Democratic Sen. Jon Tester calls on President Biden to drop out of the presidential race

Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester on Thursday called for President Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race.

“Montanans have put their trust in me to do what is right and it is a responsibility I take seriously," Tester said in a statement obtained by Scripps News. "I have worked with President Biden when it has made Montana stronger, and I’ve never been afraid to stand up to him when he is wrong. And while I appreciate his commitment to public service and our country, I believe President Biden should not seek re-election to another term.”

Tester is the second Democratic senator to ask President Biden to withdraw, following Vermont Sen. Peter Welch.

In an op-ed published in The Washington Post last week , Welch said too much was balanced on the outcome of November's election. He warned of an extreme agenda from Republicans.

"The stakes could not be higher. We cannot unsee President Biden’s disastrous debate performance. We cannot ignore or dismiss the valid questions raised since that night," Welch wrote. "For the good of the country, I’m calling on President Biden to withdraw from the race."

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The pressure on President Biden is mounting. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reportedly privately told the president this week that Democrats could lose the opportunity to seize control of the U.S. House if he stays in the race.

On Thursday , campaign officials continued to push back on narratives of a potential withdrawal. Quentin Fulks, the principal deputy campaign manager for the Biden-Harris campaign, dismissed any idea that President Biden would not be at the top of the Democratic ticket in November 2024.

The president tested positive for COVID-19 Wednesday before a planned speech in Las Vegas at the UnidosUS Annual Conference. He was "experiencing mild upper respiratory symptoms," his doctor said Thursday.