Short Summary
The
2024 presidential election witnessed an unprecedented internal challenge within the Democratic Party as numerous congressional Democrats publicly urged President Joe Biden to withdraw his candidacy following his widely criticized
debate performance against Donald Trump on June 27, 2024. This remarkable pressure campaign, which unfolded between late June and July 21, 2024, began with Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) becoming the
first House Democrat to call for Biden's withdrawal, followed by defections from across the party spectrum including prominent legislators like Rep. Adam Schiff, Sen. Jon Tester, and Sen. Sherrod Brown. Democrats cited electoral concerns in battleground states, potential down-ballot impacts on House and Senate races, and polling data showing Biden trailing Trump as justification for their calls. Despite initial resistance,
Long Summary
Introduction: Democratic Party's Challenge to Biden
The
2024 presidential election witnessed a remarkable internal challenge within the Democratic Party as numerous congressional Democrats publicly urged President Joe Biden to step aside following his widely criticized
debate performance against former President Donald Trump on June 27, 2024.This unprecedented pressure campaign from within Biden's own party revealed deep concerns about electoral viability against Trump and reflected a strategic prioritization of winning the White House in 2024 over maintaining party unity behind an incumbent president.
Timeline: Democratic Congressional Pressure Campaign
Initial Post-Debate Response (Late June 2024)
The first signs of Democratic unease emerged immediately following the presidential debate on June 27, 2024. Private concerns about Biden's debate performance quickly spread through Democratic circles, with polls showing declining voter confidence in the president's fitness for office.
First Wave of House Democratic Defections (Early July 2024)
- July 2, 2024: Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) became the
first House Democrat to publicly call for Biden to step aside, stating: "I represent the heart of a congressional district once represented by Lyndon Johnson. Under very different circumstances, he made the painful decision to withdraw. President Biden should do the same."- July 3, 2024: Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Arizona) told The New York Times Biden needed to "look elsewhere" for a nominee- July 4, 2024: Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Massachusetts) urged Biden to "follow in one of our founding fathers, George Washington's footsteps and step aside"- July 5, 2024: Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Illinois) called on Biden to "step down and let someone else do this" during an MSNBC interview- July 6, 2024: Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minnesota) cited "too much at stake to risk a second Donald Trump presidency"
Senate and Leadership Allies Break Ranks (Mid-July 2024)
- July 10, 2024: Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vermont) published a Washington Post op-ed becoming the first Democratic senator to call for Biden to exit the race- July 11, 2024: Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-California), a close ally of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, delivered a data-driven assessment that Biden would "lose the race for President"- July 12, 2024: Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland), a prominent progressive voice, sent Biden a four-page letter urging him to step aside- July 17, 2024: Rep. Adam Schiff (D-California), former lead impeachment manager, called on Biden to "pass the torch"
Battleground State Senators Join Calls (Late July 2024)
- July 18, 2024: Sen. Jon Tester (D-Montana), facing a difficult reelection in a red state, announced Biden "should not seek re-election"- July 19, 2024: Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico) and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) added their voices, with Brown's Ohio seat considered crucial to Democratic Senate control- July 19, 2024: A joint letter from Representatives Jared Huffman, Marc Veasey, Chuy Garcia, and Mark Pocan urged Biden to "pass the torch to a new generation of Democratic leaders"- July 21, 2024: Independent Sen. Joe Manchin (West Virginia) called for Biden to exit "with a heavy heart"
Key Figures in the Democratic Revolt
Strategic Defections from Various Party Wings
The movement against Biden's candidacy encompassed legislators from across the Democratic spectrum, demonstrating the breadth of concern within the party:
Progressive Wing Representatives
- Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland), a progressive constitutional scholar- Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wisconsin), former co-chair of the Progressive Caucus- Rep. Jared Huffman (D-California), a Progressive Caucus member
Moderate Democrats in Competitive Districts
- Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-New Jersey), representing a formerly Republican suburban district- Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Washington), who flipped her district in 2022- Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-Michigan), representing a battleground district in a crucial swing state
Influential Committee Members
- Rep. Adam Smith (D-Washington), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee- Rep. Adam Schiff (D-California), former House Intelligence Committee chairman- Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-California), senior Judiciary Committee member with close ties to leadership
Senators in Competitive Races
- Sen. Jon Tester (D-Montana), seeking reelection in a state Trump won by 16 points in 2020- Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), running in a state that has trended Republican in recent cycles
Notable Party Leaders Who Remained Loyal
Several key Democratic leaders continued to publicly support Biden's candidacy:- House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York)- Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York)- Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California)- Rep. James Clyburn (D-South Carolina), whose endorsement was crucial to Biden's 2020 primary victory
Electoral Strategy Concerns
The core argument made by Democrats calling for Biden's withdrawal centered on electoral concerns for the 2024 general election and down-ballot races.
Polling Concerns Post-Debate
Following the June 27 debate,
multiple polls showed Biden:- Trailing Donald Trump in national polls by 2-5 points- Falling behind in key battleground states including Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, Georgia, and Nevada- Receiving concerning job approval ratings, particularly on handling of the economy and immigration
Competitiveness in Battleground States
Representatives from crucial swing states for the Electoral College emerged as leading voices in the pressure campaign:- Rep. Greg Stanton (D-Arizona): "The Democratic Party must have a nominee who can effectively make the case against Trump"- Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-Michigan): "It is essential that we have the strongest possible candidate leading the top of the ticket -- not just to win, but to govern"- Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-Colorado): Called for "one of our many capable Democratic leaders so we have the best chance to defeat Donald Trump"
Down-Ballot Concerns for House and Senate Races
Democrats explicitly linked Biden's candidacy to potential losses in congressional elections:- Rep. Zoe Lofgren warned Biden's "candidacy is on a trajectory to lose the White House and potentially impact crucial House and Senate races down ballot"- Sen. Jon Tester and Sen. Sherrod Brown, both facing difficult reelection campaigns, signaled concerns about Biden's impact on their races- Members from frontline House districts feared Biden's performance could cost Democrats their chance to retake the House majority
The Harris Factor
Many Democratic lawmakers explicitly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as a potential alternative, signaling support for her to lead the ticket.
Early Harris Endorsements
- Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minnesota): Called for Biden to "empower Vice President Harris to step forward to become the Democratic nominee for president"- Rep. Jared Huffman (D-California): "I think she's next up and she's proven and she's ready. So I'm going to be enthusiastically supporting Vice President Harris"- Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Florida): "Kamala Harris is a fighter and I have full confidence in her"- Rep. Mark Takano (D-California): Harris "has been an invaluable governing partner to the President and can run on their many shared achievements"
Harris's Position During the Pressure Campaign
Throughout the weeks of growing pressure, Vice President Harris:- Maintained public loyalty to Biden- Continued her scheduled campaign appearances- Refrained from any public comments that could be interpreted as positioning for succession- Met with key Democratic constituencies including labor unions, civil rights organizations, and women's groups
Influential Democratic Caucuses Split
The participation of members from pivotal Democratic caucuses represented significant fractures in Biden's coalition of support.
Congressional Black Caucus (CBC)
The CBC had been among Biden's strongest bases of support, making defections particularly significant:- Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas) became the first CBC member to call for Biden's withdrawal on July 19- Previously, Biden had met with the CBC and participated in an economic summit co-hosted by CBC Chairman Rep. Steven Horsford in Nevada
Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC)
Biden's support among Hispanic lawmakers also showed cracks:- Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-Illinois) co-signed the July 19 joint letter- Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-New Mexico) called for Biden to withdraw- These defections came despite the CHC's political arm, BOLD PAC, endorsing Biden on July 19
Progressive Caucus
The progressive wing of the party saw multiple defections:- Rep. Jared Huffman (D-California) co-signed the July 19 letter- Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wisconsin), former Progressive Caucus co-chair, joined the calls- Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Arizona), a founding member of the Progressive Caucus, was among the earliest to call for Biden's exit
Biden's Legacy and Withdrawal Decision
"Passing the Torch" Narrative
Democratic lawmakers carefully framed Biden's potential withdrawal as a patriotic act that would cement his legacy:- Sen. Martin Heinrich: By "passing the torch, he would secure his legacy as one of our nation's greatest leaders"- Representatives Huffman, Veasey, Garcia, and Pocan: "Passing the torch would fundamentally change the trajectory of the campaign"- Rep. Brad Schneider: Urged Biden to "heroically pass the torch to a new generation of leadership"
Biden's Initial Resistance
Biden pushed back against the pressure:- Maintained that voters had selected him as the presumptive Democratic nominee through the primary process- Campaign spokesperson Mia Ehrenberg defended his position, stating "the majority of the caucus and the diverse base of the party continues to stand with the President"- Biden continued campaign activities and media appearances to demonstrate fitness
COVID-19 Diagnosis and Decision-Making Period
Biden's COVID-19 diagnosis on July 17 created a natural pause that may have influenced his decision:- Forced to quarantine at his Delaware home- Temporarily suspended campaign activities- Provided time for consultation with family members including First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, son Hunter Biden, and daughter Ashley Biden- Allowed for conversations with close advisors including White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients and longtime counselor Steve Ricchetti
Comparison to Historical Presidential Challenges
The pressure campaign against Biden represents a rare occurrence in American political history, with few parallels:
Lyndon B. Johnson (1968)
- Faced intense opposition from within his party over Vietnam War policy- Challenged by Senators Eugene McCarthy and Robert Kennedy in Democratic primaries- Confronted declining popularity and questions about his ability to win reelection- Dealt with a divided Democratic Party amid generational and ideological shifts
Harry Truman (1952)
- Experienced pressure not to run for another term from within Democratic Party- Struggled with low approval ratings and questions about electability- Encountered challenges in early primaries that signaled party dissatisfaction- Faced criticism over his handling of the Korean War and domestic issues
Jimmy Carter (1980)
- Challenged by Senator Ted Kennedy in Democratic primaries- Confronted historically low approval ratings during an election year- Faced questions about his ability to defeat Republican opponent Ronald Reagan- Dealt with significant intra-party discord while seeking reelection
George H.W. Bush (1992)
- Challenged by Pat Buchanan in Republican primaries- Experienced a major erosion in public approval after high post-Gulf War ratings- Faced criticism from within his party over breaking tax pledge- Confronted questions about his ability to connect with voters during economic downturnArticles Analyzed:
CBS News and
ABC News*There may be errors on this page.
