Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
CBS Chicago
Reps. Casten and Garcia urge President Biden to drop out of race for White House
By Todd Feurer,
1 day ago
Analysis: Democrats in disarray with questions on whether President Biden will withdraw 02:13
CHICAGO (CBS) — Two more House Democrats from Illinois have joined the growing number of congressional Democrats urging President Joe Biden to drop his bid for re-election.
U.S. Rep. Sean Casten and U.S. Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia on Friday both urged Biden to drop out of the race for the White House.
In an op-ed in the Chicago Tribune , Casten wrote that his constituents "fear for the future of American democracy" if former President Donald Trump is elected in November, and that he believes "Biden is no longer up for that job."
"It is with a heavy heart and much personal reflection that I am therefore calling on Biden to pass the torch to a new generation. To manage an exit with all the dignity and decency that has guided his half-century of public service. To cement his legacy as the president who saved our democracy in 2020 and handed it off to trusted hands in 2024 who could carry his legacy forward," Casten wrote.
"These perceptions may not be fair, but they have hardened in the aftermath of last month's debate and are now unlikely to change. We believe the most responsible and patriotic thing you can do in this moment is to step aside as our nominee while continuing to lead our party from the White House," they wrote. "Democrats have a deep and talented bench of younger leaders, led by Vice President Kamala Harris, who you have lifted up, empowered, and prepared for this moment. Passing the torch would fundamentally change the trajectory of the campaign. It would reinvigorate the race and infuse Democrats with enthusiasm and momentum heading into our convention next month."
"If the upcoming election is a referendum on past performance, future promises and character, I have every confidence Biden would win," Casten wrote. "But politics, like life, isn't fair. And as long as this election is instead litigated over which candidate is more likely to be held accountable for public gaffes and "senior moments," I believe that Biden is not only going to lose but is also uniquely incapable of shifting that conversation."
Three Senate Democrats – Peter Welch (D-Vermont), Jon Tester (D-Montana), and Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico) – also have called on Biden to exit the presidential race.
While the two senior House members said they did not have insight into the timing of such a move, they said the tide has turned, and each day of indecision from Mr. Biden would be met by more Democratic requests to step aside.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Comments / 0