These Democrats called for Joe Biden to drop out of 2024 race before his announcement
President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he's stepping aside from running in the 2024 presidential race. In the weeks ahead of his announcement, several Democrats on Capitol Hill publicly called for him to do so.
The call for Biden to "pass the torch" began following his debate against former President Donald Trump in June and after Biden's interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos in July.
Here is the list of Democrats who publicly asked Biden to exit the presidential race ahead of his announcement:
Sen. Joe Manchin
In an interview on ABC News' "This Week" on July 21, Sen. Joe Manchin called for Biden to leave the presidential race and "pass the torch to a new generation."
The West Virginia senator is an independent who caucuses with Democrats but left the party earlier this year.
"He will go down with a legacy unlike many people, as one of the finest and truly a [patriotic] American," Manchin said. "So, with that, I come with a heavy heart to think the time has come for him to pass the torch to a new generation."
Rep. Mark Takano
The California congressman released a long statement on his X page on July 20 calling on Biden to "pass the torch."
Takano contended that Harris would be the better candidate to be on the presidential ticket and defeat Trump.
"She has been an invaluable governing partner to the President and can run on their many shared achievements on behalf of the American people," he said of the vice president.
Sen. Sherrod Brown
Brown, who is in a tight election in Ohio, released a statement on July 19 callong on Biden to bow out.
The senator said he had many discussons with his constituents about the top issues in this year's election and came to his decision.
"I agree with the many Ohioans who have reached out to me. At this critical time, our full attention must return to these important issues. I think the President should end his campaign," he said.
Rep. Gabe Vasquez
The New Mexico congressman called for Biden to end his campaign in a July 19 post on X.
"With abortion rights under attack and our Democracy at stake, we must unite to defeat Donald Trump and MAGA extremists," Vasquez wrote.
Rep. Morgan McGarvey
McGarvey posted a statement on X on July 19 stating there "was no joy in the recognition that [Biden] should not be our nominee in November."
"President Biden is a good man who cares deeply about the American people. I trust he will do what's best for the nation," the Kentucky congressman added.
Rep. Betty McCollum
The Minnesota congresswoman said in a statement on July 19 that Biden should end his campaign, release his delegates and "empower Vice President Harris to step forward to become the Democratic nominee for president."
"Winning in November and defeating Trump's dangerous, hate-filled agenda must be Democrats' sole focus," McCollum said.
Rep. Kathy Castor
The Florida congresswoman told a local NBC station on July 19 ,"I think it’s an exciting time to possibly pass the torch."
"Kamala Harris is a fighter and I have full confidence in her," she added.
Rep. Zo Lofgren
The California congresswoman, a close ally of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, wrote Biden a strongly worded letter on July 19 that called for him to step aside.
Lofgren told the president she presented him with data "indicating that you in all likelihood will lose the race for President."
"Simply put, your candidacy is on a trajectory to lose the White House and potentially impact crucial House and Senate races down ballot," she said.
Rep. Greg Landsman
The Ohio congressman issued a statement on July 19 saying he spent "weeks of consideration and hundreds of conversations with constituents," before coming to his conclusion that Biden needed to end his campaign.
"It is time for President Biden to step aside and allow us to nominate a new leader who can reliably and consistently make the case against Donald Trump and make the case for the future of America," he said.
Sen. Martin Heinrich
The New Mexico senator praised Biden's accomplishments in a July 19 statement but said the threat of a second Trump term was too great of a risk.
"While the decision to withdraw from the campaign is President Biden's alone, I believe it is in the best interests of our country for him to step aside," he said.
Rep. Jared Huffman
The California congressman co-signed a letter with three other House Democrats on July 19 asking for Biden to step aside.
Huffman is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
"It is now time for you to pass the torch to a new generation of Democratic leaders," the letter said.
Rep. Marc Veasey
The Texas congressman co-signed a letter with three other House Democrats on July 19 asking for Biden to step aside.
Veasey is was the first member of the Congressional Black Caucus to call on Biden to step aside.
"We must face the reality that widespread public concerns about your age and fitness are jeopardizing what should be a winning campaign," the letter read.
Rep. Chuy Garcia
The Illinois Democrat co-signed a letter with three other House Democrats on July 19 asking for Biden to step aside
Garcia is a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
"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," the letter said.
Rep. Mark Pocan
The Wisconsin Democrat co-signed a letter with three other House Democrats on July 19 asking for Biden to step aside
Two weeks prior to the letter, Pocan campaigned with Biden in his state.
"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," the letter said.
Sen. Jon Tester
The Montana senator, who is vying for another term in this election, called on Biden not to seek another term in a statement on July 18, saying, "I’ve never been afraid to stand up to him when he is wrong."
"While I appreciate his commitment to public service and our country, I believe President Biden should not seek re-election to another term," Tester said.
Rep. Jamie Raskin
The Maryland congressman sent Biden a letter on July 6 asking him to reconsider his campaign.
"There is no shame in taking a well-deserved bow to the overflowing appreciation of the crowd when your arm is tired out, and there is real danger for the team in ignoring the statistics," he wrote in the four-page letter.
Raskin confirmed to ABC News that he sent the letter on July 18.
Rep. Adam Schiff
On July 17, Rep. Adam Schiff called on Biden to drop out of the race and "pass the torch."
"Joe Biden has been one of the most consequential presidents in our nation's history, and his lifetime of service as a Senator, a Vice President, and now as President has made our country better," Schiff said in a statement released by his office.
"But our nation is at a crossroads. A second Trump presidency will undermine the very foundation of our democracy, and I have serious concerns about whether the President can defeat Donald Trump in November," he continued, then calling on the president to "pass the torch."
"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.
"But make no mistake, whoever our party ends up nominating, or if the nomination remains with the president, I will do everything I can to help them succeed. There is only one singular goal: defeating Donald Trump. The stakes are just too high," he added.
Rep. Mike Levin
The California congressman said in a statement on July 12 that he heard from "several hundred" of his constituents and they shared his concern about Biden's viability in November.
"Once again, our national mettle must be forged in the crucible of history. It is time to move forward. With a new leader. Together," Levin said.
Rep. Brittany Pettersen
The freshman representative from Colorado posted a lengthy statement on X on July 12 urging Biden to "pass the torch" to "one of our many capable Democratic leaders so we have the best chance to defeat Donald Trump."
"Joe Biden saved our country once, and I’m joining the growing number of people in my district and across the country to ask him to do it again," Pettersen said.
Rep. Eric Sorensen
Adding to the growing list of Democratic representatives calling for Biden to exit the presidential race, Rep. Eric Sorensen of Illinois released a statement following the NATO press conference on July 11.
"In 2020, Joe Biden ran for President with the purpose of putting country over party. Today, I am asking him to do that again," Sorensen said.
"I am hopeful President Biden will step aside in his campaign for President," he said.
Rep. Scott Peters
House Democratic Rep. Scott Peters of California called on President Biden to step aside from the presidential race following Biden's NATO press conference on July 11.
"Today I ask President Biden to withdraw from the presidential campaign," Peters said, adding, "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."
"We must find a candidate from our deep bench of talent who can defeat Donald Trump," Peters said.
Rep. Jim Himes
Following President Biden’s NATO press conference, Connecticut Congressman Jim Himes released a statement, calling on Biden to "step away from the presidential campaign."
Himes serves as a ranking Democratic member in the House Intelligence Committee.
"The 2024 election will define the future of American democracy, and we must put forth the strongest candidate possible to confront the threat posed by Trump's MAGA authoritarianism," Himes said.
"I no longer believe that is Joe Biden, and I hope that, as he has throughout a lifetime of public service, he will continue to put our nation first, and, as he promised, make way for a new generation of leaders," he said.
Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez
The Washington congresswoman, who flipped her district in 2022, not only called for the president to end his re-election bid but vocally questioned his fitness for the rest of the term in a statement released on July 11.
"Like most people, I represent in Southwest Washington, I doubt the President’s judgment about his health, his fitness to do the job, and whether he is the one making important decisions about our country, rather than unelected advisors," she said. "Americans deserve to feel their president is fit enough to do the job."
Rep. Greg Stanton
The Arizona congressman touted Biden's accomplishments in a statement on July 11, but said the president's "most defining legacy, though, is as a fierce defender of American democracy."
"The Democratic Party must have a nominee who can effectively make the case against Trump, and have the confidence of the American people to handle the rigors of the hardest job on the planet for the next four years," Stanton said.
Rep. Ed Case
The Hawaii House member issued a statement on July 11 asking Biden to step aside, claiming, "Difficult times and realities require difficult decisions."
"This has nothing to do with his character and record. If it did, there would be no decision to make," Case said. "This is solely about the future, about the President’s ability to continue in the most difficult job in the world for another four-year term."
Rep. Brad Schneider
The Illinois congressman released a statement on July 11 calling on Biden to "heroically pass the torch to a new generation of leadership."
"We are faced with a stark choice: be resigned to slog through this election praying we can successfully defend our democracy, or enthusiastically embrace a vibrant vision for our future, building on the extraordinary foundation President Biden has created for our nation over the past four years," Schneider, the vice chair of the New Democrat Coalition said. "I choose the latter."
Rep. Hillary Scholten
The Grand Rapids, Michigan, House member said in a July 11 statement on X that Biden needed to end his presidential run, contending that it "is essential that we have the strongest possible candidate leading the top of the ticket -- not just to win, but to govern."
"The people of Michigan's 3rd Congressional District elected me to represent them with integrity. They elected a Congresswoman they trust to speak the truth, even when it's hard. They voted for someone who would put America's future first and stand up for what is right. That's what I am doing now," she said.
Sen. Peter Welch
Welch, who represents Vermont, became the first Democratic senator to officially call on Biden to step aside in a Washington Post op-ed published July 10.
Welch wrote that "regular Vermonters are worried that he can't win this time, and they're terrified of another Trump presidency."
Rep. Earl Blumenauer
The Oregon representative, who is a senior member of the House Ways and Means and Budget committees, said in a statement on July 10 that "we will all be better served if the president steps aside as the Democratic nominee and manages a transition under his terms."
"He should devote his energy and undivided attention to issues of war and peace, the climate crisis, and rebuilding and renewing America. I stand willing to assist in any way possible on these critical efforts," Blumenauer added.
Rep. Pat Ryan
Ryan, a moderate Democrat who is up for reelection in a crucial district in upstate New York, said in an op-ed published in the Poughkeepsie Journal on July 10 that Biden needed to step aside due to what he said was the threat posed by a second Trump term.
"If the two of them are on the ballot this fall, I'll be voting for Biden," he wrote. "But I'd be doing a grave disservice to the hundreds of thousands of people I have the honor to represent if I said Biden was the best candidate to face Trump this fall."
Rep. Mikie Sherrill
The New Jersey congresswoman, who flipped her seat in the 2020 election, released a statement on July 9 calling for Biden to drop out of the presidential race and to "help lead us through a process toward a new nominee."
Sherrill told ABC News her decision to call on Biden to step aside came after speaking and listening to her constituents, colleagues and family.
The congresswoman said she felt she needed to "advocate as strongly as possible for new leadership so we could really prosecute the case against Donald Trump."
Rep. Adam Smith
The Washington state House member released a statement on July 8 calling on Biden to bow out of the race and release his delegates before the Democratic National Convention in August.
"He is not yet the nominee. So I think we have a chance to pick a better candidate who can effectively deliver the message, get off of all of these distractions, focus on the Democratic message and on the dangers of Donald Trump," Smith told ABC News. "And I think we need to take that opportunity."
Rep. Angie Craig
The Minnesota congresswoman said in a statement on July 6 that Biden needed to step down from the race, citing his poor debate performance and "the lack of a forceful response from the president himself following that debate."
"This is not a decision I've come to lightly, but there is simply too much at stake to risk a second Donald Trump presidency," she said.
Rep. Mike Quigley
The Illinois congressman was vocal about his disapproval of Biden following the debate and called on him to step aside during an MSNBC interview on July 5, shortly after the president spoke with ABC News.
"Mr. President, your legacy is set," he said. "We owe you the greatest debt of gratitude. The only thing that you can do now to cement that for all time and prevent utter catastrophe is to step down and let someone else do this."
Rep. Seth Moulton
The Massachusetts House member told Boston public radio station WBUR on July 4 that he believes Biden should withdraw from the race.
"President Biden has done enormous service to our country, but now is the time for him to follow in one of our founding fathers, George Washington's footsteps and step aside to let new leaders rise up and run against Donald Trump," he said.
Rep. Raúl Grijalva
The Arizona congressman told The New York Times on July 3 that Biden needed to reconsider his candidacy.
"If he's the candidate, I'm going to support him, but I think that this is an opportunity to look elsewhere," he told the newspaper.
Rep. Lloyd Doggett
On July 2, five days after the debate, the Austin, Texas, congressman became the first House member to call on the president to step aside.
Doggett cited Biden's dwindling poll numbers in key districts and his debate performance as the factors behind his decision.
"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," Doggett said in a statement.
ABC News' Ben Siegel, Rachel Scott, John Parkinson, Isabella Murray, Allison Pecorin, Lauren Peller, Oren Oppenheim and Jacob Steinberg contributed to this report.
