WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — After a disappointing debate performance, President Joe Biden has remained steadfast when it comes to staying in the race for president, but calls for him to step aside as the Democratic presidential nominee have been growing.
On Thursday, four additional lawmakers publicly called for the president to drop out of the 2024 election. Three of the four called for him to step aside after Biden’s news conference Thursday night where the president made a couple of noticeable gaffes that put a spotlight on the president’s vulnerabilities that have been worrying Democrats since last month’s debate
During his response to the first question of the evening, Biden referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as “Vice President Trump.” Shortly before the news conference, when introducing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Biden said, “Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin,” before correcting himself.
The news conference occurred amid the fallout from Biden’s poor debate performance last month, during which he stumbled over his words and at times appeared to lose his train of thought, prompting calls for him to bow out of the race.
The Biden campaign went into crisis mode following the debate, attempting to shore up support from top Democrats in Congress and Democratic governors. Some, including Harris, have remained vocal in their support for the president.
Others, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have offered more measured responses but have avoided publicly calling on the president to withdraw.
Here are the Democrats who are calling on the president to end his reelection bid:
Lloyd Doggett
Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, issued a statement calling on the president to step aside, the first lawmaker to do so. Dogget, 78, like Biden, has a decadeslong career in government. He praised Biden’s legacy of public service while warning of the dangers of a second term from former President Donald Trump.
“Recognizing that, unlike Trump, President Biden’s first commitment has always been to our country, not himself, I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw,” Doggett said.
Raul Grijalva
Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., called the state of Biden’s campaign “precarious” in an interview with the New York Times, saying that part of Biden’s responsibility is to keep the presidency in Democratic hands and that stepping aside is what’s needed to do so.
At 76, the progressive Democrat is also close to age in Biden and warned that a second Trump presidency would be “very, very dangerous.”
Mike Quigley
Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill., said in an interview with MSNBC that Biden needs to step aside to prevent “utter catastrophe.”
Quigley also praised Biden’s legacy of public service and said the country owed him a debt of gratitude.
Seth Moulton
Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., said in an interview with WBUR that he does not have confidence in Biden’s ability to defeat Trump, a conclusion he said he reached after speaking extensively with donors.
Moulton compared Biden to George Washington, saying Biden should follow in the footsteps of the nation’s first president and withdraw from the race to “let new leaders rise up.”
Angie Craig
Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., thanked Biden for his service on X while saying it was time to let younger leaders take the reins.
“There is simply too much at stake to risk a second Donald Trump presidency,” she said.
Adam Smith
Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., said in an interview on CNN that it was time for Biden to withdraw from the race while saying the president has done a “great job.”
“He is not the best person to carry the Democratic message,” Smith, a top member of the Armed Services Committee, said.
Mikie Sherrill
Rep. Mickie Sherrill, D-N.J., called on the president to step down from the race in a statement on X, appealing to Biden’s concern for the country.
“I realize this is hard, but we have done hard things in pursuit of democracy since the founding of this nation,” she said. “And because I know President Biden cares deeply about the future of our country, I am asking that he declare that he won’t run for reelection and will help lead us through a process toward a new nominee.”
Pat Ryan
Rep. Pat Ryan, D-N.Y., called on Biden to step aside in an interview with the New York Times. Ryan is one of the party’s most vulnerable incumbents.
Ryan said he believed Biden was no longer able to make the case for defeating Trump and urged him to step aside for “the good of the country.”
“I made (my statement) based on thousands of conversations I’ve had with my constituents,” Ryan told NewsNation on July 11. “It’s a broad sense, certainly among the folks in my district, that, one, we have to stop Donald Trump and be clear-eyed about the threat. Two, Joe Biden, as much as I respect and appreciate him, is not the strongest candidate to (do) that right now.”
Earl Blumenauer
Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., is retiring in January after decades of service. In a statement, he said the question facing the country is whether Biden should continue his candidacy.
“This is not just about extending his presidency but protecting democracy,” he said.
Peter Welch
Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., on Wednesday became the first Senate Democrat to publicly call on Biden to withdraw from the presidential race.
Welch wrote in a Washington Post op-ed that while he has “great respect” for the president, who he calls one of the best of his lifetime, it is time for Biden to step aside for the good of the country.
Hillary Scholten
Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Mich., joined the growing list of Democrats asking the president to step down in a statement on X.
“With the challenges facing our country in 2025 and beyond, it is essential that we have the strongest possible candidate,” Scholten said. “Joe Biden has been that leader for so long, but this is not about the past, it’s about the future. It’s time to pass the torch.”
Brad Schneider
Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., said in a statement he is grateful for Biden’s leadership and service, but the stakes in November are too great for the president to continue running.
“In passing the torch now, President Biden has a chance to live up to this standard and seal his place in history as one of the greatest leaders our nation, and history, has ever known,” Schneider said.
Greg Stanton
Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Ariz., said on X that while he was one of Biden’s earliest supporters, he believes it’s time for the president to step aside.
“The Democratic Party must have a nominee that can effectively make the case against Trump,” he said.
Ed Case
Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawaii, called for Biden to step aside Thursday afternoon, saying it’s unclear whether Biden can perform “the most difficult job in the world” for another four years.
Case acknowledged that replacing him would be “difficult and uncertain” but he did not believe continuing with Biden would be the “best path forward for our country.”
Jim Himes
Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., called for Biden to drop out of the race in a social media post after Thursday night’s news conference.
“He must not risk that legacy, those accomplishments and American democracy to soldier on in the face of the horrors promised by Donald Trump,” Himes said.
Eric Sorensen
Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Ill., joined the growing list of Democrats calling for Biden to step down from the election after Thursday night’s press conference. He posted a statement to social media saying Biden “is a good man” but ultimately asked Biden to step aside in his campaign for president.
“It is more important than ever that our neighbors have a candidate for president who will communicate a positive vision for every person in this country,” Sorensen said.
Scott Peters
Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif., was the third lawmaker to call for Biden to step aside from his campaign following Thursday night’s news conference.
“Today I ask President Biden to withdraw from the presidential campaign. The stakes are high, and we are on a losing course. My conscience requires me to speak up and put loyalty to the country and to democracy ahead of my great affection for, and loyalty to, the president and those around him,” Peters said in a statement.
Brittany Pettersen
Rep. Brittany Pettersen, D-Colo., publicly called for Biden to step aside Friday.
“With deep appreciation and love, @joebiden please pass the torch,” Pettersen posted to X along with a statement.
Mike Levin
Rep. Mike Levin, D-Calif., issued a statement asking Biden to withdraw, noting he had come to the decision after speaking to constituents. He praised Biden’s leadership but called for a new candidate.
“Making this statement is not easy. I have deep respect for President Biden’s five-plus decades of public service and incredible appreciation for the work we’ve done together these last three and a half years. But I believe the time has come for President Biden to pass the torch,” Levin said.
Adam Schiff
Rep. Adam Schiff of California confirmed to NewsNation that he is calling on the president to withdraw from the race in favor of a new nominee. He said the nation is at a crossroads, warning that a second Trump term would “undermine the very foundation of our democracy.”
“While the choice to withdraw from the campaign is President Biden’s alone, I believe it is time for him to pass the torch. And in doing so, secure his legacy of leadership by allowing us to defeat Donald Trump in the upcoming election,” Schiff said.
The Hill and the Associated Press contributed to this report.