Editor’s note: This post was updated on July 11 to include new comments from U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez.
One senior Democrat from Washington says President Joe Biden should end his reelection bid. Another says he should not. And the congressional delegation’s most progressive lawmaker is trying to shift the discussion to focus on defeating Donald Trump.
Some Democrats began calling for Biden to end his campaign after his disastrous debate performance in late June raised doubts about his age and mental sharpness and whether he can win in November. As of July 11, the number of Democrats in Congress who had publicly called for Biden to step aside totalled at least 14 in the House and one in the Senate, according to the The New York Times.
Biden on Monday, July 8 sent a letter to Congressional Democrats saying he has no intention of dropping out.
In Washington, U.S. Rep. Adam Smith was the first congressional Democrat who has openly called for Biden to step aside.
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, one of the most powerful Democrats in Congress, did not specifically call for Biden to suspend his campaign, but she urged him to seriously consider the best way forward.
And Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez has expressed doubts about Biden’s fitness to hold office and has said she thinks he’ll lose in November.
Below is a look at what they and other members of the state’s delegation have said on the topic.
The Standard has reached out to other lawmakers for comment and will update this post with any additional responses.
Rep. Adam Smith
“President Biden should end his candidacy for a second term as President and release his delegates to the Democratic National Convention to enable the party to nominate a new candidate for President. This must happen as soon as possible to give the new ticket the maximum amount of time to make its case to the American people,” Smith said in a statement.
“Any candidate for the highest office in our nation has a strong burden to bear. That candidate must be able to clearly, articulately, and strongly make his or her case to the American people. It is clear that President Biden is no longer able to meet this burden.
“If President Biden runs, I will back him one hundred percent and without reservation. Elections are, after all, a choice. The President would still be, by a wide margin, the best candidate in the current field.”
Sen. Patty Murray
Murray stopped short of calling for Biden to step aside. “I believe President Biden must do more to demonstrate he can campaign strong enough to beat Donald Trump,” she said in a statement on Monday.
“I have a deep appreciation and strong respect for Joe, who has led a historic first term as President,” Murray added. “Still, we need to see a much more forceful and energetic candidate on the campaign trail in the very near future in order for him to convince voters he is up to the job. At this critical time for our country, President Biden must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future.”
Rep. Pramila Jayapal
“Any reporter or pundit who is asking about or talking about the aftermath of President Biden’s debate performance and his health should also be spending at least the same amount of time and energy talking to Republicans about why they are still supporting a convicted felon who incited an insurrection and wants to be Dictator on Day 1. Republicans should be calling for Donald Trump to step down as a candidate for President.”
“It is true that Democrats are having many conversations among our members and our constituents as we consider the best path forward to protect our democracy,” Jayapal said in a statement. “As (Congressional Progressive Caucus) Chair, I am listening carefully to the thoughts of our members from all over the country—in swing and safe states and districts—as we work to ensure we defeat Donald Trump and win the House and Senate.”
Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez
In a statement Thursday, Gluesenkamp Perez raised concerns about Biden’s health, suggesting he is unfit to do his job.
“Like most people I represent in Southwest Washington, I doubt the President’s judgement 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. The crisis of confidence in the President’s leadership needs to come to an end. The President should do what he knows is right for the country and put the national interest first.”
Last week, she said in an interview with KATU News that she believed Biden would lose the election. Given the primary results, she said, he is the nominee.
“We all saw what we saw, you can’t undo that, and the truth I think, is that Biden is going to lose to Trump,” she said. “I know that’s difficult, but I think the damage has been done by that debate.”
Rep. Rick Larsen
“I certainly do not want to be lumped in with the few members calling for the Prez to step down,” Larsen said on social media in response to a Politico story that claimed he had voiced concerns about Biden. “I’m on Team Biden. I know people confuse Adam Smith and me, but try to be accurate about what our positions are.”
Rep. Suzan DelBene
When asked about DelBene’s stance on Biden’s campaign, a spokesperson pointed to a text exchange between the congresswoman and the publication Semafor. “The stakes are incredibly high this election, for all of us. That hasn’t changed after last week,” DelBene wrote. “The choice this November is crystal clear: Democrats who want to govern responsibly versus extremist Republicans obsessed with tax breaks for billionaires, rolling back reproductive freedom, and defending Trump’s attacks on our democracy.”
