I have great respect for President Biden, but I think the best thing would be for him to opt out of running for a second term.”
Praising Biden’s Service, But…
Craig was careful to praise Biden’s decades of public service and leadership through turbulent times. However, she bluntly stated that the 80-year-old president should make way for fresh faces to take the helm.
“President Biden has an incredible legacy of service to our country, and he has certainly helped steer us through some rough waters these past few years,” Craig said. “But I feel a responsibility, to be honest – for the good of the Democratic party and the nation, we need a new standard bearer to carry the torch.”
A Growing Movement?
Craig’s stance aligns her with a small but vocal group of House Democrats who have publicly questioned whether Biden should pursue a second term. Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Dean Phillips, Ruben Gallego, and David Cicilline previously voiced doubts about Biden running again.
With Biden digging in and signaling he intends to run, the question is whether more Democrats will follow Craig’s lead. For now, Biden seems determined to let voters, not Capitol Hill critics, decide his political fate in 2024.
List of House Democrats Urging Biden Not to Run in 2024 Grows
The Growing Chorus
Pressure is mounting on President Biden to reconsider his 2024 re-election bid. Representative Angie Craig of Minnesota became the fifth House Democrat to call on the 80-year-old president to step aside. This comes on the heels of mixed reviews of Biden’s performance in the first 2024 debate against Republican frontrunner Donald Trump.
Biden has dismissed the growing dissent, insisting the decision is up to voters. But the calls from within his party are getting harder to ignore. Three other sitting Democratic elected officials – Reps. Carolyn Maloney of New York, Dean Phillips of Minnesota, and Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania – have also urged Biden to pass the torch.
The “Let Someone Else Try” Crowd
Illinois Rep. Mike Quigley previously said “it’s too late” for Biden to be an effective president, adding “It’s time that we move on and let someone else do this.” Quigley’s comments echoed concerns about Biden’s age and stamina for another grueling campaign.
Biden supporters praise his accomplishments and experience. Critics worry his advanced age and shaky debate performance signal it’s time for fresh Democratic leadership to take on Trump or another GOP nominee. As the calls to quit pile up, all eyes are on Biden’s next move.
Defiant Biden Digs In
So far, the president is digging in. He insists he’ll be the Democratic nominee and says the doubters are out of touch with the party’s base. But the dissenting voices keep getting louder.
With the Iowa caucuses less than a year away, Democrats face a tough decision. Do they rally behind the incumbent president? Or does the growing “let someone else try” crowd convince Biden to step aside for a new generation of leaders? The 2024 race is quickly becoming a pivotal inflection point for the party’s future direction.
White House Defends Biden’s Candidacy Despite Calls to Withdraw
The Growing Chorus
The White House is standing firmly behind President Biden’s reelection bid. Even as a growing number of Democrats voice doubts and call for him to step aside.
After a shaky debate performance, Rep. Angie Craig became the fifth House Democrat urging Biden not to run again. She said, “It’s time to have that conversation about whether or not he’ll be the strongest candidate.”
But the White House isn’t budging. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed Biden is “absolutely not” considering dropping out. Despite the mounting pressure from within his party.
Defiant Stance
Biden has remained defiant in the face of criticism. Insisting the decision on whether to run lies with voters, not lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
Jean-Pierre echoed that stance, saying “he intends to run and he is running.” She dismissed the doubters as a “very small number of voices” compared to those supporting Biden.
The president’s allies argue he is still the Democrats’ best shot at holding the White House in 2024. Pointing to his experience, record, and ability to take on Trump again.
Debate Debacle
Much of the renewed scrutiny stems from Biden’s uneven showing at last week’s debate. Gaffes and shaky moments raised fresh concerns about his age and stamina for another grueling campaign.
But Jean-Pierre insisted Biden “will be better” next time after getting the “first one out of the way.” She said debate performances don’t make or break presidencies.
As the calls for him to quit grow louder, the White House shows no signs of wavering. Setting up a potential clash between Biden’s reelection ambitions and anxious Democrats.
What Are Biden’s Options If More Democrats Call for Him to Quit?
Stepping Aside Voluntarily
One option for Biden is to voluntarily decide not to run for re-election in 2024. This would be an enormously difficult personal decision, given his lifelong pursuit of the presidency. But it could position him to exit on his terms and avoid a potentially damaging primary fight.
Biden could frame it as an act of patriotism and putting country over self. He could say he has accomplished much of his agenda and wants to make way for new leadership. This move would anger his loyal supporters but could help unite the party behind a new nominee.
Getting Nudged Out by Party Leaders
Another scenario is that top Democrats effectively force Biden from running again by withholding endorsements, funding, and campaigning for him. Party bosses and elected officials wield immense influence. If enough of them call on Biden to quit, the pressure could become insurmountable.
This would be an ugly, demoralizing process for Democrats. But leaders may feel it’s necessary to boost their chances against Trump or an upstart GOP nominee. Biden could fight back, but being abandoned by his party would be a massive political wound.
Staying in the Race No Matter What
Biden’s current stance is that he plans to run in 2024 and will not be deterred by naysayers. He believes he is the only Democrat who can beat Trump and argues his legislative wins make him the strongest candidate.
If Biden digs in despite mounting opposition, it could trigger an incredibly divisive primary battle. It may energize his base of working-class voters. But it risks airing a ton of dirty laundry that Republicans will gleefully amplify.
So those are Biden’s main options as doubts within his party grow. Does he step aside gracefully? Get forced out? Or charge forward despite the obstacles? Only he can decide which path to take.
Biden 2024 Bid FAQs: Will He Stay In? Can He Be Replaced?
The Defiant President
President Biden has made it abundantly clear – he’s running for re-election, naysayers be damned. Despite growing calls from fellow Democrats to step aside, Biden is digging in his heels. He believes he’s the only one who can take down Donald Trump (again) in 2024.
Biden’s debate performance didn’t exactly silence the doubters. But in typical Joe fashion, he’s brushing off the criticism as just more noise from the pundits. To the White House, this is simply the opening salvo of a long, bruising primary campaign. Biden’s campaign promises it will be “game on” once voting starts.
Can Democrats Replace Biden?
Replacing an incumbent president on the Dem ticket is easier said than done. The messy, public process could fracture the party and boost GOP chances. For now, Biden still has broad support among Democratic officials, donors, and voters. Ousting him would be an unprecedented, ugly fight.
That said, the writing may be on the wall if Biden’s poll numbers keep tanking or his age (80) becomes a bigger liability. An alternative could emerge – possibly someone like Gavin Newsom or Gretchen Whitmer. But knocking out an elected incumbent? That’s uncharted waters for Democrats.
Is There a “Biden Remover” Clause?
Short answer: No, there’s no official mechanism to force Biden off the 2024 ticket against his will. The closest thing is the 25th Amendment for replacing an incapacitated president. But that’s a non-starter here unless Biden’s mental state severely declines.
Realistically, the only way Biden exits is by his own choice – either by dropping out early or declining to seek re-election. Democrats can try persuading him, but the final decision rests with Biden himself. He shows zero signs of quitting right now.
For better or worse, the 2024 Democratic primary looks like Biden’s race to lose at this point. The question is whether he can stop the bleeding and regain his footing. Because if not, an alternative may eventually emerge whether he likes it or not.
Conclusion
So, bottom line – with mounting pressure from his party, the choice may soon be out of Biden’s hands. If more Democrats come forward demanding he bow out, Biden’s campaign could reach a tipping point. While the President seems determined to push forward, for now, the reality is the writing may be on the wall. The voters have serious doubts, and many prominent Democrats are urging Biden to quit while he’s ahead. His performance has raised real concerns about his viability in 2024. Though Biden insists the choice is his alone, the deafening calls from his side to step aside suggest the decision ultimately may not be his to make. This snowballing lack of confidence from Democrats signals it’s likely just a matter of time before Biden either has to concede 2024 or risk an ugly battle within his party. The President’s defiance won’t make this issue disappear. Instead, the momentum against him is growing. Biden can dig in all he wants, but the pressure to withdraw is only going to intensify. The President soon may have no other choice but to pass the torch.